SHADOW OF THE PAST

30 Diana's Confession

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“Okay, I will explain to you, so you can do the needful,” she said looking around again before she could speak.

When she had confirmed that no one was around and could be eavesdropping on what she was about to say, she cleared her throat and started confessing….

FORTY-FIVE YEARS AGO…

Bukky, the elder sister to Jadesola (Tomisin's mother) is a midwife who has a local maternity hospital she runs in her locality, where she resides with her husband and children.

‘God Is Able’ Maternity is located at the second flat of her husband's property. Her husband built a two three-bedroom flat apartment. One three-bedroom at the front while the other is at the back. The one at the back was the one she make use of for the maternity business she runs.

As of then, Jadesola's mother and her husband (Chief Odetola) reside in Lagos state. Chief Odetola as a businessman usually travels and doesn't spend much time at home. Though, he was not too rich as at then but wasn't living from hand to mouth. He and his wife were living fine in a rented two-bedroom flat apartment not too far from Bukky's residence.

Jadesola was twenty-six years as at then. She had been married for four years with no issue. And this has been a great concern to Chief Odetola's mother. Anytime she comes visiting, she usually nags over Jadesola's issue of barrenness. Each time she visits, she makes life unbearable for her.

Unfortunately, for Jadesola, she was fortunate to take in that month, after four years of waiting. She was extremely joyous that she would be free from her mother-in-law's attitude toward her.

She registered for antenatal at her sister's maternity hospital. Though at first, she doesn't like the idea of giving birth at her sister's hospital, because she felt it was too local for her standard. When her sister reminded her of what a particular doctor told them six years before she was married when she was an undergraduate she had no choice but to accept.

“The surgical abortion you had last had affected your womb and it might be a 50/50 chance for you to get pregnant or give birth in the future.” The doctor had said when Jadesola was about to have her seventh abortion at his hospital.

She had aborted seven babies for her coursemate who was promising her marriage after graduating from the University. She lived off-campus with the said guy as a couple for four years. She lost her virginity to the guy with the promise of getting married to her. Each time she was pregnant, the guy will take her down to a hospital to abort the fetus. She aborted from the first fetus to the sixth one before realizing that the guy had nothing to do with her. She foolishly had the seventh one on their day of graduation. After graduating, the guy was nowhere to be found. She had no choice but to go back home with the pregnancy. When her sister, Bukky noticed that she was pregnant, she questioned her about it and she gave her an honest answer. It was her sister that took her to where she aborted the last and that was where they were both given a warning before the last abortion was done.

DELIVERY DAY…

“Sister mi, I want to poo….” Jadesola who was due and in labor pain cried as she felt her baby's head pressing on her retum.

“Jadesola, I can't allow you to visit the toilet oo. Poo while pushing you hear. Don't worry, as a midwife I have a degree in packing shit.” Bukky said jokingly as Jadesola started pacing up and down the small hallway that leads to the labor room. “You are 4cm dilated. Keep taking a stroll, my dear.”

When her cervix dilates from 4cm to 10cm, her sister assisted her into the labor room. She encouraged her to lay on the bed.

During the crowning phase, the baby's head is visible at the vulva, in an attempt to deliver the head. This moment was extremely painful for Jadesola. She started feeling a burning sensation.