Love on the brain

Triggered

My dad's face turned red. "Pregnant?" He repeated and Lwandle's eyes widened and her mouth opened. "How could you Naledi! You're still in school!" He shouted. "You're 26 and she's still a child! What were you thinking?" He asked in Zulu and surprisingly Jermaine seemed to understand him. He backed up as my dad stood up. "Dad, please" my hands started shaking as I stopped him from walking towards Jermaine.

I trembled, tears falling down my face. "Get out!" My dad shouted at Jermaine. "Leave my house!" He shouted. "Dad, wait" I said as I saw Jermaine walk out. "He raped you!" He yelled at me. "No he didn't! Daddy I love him!" I cried and he walked past me to go outside. "Love? You don't know what love is!" He said and I wiped my tears, "I know what love is!" I declared as I ran out the house and tripped down the door stairs and I banged my head on the ground. I heard my dad and Jermaine call my name from a distance but everything shut down slowly.

Later on at the emergency room

"Naledi?" I heard my mom call as I slowly opened my eyes. "What's...what's happening?" I asked as I tried to turn my head but my neck was sore. "You just woke up from a fall, you fell down the stairs at your dad's house" my mom said as she stroked my hair backwards.

I kept quiet for a while, seeing my dad by my side, I remembered what happened. "Where's Jermaine?" I asked as I slowly started sobbing. "He's outside, right now it's time with your parents." My mom said, I could tell she was disappointed. The doctor came in and she didn't look impressed. I wanted to ask about my baby but I was scared to ask about it with my parents in the room. "Parents, with all due respect, I know this is your little girl but I would appreciate some space with my patient" she said and my parents both tried to argue but she wasn't going to change her mind.

"Hey, how are you feeling Naledi" she asked calmly looking concerned. I felt my tears drop to my ears and I felt an excruciating pain in my head. "How's my baby?" I asked Dr Moyo and she smiled. "Your little bean is doing okay, I checked on the ultrasound and everything was great. You need to take it easy." She said and I frowned.

"I spoke to Jermaine, he told me what happened and I'm here to help you. I understand why your parents are angry and I tried to speak to them but they are really disappointed at this situation. However, they have to put it aside for your health and the babies health" she said. "We're going to keep you here for the night so we can monitor your blood pressure levels and monitor the baby." She assured me.

"May you please call Jermaine" I asked and she nodded. A minute later I saw Jermaine walk in and he held his face, trying not to cry. "Baby" I sobbed and he kissed my forehead. "It's okay, it'll be alright" he said, holding me tight and comforting me. "It had to happen" he said as he held me to his chest. "I love you princess" he rocked me while I cried loudly.

I couldn't bear the pain of my parents not accepting him, I understand their disappointment but it's draining. The fact that I put my babies life in harm because of my dad's anger, angered me. He saw how devastated I was during that one week. I wish they could be more calm about the situation.

"I don't wanna go home Jermaine" I cried and he nodded. "You have no other choice" he said and i looked at him. "Look at what happened? I do have a choice. I'm coming with you" I said and he disagreed. "I'm not letting your parents think I talked you into this" he said. "You didn't and I'll let them know. I got hurt in my dad's presence. He is too angry for me to be around him. I don't want to lose my baby and I know you don't want that too." He said and nodded.

"Visitation is closing and we haven't seen our daughter" my dad yelled outside the room and I rolled my eyes. "It's unfair that I have to go through so much stress" I said. "I'll come back before visitation closes" he kissed me and left and my parents walked in. "Naledi why didn't you tell me long time ago?" My mom asked me. "You had 8 weeks to tell me and you failed" she raised her voice.

"I'm sorry" I said and my mom shook her head in disagreement. "Sorry won't get rid of that baby" my said and my heart dropped. "A 26 year old Naledi? Is this what we taught you?" My mom scolded me. "And then he has the nerve to walk in and out of here like he pleases. We want that boys parents number and after he pays for damages you will never see him again, believe me!" My dad said in Zulu and I started crying again.

"Let me hear you say you love him one more time, the pain you feel on your forehead will be nothing compared to what I'll do" my mom threatened me and I felt my heart racing. I continued to cry as the walked out of the room, no love whatsoever. I rolled over and texted Mo and told her about everything. She called me and I answered her phone while crying.

"Hey nana, how's the baby?" She asked and I couldn't stop crying. "My parents hate me after this" I said and she tried to comfort me from a distance. "They're just angry, it's nothing, trust me." She said and I couldn't stop crying. "My mom threatened me" I said and knowing how significant that was she offered me her mother's house. "You know if you talk to my mom, she'll let you live there, if you feel scared, go to her house" she said, trying to protect me from my parents.

"I appreciate it Mo. This is the worst time of my life and I'm pregnant." I said as I rubbed my tummy. "Girl let me talk to you later" I hung up, seeing Jermaine holding some Burger King. Dr Moyo's nurse let him stay overnight which isn't allow but she made exceptions. "Thank you baby" I said as I grabbed the food and ate. "I don't think it's a good idea to come back with me baby" he commented and I scrunched my face. "My mom literally threatened me, what part of 'I don't feel safe' do you not understand Jermaine? I asked him and he kept quiet.

"If I lose this baby I'm blaming all of you"I said and he disagreed. "Why would you even think like that?" He asked me. "How else must I think? That's our reality Jermaine. I'm a sensitive person and I don't live with people that will cater to my sensitive needs. My mom literally said 'sorry won't get rid of that baby' how am I supposed to overlook that?" I cried and he came to me held me. "I'm sorry" he said as he kissed my forehead. "This is hard!" I cried.

I saw Marissa call his phone and he quickly silenced it. I scrunched my face but I didn't want his to see I noticed. She called again and he ignored it while texting back. "Why don't you answer it?" I asked and he shook his head. "I don't want to talk to her" he simply said and I nodded my head.