When the going gets tough...

Chapter Twelve

I was laid in a stretcher and rolled into one of the rooms, I didn't know what the nurses and doctors were saying or doing but I could see them faintly running up and down, I could see them like shadows, I felt like sleeping and I didn't struggle to stay awake I quietly allowed the sleep take me.

I woke up few hours later to meet the faces of smiling doctors and nurses, I was feeling very weak.

"Doctor what is happening? Why was I bleeding?"

"Calm down dear, what really happened?"

I didn't want to tell them or anyone that my husband slapped me, just less than two months after our wedding, so I covered up

"I fell down in the house, I tripped and fell"

The doctor looked at me as if he knew I was not saying the truth.

"Well madam, please be careful next time. If you were brought here another 5mins late you would have lost the baby."

"Baby? What baby?' Now he's confusing me

"Madam, you are six weeks pregnant."

(surprised) "am pregnant? (Tears flowed from my eyes, I forgot the pains and hurt that my husband had caused me, at least he will be happy to learn that I am pregnant)
Doctor, I am pregnant. God bless you doctor, thank you doctor"

"Its okay madam,  but you cannot go home for now. You will have to remain on bed rest for the next two days so that you will be very strong before you go home."

"Yes doctor! But can I call my husband and inform him?"

"Sure madam, you can."

I greeted the doctor and nurses as they left. Excitedly  I picked my phone and I dialed my husband's number. I waited for him to pick the calls, but he didn't. I tried it again and he didn't pick and that was how I continued calling over and over again and my husband refused to pick my calls. Eventually he switched off the phone. I had to call mummy.

"Hello daughter how are you? How's family?"

"Mummy am fine, mummy where are you?"

"Sweetie are you okay? Am at home, are you fine?"

"Mummy please come to St Maria's P.  Hospital."

"Hospital? Who is in the Hospital? What are you doing in the Hospital?

"Mummy please just come please."

"Okay dear, am on my way.

Exactly thirty minutes later, mummy was in the hospital. When she saw me she ran and held me as I wept in her arms.

"My child the devil has been defeated years ago and he cannot raise its ugly head against you."

"Mummy he slapped me, Abel slapped me." (I started crying again)

"What!? Its okay child, weep not my child. But what are you doing here?"

"Mummy am pregnant, I'm Six weeks pregnant. The doctor just told me am pregnant."

"God be praised, I know He will never fail me. I prayed for you to get pregnant immediately after marriage and that is what he has done. God be praised my child."

"The doctor has said I will stay here for the next three days on bed rest, I've been trying to call my husband but he has refused to pick my calls. Mummy I don't know what is happening. I don't know what to do, I don't even know what I did wrong. Mummy please help me, please.

"Don't worry dear, I will go and see him. I think it is time I speak with him. Especially now that you are with child. He can't be hitting you."

"Mummy please talk with him please.

"I will child, now enough of the talk and rest, while I go home and prepare something for you to eat. Or have you eaten?"

"No mom, it was my neighbour who brought me here. I haven't eaten today."

"Don't worry dear I will be back. Rest now."

"Yes mom."

Mommy went over to my house over and over again but didn't meet my husband at home. She called him severally but if the phone runs twice it switches off. And so after several attempts to reach him and no avail, she sent him a text.

''My son how are you? I've been trying to reach you for sometime now but it seems you are currently engaged. Please we need to see, there are things I want to discuss with you. Meanwhile, call me when you get this text. Your wife is currently in the hospital''.

When mummy came to meet me in the hospital, she told me how her movement went and about the text she sent my husband. I was hopeful that when Abel sees mummy's text he would call and hurry to come and see me. I was glad that mummy didn't tell him of the pregnancy, I want to be the one to tell him, I want to watch the expression on his face. But first I decided to ask mummy.

"Mummy do you think Abel will be happy about our baby?"

"Of course, every man is excited to have a baby, so he will be."

"Mummy I know he will regret hitting me, I will make him beg me and I will tell him he has to bribe me before I will forgive him.'

"And what if he doesn't apologise or ask you to forgive him what will you do?

I suddenly became quiet, I haven't thought of that.

"Mummy if he doesn't say sorry, I won't forgive him o, we will stay like that in the house. He hurt me, he hit a pregnant woman and so he should apologise"

"But he didn't know you were pregnant."

"Even if he didnt know he wasn't suppose to hit me so he has to apologise if not there won't be peace in that house"

"You are still a child my dear, there will be peace in that house. There will be peace in your house. Listen child in marriage no one is wrong or right. Both the man and the woman works together to get it right and build a successful home."

"But he should say sorry.

" Do you know that the one who says sorry is the stronger and the wiser person?"

"huh?"

"Yes dear, the one who says sorry is wiser. Saying sorry does not make you weak, saying sorry is because you are more matured and you want peace".

"So what are you saying mom?"

"I am saying if your husband does not say sorry to you say sorry to him. It doesn't make you foolish, it doesn't make you stupid, it makes you wiser, and when your marriage stands till the end it makes you a complete woman.

"Mom, what are you saying? Where is my pride?"

"In marriage dear, there is no pride. There is humility, submission and love. If you love your husband, if you love your home, if you live this baby you are now carrying then build your home. Do not give the devil a chance to win. Don't be like a foolish woman that destroys her home by her pride. Give everything and expect nothing in return. At the end you will win. That my dear is what marriage is.

"Mummy I don't have the strength for this."

"You are stronger than you think love and you have me here for support."
She said putting her hands on my shoulder

"Thank you so much mom, I don't know what I'd do without you."

I smiled and hugged my mom in the most loving way ever.

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