Her Mistake

∆ FORTY TWO ∆

DEDICATED TO YOU!

I saw stars. Stars moving round my head. Even my mother's slap didn't hurt that much. If it was the pain I felt in my chest that made it hurt more then maybe but it hurt me more than physically.

That wasn't Daniel. The cigarette was probably messing with his head coupled with the shock of the pregnancy.

"You better find something to do about it." Those were his last words during our conversation. He left me crying and for a moment, I saw hatred flash in those brown eyes of his.

Surely, I was going to do something about it. I wasn't particularly excited about the pregnancy. There was no other alternative apart from the abortion. The hanger abortion may have not worked but Seun said there was another option. And I was glad about it, it was my saving grace.

Seun wanted to hit him but I stopped her. He was in the influence of the cigarette. Zara wanted to do worse; break a bottle on his head, like she could. I scoffed. Violence was never the answer and even if it was, violence was not for her.

Using a hand to adjust my bag on my shoulders, I used the other to push the door. All I wanted to do now was be alone. Alone. I needed to think. To let out the tears I held back at school. I couldn't even concentrate in class.

"You can't greet abi?" Mum clapped her hands dramatically while hissing. "Where did your manners go?" She glared at me, her legs crossed and sprawled on the threeseater sofa.

I genuflected, "good afternoon ma." She murmured sarcastically;  nodding with a scowl, "welcome ma."

Making my way to my room, she called me back. She sat upright and tapped the space on the couch; I sat next to her. Mum griped my hand and gave it a long, soft , soothing squeeze then asked, "oko mi, are you alright?"

With care and concern, she turned me to face her and took my other hand in hers. She stared deep into my eyes like I was an exam paper of one of her students. "Oluwatobiloba, what's wrong? Tell me."

That was all it took for me to burst into tears. I engulfed her in a tight hug and cried on her bosom. All I could do was cry. Cry. Cry out my words. Cry out how I felt; broken.

"Mummy, I'm sorry."

Bawling my eyes out, my grip on her tightened as I kept on apologizing. The word, sorry, flew out my  mouth numerous times.

I loosened my hold on mother's thin frame involuntarily, she pushed me back, stared hard at me before speaking, "What exactly is the problem?" She picked my hands on her lap, gave a long squeeze like she had done earlier then said; "tell me the problem, Tobi. We may not be wealthy neither am I a magician but I will try my best to help you."

My eyes went to the multicolored Ankara gown she was wearing. It fitted her perfectly and I recalled her wearing it to work this morning. Tears had seeped through the bosom area of the gown and it had rumpled a bit .

I didn't have the courage to look her in the face. She didn't know about it but I felt she knew. Like, she could see through my pain and read me.

Two fingers moved to my chin and brought my face up to look at my mother's. She was hurt, seeing me hurt and broken must have been hurting her. "You can trust me."

For a moment I thought about telling her everything but I also thought about her reaction. Would she take the news lightly? Never! No mother in her right mind would hug her teenage daughter who told her she was pregnant.