ng way in easing the financial challenges she was likely to encounter on her return to Benin. She left the house in company of her aunt who took her to the Motor-park. She couldn’t overcome the fe

Her interest in the present environment did not dissuade her thoughts from morphing into concr

lling to help but knew she would be a burden. She subconsciously rubbed her hand on her stomach and suddenly wished she could s

o the present by the b

the passengers for

ake for some part of the journey but slept off before they got to Benin. She was woken up by the loud voice of a passenger who was directing the driver to a point where he would disembark. She felt reli

it after she had described the direction she was headed for. She arrived at the front of the compound of her residence and went straight to her room. After settling in, she laid on her bed and began contemplating her present condition. Her room was almo

ling with intense hunger and her immediate desire was to ease the pressure threatening to rip her stomach apart. She bought bread and a bottle of Coke. She sat on the bed on her return, ate and drank while taking staring into the space of her room

er house. She walked stealthily towards her and tickled her side. Rac

a serious shock,” Rach

ously was someone cha

. Rachael told her about the release of the mobilization list which Kome was quick to dismiss cryptically. She was not pr

h other. She felt betrayed by him and blamed her recent struggles on his reluctance to accept the baby. It was a bitter summation of a relationship that promised much. She had little support to rest on at the moment but w

use as she struggled to keep her pregnancy from prying eyes. A month had gone since she returned to Benin before she faced the cold reality of her situation. The man in charge of the house cam

he asked in a rat

ent,” the vo

come. It was the tenth day of the month of September and her rent had been due for renewal since th

noon Sir,”

noon,” the

bulge that was barely concealed by t

he reason why I ha

r,” she

issue presently?

as soon as I

u that you have l

but nevertheless still had a feeling that things could end up in her favor. She needed help as soon as she could get it with desperation gradually seeping i

n, she decided to go and visit her Rachael. She met her reading a

o tell you somet

istening,” Ra

preg

shaken by Rachael’s reaction as she expected it. Rachae

months gon

ka

tone was

? Is your father aware?”

is angry

intend to do?”

your assistance. I might need your

church activities. Thus, her surprise at the thought of her involvement in pre-marital sex. Kome expected the shocked reaction of her friend and had braced herself for that moment. She had nothing to hide anyway

********

took her to the city center. She alighted and took a motorcycle to Eric’s house. The motorcycle stopped just in

n I do for yo

see Eric,

p do you have wit

friend,” s

e could almost imagine the trail of his

, wait her

he gate keeper. After all Eric was unmarried and it was not a good sight to see

u doing here

see you,” s

barely masking the i

do you

...so what

hostile towar

cerning that thing you have there. There is no wa

made that statement,” she

was about leaving when Kome

me money,”

e any money

to you if I had other

d my point about you going for an abort

aze even as he

h more than t

the edges of her eyes and

ney now, you must promise no

you have said,

notes towards her. She took the money not minding the fact that Eric turned his face away. She got the money and left immediately. S

tively drown the money in her possession. She needed help and the seeming lack of assistance was already taking its toll on her m

,” she

are y

ne,” Kom

ide Rachael

s your day?

good,” Rach

I need y

ncy in her voice and

it?” sh

ord is on my neck to pay the rent.

on her negatively. Unfortunately, she was a friend and how best could she express her friendship than to he

tand the implication of

es

an mov

her friend. After all, ho

oing to be just f

nsed especially as Rachael acknowledge the fact that the burden of Kome’s pregnancy was about to