It's unfair, isn't it? How they all just walk away. Boys never stick around to give birth or carry the baby after the deed is done which leaves the girl in a disadvantaged position.
When Susan John was a little girl, she knew exactly what she wanted out of life and had nursed a lifelong desire of becoming a medical doctor and was vigorously pursuing this dream of hers until she met Toluwa and everything fell apart.
Being a product of a single parent, nobody believed she could make the same mistake after she watched her mother struggle through life to raise her.
Though she understood her morbid fear of the opposite sex, she felt her antagonism ran deeper than a scorned woman and had wondered how she would ever find a husband if she had to stay away from all men.
But that was until she met Toluwa where she had gone to watch a movie.
"It's so sad how the protagonist died, why couldn't they save him?" Susan asked in-between sobs as they trooped out of the cinema house.
"That's how the writer wanted it," Otun said dismissively.
"Ah, Otun, you always kill the vibe in everything!" Bisola lamented.
"It's indeed a true life story." A husky male voice chipped in from behind as the three girls turned simultaneously to look at him.
"Really?" Susana asked awkwardly as she quickly cleaned her eyes to hide her tear-stained face.
"I cried as well the first time I watched the movie and there's absolutely nothing to be ashamed of, and I have to apologize for butting into your discussion in such a manner, it was just that I couldn't help overhearing since I was directly at your back." He finished quietly with a smile as he explained the story around the character in great detail, which left the three girls spellbound.
They had exchanged addresses as they parted ways and it wasn't long before Susana found out they shared a lot in common which sparked a steamy relationship between them that she hid from everyone, including her mother.
On this particular day, they had both gone to a party and had lost track of time, an outing her mother would never have allowed her to attend if she was to know.
The moment the car that brought her back sped off, it threw the entire compound into total darkness as she rummaged through her purse for the front door key.
"I can't believe it's past midnight?" She muttered under her breath as the whole place looked eerily quiet with scanty dog barks here and there.
Quietly, she removed her shoes and tiptoed into the house. in order not to wake her mother. Luckily for her, the sitting room was quiet and empty which meant that she had gone to bed. She was already beginning to count her luck when the light in the sitting room suddenly came on.
"Where do you think you're going?" Her mother demanded in her usual no-nonsense manner after waiting endlessly for her.
"Mum!" she shouted. "You gave me a big fright. I...I thought you were already fast asleep?"
"Obviously. That explains why you were tiptoeing into your own house like a common thief. Who were you with by this time of the night and how many times have I warned you not to keep late nights Susana?" She asked angrily.
"I'm so sorry mum. It wasn't intentional. I went out with a friend and lost track of time." She said apologetically.
"And was I supposed to clap for you for that? If you have any common sense in you, you would stay away from boys, Susana. They would just use you and..."
"Yea mum, I get it, 'they would just use you and dump you like like a piece of garbage." She completed it in a singsong manner, already quite familiar with the phrase.
"I'm glad you understand this very well because God will bear me witness that I tried." She said.
"Relax mum. There's nothing to be afraid of. I was indeed out with Bisola and Otun. It was a girl's outing and nothing more." She lied effortlessly.
"I hope you're telling me the truth for your own good." She said over her shoulder as she went back to her room in annoyance.
Susana breathed a sigh of relief as she entered her room. She hates these constant arguments with her mother and the last thing she wanted was to upset her but what can she do when the old woman does not give her breathing space or understand she's old enough to have a boyfriend? She thought as she gradually fell asleep.
But it wasn't long before words got to her mother that she was seeing someone.
"Who is Toluwa?" She asked her one evening they were together.
Susana knew this question would come but she didn't expect it would be this soon. Not now that she was feeling sick and was vomiting all over the place.
"I...I...," suddenly she began to cough and throw up as she tried so hard to suppress it.
"Did something upset your stomach or have you...no, it can't be what I'm thinking?" Her mother asked in alarm.
"Is there any way you could be pregnant, Susana?" She asked after a long pause.
"I don't know mum." She answered truthfully.
"I don't know mean there's a possibility you could be pregnant?" She asked with so much disappointment.
"I...we...I...was careless once." She stammered, too afraid to face her mother.
"I warned you, Susana, I told you but you wouldn't listen. Now see where your stubbornness has landed you. How would you make the same mistake all over again? She asked in desperation.
"I don't know! I thought I had taken all the precautions." She sobbed.
Well, what's done is done! You must go and tell the boy if he won't deny you as they all do." Her mother said dejectedly with a shrug, remembering her situation fifteen years ago.
It took another week before Susana summoned up enough courage to tell Toluwa about the pregnancy.
"I'm late!" She blurted out as they sat together near an ice cream stand one evening.
"Late for what?" He asked innocently without thinking.
"I'm...no, we are going to have a baby." Susana stammered audibly, looking straight into his eyes.
"By having a baby, do you mean pregnancy? He asked stupidly, making a balloon sign.
"Yes, Susana nodded awkwardly.
There was just a moment of silence as he seemed to be in shock but quickly recollected himself.
"Great! That's a piece of wonderful news." He said in a deflected tone.
"Really! I thought you'll be mad at me for being careless?" She asked excitedly.
"Well, ...not exactly but I can't abandon you with the baby." He said awkwardly, looking quite shifty.
"Thank you so much, Tolu. That means a lot to me." She said excitedly as they began to make plans for the future.
Susana didn't waste time in telling her friends the good news who in turn told their parents and like wildfire, the news quickly spread around that she was pregnant. People began to look at her differently and to make fun of her.
Gradually, her friends left, one after another as she gained weight, and she began to stay indoors due to her physical changes. Unfortunately, the more she gained weight, the more Toluwa withdrew from her until he stopped coming, and wouldn't even pick up her calls.
Then one beautiful Sunday morning, she got the most devastating news that Toluwa had traveled abroad, abandoning her and the baby.
Sad isn't it? What will she do now? If only girls would learn to walk away before they do!
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