DIARY OF A SINGLE LADY PART 9

His facial expression showed anger, I wondered; could he be setting this up with his mum? And what do they intend to gain. I started doubting the whole facade of hospitality being rendered by the Archjues. They’ve just been leading me on a trail to a slaughter, and now they’ve achieved it. He walked to us and gave me a hug.

I felt warm a little once more.

Hope you’ve heard all mum told you he asked? 

At this point I knew it was all a plan. When did he know about this? We slept in the same room, and your mum didn’t talk to you in the middle of the night, or thereabout but I said yes.

We walked into our room together and I was in the shower in a bit, to think alone, not to really clean up.  What more could I have of myself? I thought. 

I found out I’ve been dehumanized by this family for seeing me not worthy to bear their child. I sat in the tub remembering the moaning sounds of Lawrence when having sex. Days I have to clean him up afterwards. I cooked for him, arranged his clothes, travelled around, with or without my options of acceptance or not and afterwards still satisfy his ego of putting his manhood in my pot made of gold…. Hmm I sublimed to myself, if this was a plan they would pay for it.  

Shortly, breakfast was served and the family ate together again. I had the best of the morning; we ate at a smaller dining room.  I tried to realize myself. I told them the stories of Benin kingdom and its royal artifacts. The kings that fought the colonial masters and the one that went on exile in Calabar. A friend of mine was in anthropology department, and she had always stunned me with histories of cultures I never knew. My sense of understanding cultures and the command I controlled that morning, stunned the father, that in amazement he made the final statement.

You would have made a good wife for my son if not for your background. Just a slip I guess and everyone turned to him. The mum and Lawrence were amazed, and I was in tears. I stood up and walked out of the door; I was trying to locate the room. Lawrence came running after me and asked me what I meant by walking out of everyone like that. In all anger I screamed “I know I’m not wanted in your family because I wasn’t born into royalty, please let me go” he held my hand so tightly trying to phantom a good word to cover up for his father but none came out.

The mother of life came out again with an expression that meant death to me.  Myself and daddy has fathomed we cannot leave you like that, thus an amount of money has been deposited in your bank accounts to cater for you after this whole ….. She left. That was the last time I saw the parents.

The drive back to town was the most horrible in my life. I left without Lawrence. Alone in a car for three hours gave me enough room to cry. The whole world has crashed on me. I can’t survive this I knew. I would die, rather I must die, the driver said; madam you won’t die in Jesus name. It was then I knew I was thinking aloud. Thanks I said as I directed him to my house. I can’t sleep alone in this house and I’ve done away with all my friends. The position this relationship kept me was without friends and now I need one immediately. 

Angela was the available friend, and in a short while she was in my house. Angela is always broke and hungry. A beautiful girl that lacks courtesy when it comes to food, is supposed to be called Angela. She can eat a mountain without drinking water, but for this day, food was not the issue. She didn’t understand the fact I was crying, so she rushed to my house.

I tried narrating the story to her and when I was done, she hissed, and told me to pull myself together. What are you expecting from a man? Heartbreak of course: they will all go to hell in Jesus name she said and I shouted a big amen. If it’s for the pregnancy we’ll remove it tomorrow. I have up to five doctor friends, who are specialist. They can even come and remove it in your house. Don’t worry too much about that. Just pull yourself together. Anyway I’m with you.

She stood up and opened the fridge for the season of eating to begin. Can’t you remember Segun, she asked? Who is Segun? That idiot I told you about now, that complained I was too fat that’s the reason he can’t marry me…. Yeah I remember. The day I saw his mum, Holy Jesus! She looks like Yokozuna. Men, hmmm men, as she swallowed the tenth slice of bread.

The drive to the doctor’s place the next day wasn’t hard, and in twenty minutes I was done with the abortion. I could feel some pains anyway, and just a little rest would do the trick.I was also instructed not to do any job thus I slept off as I got home. I had slept for four hours and it was already evening. I didn’t notice it at first because I was used to it, but surprisingly it meant Lawrence was in my house for his brown jacket to be on my bed. I could smell his presence thus I called Angela and as the door opened I saw Lawrence standing in front, he walked towards me, feel on his knees in apology, touched my tummy, with tears in his eyes and opening a case of engagement ring, he asked me to marry him…………….

Auntie Feza it’s past midnight, let’s go and sleep I’ll continue tomorrow. Its a holiday.