THE BITTER GOOD NEWS

Nita, are you okay? You look really sick for some couple of days and you’ve been vomiting too, are you sure you won’t visit the hospital to see the doctor? Ladi asked Nita.

NITA: Ladi, I’m ok; I just think its malaria, it’s` been a while I treated malaria, don’t worry I’ll be fine. Ladi said to Nita. No! Ladi screamed, she insisted that they both visit the hospital, just as Ladi said that, Nita stood up to go vomit but she fell down and fainted.

Ladi called out for help, but no one was around to come to her rescue, so she went out to get a tricycle that took them to the hospital. Nita was Immediately rushed in to the emergency ward.

Ladi sat outside worried about what could have happened to Nita, she went close to the nurses to enquire about Nita’s condition but she was told that she’ll be fine. Few minutes later, she was called upon by the doctor, she hurriedly went in to the doctor’s office.

The doctor said to Ladi, please what is your relationship with Miss Nita? Ladi replied, she’s my close friend we live together”, okay, the doctor replied. But we’ll need to speak with any of her relatives, maybe mother or aunty. Ladi replied; she has no one around; I’m the closest person to her. The doctor then said; we would allow her get better then, so that we can talk to her since she’s an adult.

Doctor, you can talk to me, what is the problem with her? How is she doing? Why did she faint? Ladi asked the doctor multiple questions at a time. We are so sorry miss, we can’t answer any of these questions you just asked because of the ethics of our practice, we protect our patient’s confidentiality, but don’t worry she’ll be fine, then you can ask her any of those question you just asked, the doctor replied. Okay sir, Ladi replied disappointed, she stood up and went back to the reception to wait for her.

Few hours later, Nita was awake, and waiting for the doctor’s review. Ladi was already with her, narrating to her how the doctor wouldn’t tell her why she fainted; Nita was surprised as to why the doctor didn’t tell her, they both laughed and got over it.

Less than an hour later, Nita was called to the doctor’s office. The doctor said to her, miss Nita, are you aware that you are pregnant? You shouldn’t stress yourself too much and don’t also use any drug without the doctor’s prescription, you almost lost your pregnancy, but thank God you were brought in immediately, but now you are fine, just be more careful, you’ve been discharged, so you can go to the pharmacy and get your drugs.

Nita with tears rolling down her cheeks, asked the doctor so you mean I’m pregnant? How? When? Nita was very disappointed and left the doctor’s office sad.

THE MOMENT OF DENIAL

Nita, are you okay? Ladi asked in curiosity when she saw her crying. Nita replied, Ladi the doctor said I’m pregnant. how? Ladi please tell me. This is less than a month I met Eric and we both didn’t have sex, I only visited him once and he didn’t touch me or can a female get pregnant without sex? Ladi, please tell me I’m dreaming, how do I give birth to a child without a father. Don’t worry Nita you’ll be fine, Ladi said.

Few days later, Ladi said to Nita, have you thought of abortion or do you want to keep the pregnancy without a father? Nita replied, pregnancy? Do you really think I’m pregnant? Maybe I should visit another hospital and run a pregnancy test or perhaps I should get a urine strip and recheck. Nita! Look at you, your breast is getting bigger, you sleep a lot and you also throw up at times, beside when last did you see your menses? Ladi asked, I think……Nita was thinking when Ladi cut her short and said it was 2 months ago, Nita was surprised as to how Ladi could have guessed correctly, you don’t need to be surprised, we both stay In this house and I know your menstrual dates, besides I asked you last month why you didn’t get a sanitary pad, you said you haven’t started and it was past your menstrual date, Ladi said to Nita.

Nita was confused as to how Ladi did her calculation and concluded that she was pregnant, so you mean I am truly pregnant? Hmm…. God help me! What will I do now Ladi? Where do I start from? Should I give birth to this child without a father or just terminate the pregnancy?

Nita, I think you should visit Eric, let him know you are pregnant and see how he’ll react to it. Ladi! How do I tell Eric that I’m pregnant when he didn’t have sex with me? He’s innocent and I don’t intend complicating him, so please let’s leave Eric out of it, Nita said.

Nita, I think its right you let him know because I saw him with a lady yesterday while going to the Bank and something didn’t feel right about it because he pretended not to see me. Even if you wouldn’t tell him about the pregnancy, know the status of your relationship with him, Ladi said to Nita.

Okay! Maybe I’ll visit him tomorrow, thank you Ladi, I’m so grateful God bless you, Nita said to Ladi. I’ll stop over at the lab along their street to do a blood test to be certain I’m pregnant, so I can know what to do next. Almost immediately, she ran to the bathroom to throw up, Ladi said, my dear sister, you don’t need to waste your money going to a lab to redo the test, I can categorically tell you that you are pregnant and soon to be a mother; Ladi said jokingly to Nita.

This might be severe malaria, Nita replied, we can’t just conclude on what the doctor said and for your information, I’ll still redo the pregnancy test and also buy the urine strip to be really sure that I’m pregnant. Ladi laughed at her hysterically, and said, Alright! I hear you.