Omoshalewa - Episode 16

 

We both sat quietly apart after the deed was done. It was Stephen's first time.

As for me, It came as a surprise that I still bled that night despite the fact that it wasn't my first time...

I felt so guilty. One, having sinned against God. Two, breaking my vow to stay pure till marriage again and three, having s-x with a man who is engaged to another and would be getting married soon.

Stephen too was languished in guilt and regret. We both knew we have offended God already . We didn't talk to each other. We later dozed off...

As early as 5:00am on Monday morning, I woke up. He also woke up immediately I did. It was clear that none of us had a sound sleep.

"I am so sorry about yesterday Shalewa. I allowed the flesh to overcome me. I am sorry about everything."

"Never mind Stephen. I was at fault too. We both let down our guards. Don't blame yourself. It's my fault too, not yours alone." I replied avoiding his face.

He had to get back to Port Harcourt that morning. I also had to get ready for work. I asked him where his friends stayed. He said they had all travelled back to Port Harcourt by flight the previous day, that he told them he had to check on an old friend.

He gave me his complimentary card and we exchanged our phone contacts too.

"Shalewa, I promise to come back for you after I might have tidied up that relationship." He assured.

He left the house first. I said a very painful goodbye to him

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/omoshalewa

. Painful because I knew the plan I was about to execute in my mind. Yes, my plan of course was to relocate from my present apartment and also to change my phone number. I believed that once Stephen wasn't able to communicate with me anymore, he would focus on his fiancée and his marriage plans. And that was what I did. I relocated to another part of Lagos. I made sure the new place wasn't too far from the school where I worked. I changed my phone number too. I stopped being active on social media.

So, I never heard of Stephen again. I was sure he must have come looking for me but I made sure I gave none of my neighbours any clue as to where I moved to, so no one could direct him to my new house. It was a tough decision for me because of the strong love I had for Stephen but I had to let go.

Two months later, I felt so sick and had to take the advice of my boss to go to the hospital to have me checked and get treated. After some series of medical tests, it was confirmed that I was pregnant!

"Jesus! How come?" I questioned myself on my way home. "After Aunty Mopelola had educated me on the safe and unsafe periods in a monthly cycle, I was sure the very day I and Stephen met fell under a safe period for me that month. But how come this pregnancy? Or did I miscalculate? Ha! What kind of problem is this?  How could I get pregnant for a man that was planning for his wedding? How do I tell my pastor how I came about pregnancy as a single sister? What a shame!" I lamented till I got home.

"Should I abo-t it? Murder! That is a sin. But it's only 10weeks. Could that be a sin? God have mercy!" I wept terribly on my bed.

I decided to go and see Doctor Alex, Aunty Mope's Pastor. Yes, the same doctor that helped me when I fell into Desmond's trap. I thought within me that if I explained my predicament to him, he might give me some drugs to terminate the pr-gnancy.

"I just have to get rid of it, I will ask God for forgiveness." I concluded.

I got to Doctor Alex and explained my plight to him in details and how much I desired to terminate the pregnancy because the father, who was my first love will soon be married to another woman.

After a few seconds, the doctor sighed and said,

"Omoshalewa, whatever the circumstance is, no baby deserves to die. 
Now, I won't persuade you too much but before you take your decision, let me give you an illustration of what happens in the womb and what is happening within you right now.

When the spe-m was ejaculated into you, the only one that struggled to reach its destination among the millions that were released at the same time is the one you are carrying right now. After the conception took place, the foetus is implanted and settles happily in your womb, with a sense of fulfilment about achieving its goal at last. That is how it begins its new life, growing gradually. Now, remember that this foetus doesn't know its father yet, it doesn't know whether the father was to get married to you or to any other woman. The only person this baby knows right now is you, its mother. It has come to be a part of you, your blood formed it. It has started eating the food supplied from your very system. You two are bonding together, the bond is getting stronger day by day. The baby sees you as its lifeline, its protector, its defender. It recognises your voice, its attached to you comfortably and totally, eagerly awaiting the time to be born when he or she will see your face at last. All these explains the reason why the bond between a mother and child is so strong through their lifetime.

Now, when a mother decides to abo-t her unborn child, it is like a child being chased by murderers from outside his home and quickly ran into his mother's house for help, for defence and protection only for the mother to chase the child back to those evil people who in turn hacked him to pieces with cutlasses...

Hmmmmmm, Shalewa. See it in that light and tell me how you will feel if you were that baby. You are here for an abo-tion now. Probably, the baby just took its lunch and is resting contentedly inside your womb which is its safe and peaceful home right now. You then agree to open your legs for the abo-tion process and I dip those sharp objects into your womb to terminate the innocent life. Or I gave you some drugs that would shred it into tiny pieces, the baby sees the death coming and pleads to you for mercy because it trusts in your care and loyalty to it, but what do you do? You spread your legs further for the doctor to hack him or her to pieces..."

"Noooooo, doctor! Stop please. I can't take this any longer." I cried.

The doctor continued,

"See Shalewa, no one is a saint. "The Bible says, 'Let he who is without sin first cast the stone...' I am not condemning you for getting pregnant out of wedlock but if you go ahead to abo-t that baby, then you have condemned yourself already. You see, seated right here before you is a man who was once a murderer too. I mean I abo-ted a lot of babies for my clients in the past, too numerous that I lost count before I met with the Lord Jesus who changed my life. Till now, I still regret terminating the life of those babies. Whenever their lifeless bodies came flashing back at me,  I couldn't just hold back the tears. But I thank God for His saving grace.

Shalewa, abo-tion is murder, don't abo-t this baby then live to regret it later. Only God knows tomorrow, maybe he or she would be the one to give you joy after your numerous woes, at the end of the day. Please keep it. God owns your future in His hands, He will surely take care of you. Ask for forgiveness and trust in him."

I wept so much in his office that day, asking God for mercy over and over again. Doctor Alex prayed with me and after the prayer session, he advised me to come and register for my antenatal care in his hospital as soon as possible if I wouldn't mind. I agreed.

The pregnancy was kind of tough for me both physically and emotionally. There were days I really wished my mum was alive to go through this journey with me. I resigned temporarily from my job when I couldn't cope with the stress any longer.

The shame and ridicule I also faced at church was out of this world. After I had confessed my sins to my pastor, he prayed with me and mandated me to make an open confession before the whole congregation. It was a tough thing to do but God helped me. 

It was such an embarrassing and shameful moment especially before those who had been looking up to me as a role model. I made my confession amidst tears. Some felt for me and wept along with me while some felt I only got what I wanted and was faking the remorse.

I was suspended from taking part in any activity at church. I was made to sit at the back row like an outcast buy I humbly endured the disciplinary stage with the help of the Holy spirit.

My doctor was there  for me all the way for both medical and spiritual attention. I never missed any of my antenatal appointments with him.

Read " The Puzzle " by the same author ( Moyosore Teniola )

. He was really a 'God sent' to me, encouraging me all the way.

When my Estimated Delivery Date came close, doctor Alex advised me to come over to stay with his family till I have my baby, because of the  distance between my house and the hospital. The fact that I also stay alone may be risky especially if my labour starts in the middle of the night according to him. I agreed and moved in with them. 

Doctor's wife was another angel in human form, very nice and hospitable. She took good care of me as if I was her very own daughter.

Three weeks later, I fell into labour. I brought forth a bouncing baby boy after three hours of active and painful labour. I forgot about my pains when I held my cute baby in my arms. He is a perfect replica of Stephen. I named him Stephen (Jr) after his father. I forgot about all the sorrows and shame of the past months.  I thanked God I didn't abo-t him after all. Stephen is such an adorable baby! Even those who once mocked and taunted me at church couldn't resist admiring him. He got a lot of gifts too numerous to count.

I was so grateful to Doctor Alex and his family for being there with me all the way. 

Aunty Mope became Stephen's godmother even before she got to meet him...

So, that was how I continued my life as a single mother, enjoying the joys of motherhood all the way...

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Hi guys, I hope you have gained some more from this episode? No one can condemn you aside God. 
Congratulations to Omoshalewa.

Send your greetings!

So, what next? Stay tuned...