Chapter 6: Family Prayer and New Suitor

Of course I no foolish reach to go meet Halima for there.

If to say na movie, I for rush challenge am. But na real life. I just respect myself.

After Dr. Femi finish work and go with Halima, I quietly go collect my pikin things from him lounge.

I tiptoe like thief, pack my bottle, check say nothing loss. Na small dignity remain for me.

After my family hear say I born pikin with unknown papa, dem drive me. My papa tell people say him no get daughter like me. My mama insult me, disown me join. Only my brother, wey dey shout for my face, still dey help me secretly.

Every night, I dey beg God make my family forgive me, but answer never land. Even my aunty wey dey lead church women association, she carry me matter for prayer meeting. Only Kamsi dey help me buy diapers, drop small money for my account.

My aunty, wey dey run marriage agency, dey fear say I no go marry. As baby still small, she rush arrange blind date. She talk say the man no mind stepchild.

The way she dey call me every day, I know say she wan see me marry before year end. She dey quote Bible, dey beg me say make I no shame family name.

I say make I find papa for my child, so I go meet the man. I think say na normal person, but e good well. When e hear say I dey hospital, e rush come visit me.

He bring banana and gala, plus Ribena, arrange for my bedside. As I see am, my heart calm small.

For ward, the man sit for bedside, wear gold-rimmed glasses, look gentle.

The way he smile, e soft. I dey see hope, maybe I fit start again.

"Morayo, how you dey? I hear say blocked milk duct fit bad. If e worse, e fit turn mastitis. Try rest well."

E dey talk like person wey really care, not just form.

I nod. "I don almost well. Doctor say one more IV, I go discharge next tomorrow."

I try smile, but my face no fit hold am. Na too much wahala.

"I go free next tomorrow. I go come carry you go house."

E talk am like gentleman, and my mind rest small. Maybe hope still dey.

"Okay, thank you."

As I talk am, I dey wish say na Dr. Femi I dey talk to. But I keep am inside.

No be lie, the man really get good heart. When I small, I no know better, I take bad guy as treasure. Na me be that.

I dey think say if to say I meet this one first, life for soft small. But you know Naija mind, na old love dey sweet pass.

Suddenly, Dr. Femi enter ward, face like thunder, talk quietly, "Morayo, you no fit discharge next tomorrow."

E talk am slow, voice deep. I just dey wonder if e hear our gist.

Me: ...

I freeze, dey look am. The tension dey heavy.

"Why?" He don already tell me say I go discharge.

I dey wonder if na wahala he dey find.

"Hospital system dey upgrade next tomorrow, nobody fit discharge."

E talk am with that doctor voice, like say na final say. No argument.

As I see him serious, I believe am. I just tell Chuka sorry.

I no even fit argue, my head dey turn.

"Chuka, no worry, no need carry me. I go go house myself."

Chuka nod, him face still dey show concern. Na good man sha.

"Okay, take care. If you need help, call me."

He adjust him glasses, pack him bag, waka slow.

Chuka get call, talk bye, then waka.

I dey watch as he dey talk for phone, e voice gentle. Na better person.

"Na your boyfriend?" Person wey still dey ward ask, shock me.

The woman for next bed just dey shine eye. Na so gossip dey start for hospital.

And as I hear say he and Halima wan engage, I no wan lose face.

I just talk small lie.

I smile small, "Ehn, something like that."

The woman just look me, nod. I rest my back, but my mind dey heavy. Life na real soap opera.

As Femi talk say I no fit discharge, my hope just collapse, like puff-puff wey no rise.