Chapter 2 THE DISCOVERY

The joy of her first sexual experience was etched on her tired face when she woke up the next morning. She watched sleeping Eric for a while before she stood up from the bed. She suddenly felt guilty as soon as she saw the blood smeared on her bed-sheet. Suddenly her conscience began to prick her. She felt like a traitor and became conscious of the fact that she had defied herself and couldn't imagine that God would forgive her. She tried praying but it was a fruitless exercise as she struggled amidst a trail of aggressive thoughts.

Eric woke up just as she was struggling to come to terms with her present state.

''Good morning,'' he said.

She did not reply him. She couldn't bear to look at the devil's agent who had made her commit such a grievous sin. She hurried out of the room with a cloth tied around her bosom just stopping below her knee. Eric hurriedly put on his clothes and rushed outside to meet her standing by a pillar.

''What is wrong with you?'' he asked.

She didn't reply him as she continued staring ahead. He went and stood in front of her.

''What is wrong with you?'' he asked.

Kome remained at the same spot still struggling to let go of her despair. She looked at Eric who was immediately moved by the look on her face.

''Promise you won't leave me,'' she blurted.

''I won't,'' Eric replied.

She leaned forward to embrace him. It was all she needed at that point. She was feeling a deep sense of guilt and also coupled with the fact that her father would vilify her if he finds out. She needed the assurance from the only person she felt could defend her even in this tumultuous time. She held onto him for a little longer before Eric disengaged from the embrace. He patted her hair and then kissed her on the forehead. He left immediately.

She went into her room and started packing her clothes. She struggled to keep her mind at rest while also faced with the fact that she was almost late for the trip home. Her father had always advocated for travelling as early as possible. She left for the motor-park as soon as she was done with arranging her luggage. The journey back home was cool and refreshing. She indulged herself in cherishing the pleasant memories of her four years stay in the University of Benin.

Kome's first few weeks home was a mixture of both good and not-too-good experiences. She received several congratulatory messages from her close friends and church members. Her father was particularly thrilled with the fact that she came out with a good result and she got a rare hug from him. She found settling back into living with her father and being responsible for the household chores uninteresting and tasking. She was already used to living on her own and surely loved the freedom that came with it thus her father's house only made her feel nostalgic about her school days in Benin. She also missed Eric especially when she remembers the last night they spent together. The feelings that enveloped her mind in the aftermath seemed pleasant after all and this made her pine for an opportunity to visit him in Benin.

The need to visit Benin arrived in an unexpected way. A month after her arrival at home, she started feeling sick. It started with symptoms of malaria fever. She tried to self-medicate for some time but when her health condition failed to improve, she went to the hospital with her father. The doctor did a test to confirm if it was malaria but it came out negative. Other tests were conducted but none proved satisfactory. Oghale was worried and confused.

''I am afraid sir, we have not found anything,'' the doctor reported.

''This is strange, what do you think we should do?'' Oghale asked.

''I really don't know but these symptoms are common place especially in pregnancy related issues,'' the doctor replied.

''That is definitely off the point, she is not married yet,'' Oghale replied half chuckling.

The doctor saw sense in what he had just revealed. The pregnancy test was the only test they had not conducted. He felt uncomfortable with the trail of his thoughts but it was almost foolish to rule out such a possibility. How was he going to tell the man that they should give pregnancy test a trial? He knew him as a man with high morals and therefore it was expected that his only child should be able to follow the right path.

"Sir, there is little we can do. Maybe it would be wise to take her home."

"Alright, thank you very much."

They shook hands and Oghale left with his daughter. Kome felt weak but she tried to find solace in the doctor's unknown diagnosis. She felt that all she needed was to rest and things would return back to normal as soon as possible. She was able to live through the next two days without any incidence but the third day presented an insight into what could possibly be wrong with her. She was setting the table for breakfast when she fainted. Oghale rushed her to the hospital immediately.

She woke up with a startle and was immediately confronted by the white walls of the doctor's office. The room was quiet as there was nobody besides her. She stood up from the bed which was located some distance from the doctor's desk. The doctor walked in right at that moment.

''Good morning sir,'' she greeted.

''Good afternoon, how are you?'' the doctor asked.

''I am feeling okay,'' she replied.

She went to sit on the bed while the doctor stood facing her.

''Kome.''

"Sir."

''You are pregnant. You are a month gone already'' the doctor announced.

She stared at the doctor dumbfounded. It seemed like the world collapsed right in front of her. How was she going to explain the pregnancy to her father? Finally, the event of that night with Eric was going to be revealed. She bowed her head in shame while the doctor patted her on the back. The doctor walked away without minding the sympathetic thoughts that was about taking over his mind. He was used to such scenes.

Tears streamed down her cheeks which she quickly brushed away. Crying was not going to solve her problem. She stood up and left the hospital. The journey back home was filled with thoughts of how she was going to face her father and also what next since the pregnancy has been confirmed. She couldn't utter the word 'God'. She felt like she had been separated from him a long time ago and she was tired of being held down by the overwhelming guilt that assailed her mind. The realization of her true spiritual state was becoming obvious. She had lost touch with her faith in God. She stopped in front of their house and paid the motorcycle rider. She went to her room immediately she got into the house. She was both physically and emotionally weak and needed as much rest she could get before facing her father. If it was up to her, she wouldn't have informed her father but she knew the doctor must have informed him.

Oghale returned home just before the sun vanished completely from sight. She opened the door as soon as he knocked.

"Diwo,"she greeted.

"Vredo,"he replied.

Oghale walked past her even as he noticed that her head was slightly bowed. He felt it was not time yet to confront her as he was tired. He had managed to finish up the assignment given to him at the office before returning home. Kome on her part heaved a sigh of relief. She knew he must have gotten the news but was happy that he had not brought it up as soon as he returned. She was getting the table set for the evening meal when he came into the kitchen.

"I hope you have heard?" he asked suddenly.

She did not reply.

"Are you deaf?" he asked raising his voice.

"Yes, I have heard," she stammered.

"So what happened?"

Her thoughts came tumbling as she struggled to come up with a suitable reply. There was no way she was going to recant the story that led to her first sexual intercourse.

"I slept with a friend," she said.

"That is a very stupid confession from you," her father thundered. "I can't imagine that you could be so stupid as to sleep with a man who is not your husband."

"Ose (father)...I am sorry."

"I don't need any apology from you. I just want you to bring that man that impregnated you," he said angrily.

She remained in the same spot with her head bowed.

"Are you still standing there?" he asked angrily.

She made an attempt to move but her mind was clad in confusion. She was lost on what to do to pacify her father. The deed had been done and there was little she could do but to embrace the consequence.

"You betrayed me, you failed to adhere to my instructions," Oghale moaned.

She fell on her knees immediately.

''I am very sorry'' Kome pleaded.

"No, you will have to take this pregnancy to the person that slept with you. I don't think I can allow a single lady to live with a pregnancy under my roof especially my own daughter."

That night, she was pushed out of the house by her father. It came as a huge shock to her and her fervent knocks on the door did not assuage her father's anger. She looked around the dark street for a while before stepping out of the compound. She was unsure of where to go. She had relations she could put up with but was unwilling to report her present predicament to them. She preferred to leave that responsibility to her father hence did not consider going to stay with any of them. She didn't wait too long before hitting the street.

She arrived her friend's house just before it was 8:30pm. She was gladly taken in by Precious, one of her closest friends. Precious's parents were not in the sitting room when they entered and she quickly took Kome to her room which she shared with her two younger sisters. Kome took a spot on the mattress beside her as they settled down to sleep. They didn't talk much and Kome was quite happy as she was unwilling to discuss anything. She slept intermittently through the night constantly bothered by the dreary visions that permeated her dreams. The future was gradually unravelling itself before her eyes and she was yet to arrive at a definite decision. She left just before dawn and managed to evade Precious's parents.