Chapter 3 MRS SMITH FEELING

"Good morning, Mrs. Smith. How are you feeling today?" I inquired.

She replied, "I'm feeling good, except for some sharp pain in my stomach area."

Noticing the massage chair nearby, I asked, "I see. How often do you experience this pain?"

"When you went for your antenatal, what did the doctor say?" I inquired.

She shared, "The doctor concluded that they were going to go for a C-section, and that I might give birth i week early before my due date."

I probed further, asking, "How often do you feel the pain? Is it persistent?"

She assured me, "No, the pain isn't constant. It comes and goes."

Considering her response, I offered, "It could be the Braxton Hicks contractions. Can you describe how they feel?"

She nodded, explaining, "It's like menstrual cramps. It feels like a tightening or squeezing sensation in my lower abdomen. I also experience body and back aches, but the massage chair helps alleviate that. My husband also assists me by giving me massages."

It seemed like she was managing the discomfort with support from her husband and the aid of the massage chair.

I inquired, "Do you make sure to take your medication consistently? It's really important."

She nodded and replied confidently, "Of course, I don't take that lightly."

She invited me to join her for lunch, explaining that she didn't want to eat alone and didn't want to disturb her husband, who had always been her lunchtime companion. Just then, her phone rang, and it was her husband. She answered with a warm, "Hey love..."

As they spoke, I gathered that he was concerned about her well-being during his lunch break and often made the effort to come home to check on her. She reassured him and gently declined his offer to join her for lunch that day, promising that someone else would keep her company, and Mrs. Helen would send his food over. They exchanged expressions of love and concern before ending the call.

Today, she seemed so approachable, like talking to an elder sister rather than an employer. She shared with me the story of how she and her husband had started dating in high school. She went on to tell me about becoming pregnant and giving birth to their son when she was just 20, before they finally got married. She took an interest in my school, and when I mentioned I was a medical student, her face lit up with pride, as if I were family. Mrs. Smith is truly warm and easy to talk to.

We chatted about her 8-year-old son, and she opened up about her journey to conceive a second child. It struck me that this might be one of the reasons for her husband's carefulness and protectiveness. She shared her excitement about expecting a girl, and how thrilled her husband was to have a daughter. She also mentioned her due date, which is coming up next month.

Then, she posed a question that caught me off guard: "How far along are you?" I stammered in response, caught off guard. "I, uh, I... what do you mean?" I managed to say. She quickly reassured me that there was no pressure to share if I didn't want to. She understood that I might have my reasons for keeping it private, and assured me that whenever I felt comfortable, she was there to talk.

At first, I hesitated to reveal the truth, but in all honesty, who was I really fooling? This being her second pregnancy, it feels comforting to have someone I can finally confide in. It's like a weight lifted off my chest. So, I started talking. I admitted that I'm not sure how far along I am. I had been contemplating going to the hospital, but I'm wary of a place where I might be recognized."

To be completely honest, I'm not ready to become a mother, but at the same time, I feel a strong sense of responsibility to fight for this child. After all, it's not their fault; it's mine, and I'm determined to take full responsibility.

When she asked about the baby's father, she inquired, 'What about your boyfriend, Mia?' I mustered the courage to share about my best friend, Laura, and my boyfriend, and how I discovered they were having secret affairs behind my back. I couldn't hold back the tears, feeling used and abandoned. Admitting how scared I was, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. Mrs. Smith comforted me, and after a while, I managed to regain my composure.

Mrs. Helen brought me ice cream, and I couldn't help but feel a bit like a child. Mrs. Smith called her husband to let him know she was heading to the hospital in case he returned home before her. I was taken aback when she asked me to come with her. I explained my apprehension about going to a place where I might be recognized, and I also shared my concerns about my scholarship and how this pregnancy could potentially jeopardize it. She assured me that this doctor was a family friend, not affiliated with the same hospital where I work, and that he would maintain strict confidentiality.

"I've just returned home and I'm about to start doing my laundry for the week. At the hospital, I learned that I'm already 15 weeks pregnant, and it surprised me how far along I actually am. I hadn't been experiencing the typical morning sickness, but I did notice that I was constantly tired and more sleepy than usual. I also found myself urinating frequently and had this constant metallic taste in my mouth, which was rather irritating. I instinctively avoided swallowing it, and the doctor reassured me that not everyone experiences vomiting as I had expected. He explained that my body would soon undergo physical changes, assuring me that it's all part of the process.

I suppose there's no more hiding it now. I'm not sure how much longer I'll be able to keep it under wraps before it finally becomes noticeable."

I decided to video call Jackson to share the news with him. Jackson, a final year law student, is two years older than me and has been like an older brother and best friend to me. Currently, he's about 400 miles away from me while I'm here in Maitama. With Kat already dealing with a lot, I wanted at least one of my friends to be in the know.

'Hey Jackson,' I greeted him. He calls me Mimi. 'How are you?' he asked. I replied, 'I'm good.' We talked for a while about random things, and I even teased him about his girlfriend. Then he asked about Mason. I replied, 'That's why I called.'

'Jack, do you mind if I FaceTime you? I want to show you something.'

'Sure, no problem. So, what's up? Why do you look so nervous?' Jackson asked me.

'Don't freak out, okay?' And then I showed him my belly.

'Wow, congratulations Mia!' He shocked me with his enthusiastic response. 'Wow, I knew Mason was going to catch you for good,' Jackson said. Then he noticed my gloomy face. 'Wait, is this not good news?'

I told him no, that Mason cheated on me and left me. But I omitted the girl he cheated on me with. 'I just wanted you to know so you won't be shocked, since we're family.'

'What?' Jackson said with shock. 'He did what? I'm going to teach him a lesson. How are you holding up?' he asked me.

I told him I was okay and that I'd put everything a little behind me. 'Mia, if you need someone to talk to or anything, I'm just a call away. Don't forget that,' Jackson told me.

'I know. I don't want to burden you anymore. I just want you to be aware.'

'Don't ever say you're a burden to me, okay? I "heart" you.' That's our word, one we created because saying 'love' felt too cringy. It brought a smile to my face. I replied, 'Same here. Take care.'

He asked about Kate and Laura, and I gave him a quick update. I didn't want to drag or prolong the conversation any further before I said something I didn't mean to. 'Okay, bye,' I told him, and he hung up.

The following week, school was set to resume in full swing. I continued with my daily routine, trying to balance my school and work commitments. Mrs. Smith made it easy for me at work by establishing a routine. I would always have a meal at their house whenever I came by, and she would even send me with takeaways. I made sure to excel in my job, as it's what I'm paid for. I also tried to avoid her husband as much as possible; to be honest, he didn't come across as very friendly, at least not towards me.

As for Kate, I went to visit her at home. Thankfully, her mom was getting better. She had decided to relocate to be closer to her family and transferred schools to Lokoja in her home state. She also found a job there. I couldn't bring myself to tell Kate about what was going on with me during our meeting. Although she noticed I looked different and asked why I seemed to have gained some weight, she brushed it off playfully, attributing it to Mrs. Smith's generous meals. I just went along with it. The next day, I headed back to Maitama.

As for Laura, we greeted each other, and we still talked occasionally. Two weeks ago, she asked if I was okay, pointing out that I seemed to be spitting more and had undergone some physical changes. She also inquired if I was still in contact with Mason. I gave her the reply she wanted to hear, saying that I believed it was over between us and that I was doing well, just a little stressed from work. She also brought up how she noticed we had grown distant. I responded that it was probably because we were both busy with our respective activities, and that it's natural for us to be more independent and focused. Besides, she claimed she didn't spend much time at home due to work, though I suspected it might be her way of dealing with guilt.

At this point, I really didn't care. All I wanted from Laura was for her to take care of the pending rent bill until I could stand on my own two feet. No, it wasn't the right time. 'We're good, Laura, and you don't need to feel pressured to keep me company,' I assured her.

So, that left me mostly alone, navigating the life of a pregnant 23-year-old, shuttling between my daily routine, work, and school responsibilities.