…Continued from Chapter Fifteen.
“What? How? Don’t mess with my emotions, Ebun!”
“Here, see for yourself!” I handed her the test result.
“How is this even possible?” she said in total surprise.
“Well, I don’t know exactly but this has happened to someone I know before.”
“Ebun you don’t know how relieved I am right now, I feel like dancing.”
“Babes, you just dodged a bullet. You should feel relieved!”
“I really thought my life was over. I wasn’t even sure I could go through with the abortion.”
“I think now you’ve learnt your lesson, next time you’ll…”
“Next time?” She interrupted abruptly. “There won’t be a next time! From now henceforth I don’t want anything to do with any man! The gate is closed until he puts a ring on my finger.”
“Hahaha! Not even if you find a rich, tall, dark and handsome guy?”
“My dear I don’t care if it’s Edris Elba. I no do. I am closed for business!” She blurted out the loudest laugh. And I joined in.
“Okay, let’s see how long you keep this up madam open and close!” I said sarcastically.
“Laugh at me all you want, I won’t go through this hell again.”
“What about your period? There must be something else going on there, abi?”
“Whatever it is, I’ll make an appointment to see a doctor. I’m just glad I am not pregnant. Thanks for being here for me, babe. I really don’t know how I could’ve gotten through this without you.”
“Don’t thank me,” I said dismissively, “I know you would do the same for me if the tables were turned.”
“We need to get married and stop all this nonsense. I am tired of this single life abeg!” She said in frustration.
“You need to find a man first to do that, don’t you? And from what you just said you’re no longer interested in them.” I teasingly remarked.
“Well, maybe I did but Sam is a pretty decent guy and he was very much interested in me back in London.
“Oh is that his name?” I asked in amazement.
“I think he would have been responsible enough to handle it but thank God.”
“So maybe you should consider him.”
“You think?”
“Why not?”
“He lives in the UK and I can’t do that long distance thingy.”
“Wow! Look at you already talking about ‘man’ I thought you didn’t want anything to do with them.”
“Ebun enjoy your moment, I’m just happy and I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders.”
The test result was personally of great relief to me also because I remember telling God during my ordeal in the hands of the cultists that I would change my life for good if he delivered me. Helping a friend get an abortion would be going against that vow but I just couldn’t see any other way.
“Now that we have this whole pregnancy situation out of the way, are you going to tell me what has been bugging you? Or do you want to start keeping secrets from me, Ebun,” Tola continued
“Do you remember Collins? The guy that took me to…”
“Yes, how can I forget?” she interrupted.
“He showed up at my house the other day requesting for my number from my mum.”
“I thought you said they don’t know where you live?”
“I think he must have gotten my address from Chioma.”
“That girl is crazy! After all, she put you through! She’s still causing trouble.”
“I was thinking of going to see her.”
“I’ll go with you; I personally want to break her head.”
“I don’t think that would be necessary besides I already made a complaint at the police station.”
Suddenly I felt a myriad of emotions overwhelm me. It was something I had become familiar with; a certain type of anxiety came along with it. My last session with doctor Obi was only two days away and I sure as hell wasn’t looking forward to it. How was I going to carry on without regular visits to him? I was about to have a panic attack yet again right in the middle of the mall.
“Ebun, calm down! Breathe!” Tola grabbed me by the shoulder as she noticed my sudden discomfort and led me to a nearby chair.
“Are you okay?”
“I just need to go home.”
“I’ll call an Uber immediately,” She said without hesitating.
To be continued next week.