“One, two, three….” She counted as she pointed at the days of the week on the calendar.
“Oh God, please” She whispered “Just this once, I promise to never sin again”. Then she made the sign of the cross and continued praying to her creator.
She wished she could “rewind the tape” of last month’s activities. Her friends, Joan and Fola had cajoled her to attend a night club. She did not understand how she gave in, even though she had mad fun. Now it appeared the worst has happened.
That fateful Saturday evening, Joan and Fola came visiting. They had been childhood besties. They had grown fond of each other right from being in the same class to living in the neighbourhood. However, they lost contact as they grew older. Joan’s family moved to another region, and Fola was sent to Military school up north.
Five years later, they reconnected through Facebook. So much had changed. They were now in their mid-twenties. They tried to catch with each other. She was now working as a Customer Care agent in Start Up company. Fola had just finished NYSC while Joan was still battling with admission to do a Master’s programme abroad.
They hooked up to do more catching up, and that marked the beginning of her worries. Joan and Fola paid her a visit.
The coast was clear. Both parents had travelled for a family function, leaving her and elder sister alone. That day, she was the only one at home. Her elder sister had not closed from work that day. It was not like Joan, and Fola had an ulterior motive. According to them, “girls just wanna have fun”.
She was happy to see her childhood friends.It was much needed after a stressful day at work. Her boss, Mr Makinde had been on her case. She had been combining two roles now that one staff went on leave.
Seeing her friends after she returned from work was refreshing. They’ve changed pleasantries and in no time they started talking about everything.
Then it tilted towards relationship. They all had their fair share of relationship drama. Fola appeared to be in a steady relationship with a ‘big boy’ working in Chevron. That had always been her spec since childhood. It was either a rich dude or a rich dude. Joan was carefree. She was not ready for commitments. According to her, she wanted to focus on her studies abroad and just have ‘fun’.
On her own part, she was the workaholic. She had been unlucky in relationships. She wondered why she was always attracting the wrong men.
It was Joan’s idea that they went clubbing that evening. She had turned down the idea as she glanced at her mother’s portrait opposite the chair she sat in the living room. It appeared her mother’s face on the portrait was warning her seriously to make right decisions.
“You are missing” Joan said as she ran her well-manicured fingers through her weave “Every time work, work….you no dey tire“
It took the double effort of Joan and Fola for her to give in. She felt she need that break. She needed to try something new.
In the club, the DJ kept rolling latest songs from well-known musicians. Guess who joined Fola? It was her rich boyfriend. That left two of them. Joan left her on the couch while digging it on the dance floor with others. That was when he came to meet her. From few drinks to more, she got drunk.
How did she find herself alone with him? She can’t tell. It was when her phone rang, and she came back to her senses. It was her sister calling. She woke up from slumber. He was still asleep. Getting up from the bed, she dressed up and left for home.
She had to lie about her outing to her sister. That was a month ago. Based on her monthly cycle, she was due now as she counted the days.
“Heaven please” She cried. She won’t be able to bear the consequences of an unplanned pregnancy. It was just a one-night stand.