Source:http://surl.li/sybhuf
‘riiiinnngggggg!...’
The school bell rang, indicating the end of school hours as students rushed out of St.clement’s high school.
A particular group of four headed out of the premises together in high spirits before Liam, one of them spoke.
“Guys we should grab lunch……”
“Bye guys” Eve rushed out, cutting the boy off. Before they knew it, she was gone, almost sprinting away. Again.
“Don't you think something's off about Eve?. Is it just me, or this has really been going on for the past three weeks?” The other guy of the group asked with a frown
“Don't think so. She'd tell us if something is up” Liam said while Shayn, in contrast to them, narrowed her eyes at the retreating figure of their friend.
……………………..
Of course, something is definitely wrong with Eve. She'd been on edge lately. Gritting her teeth, a horrible thought ran through her mind. Salma has never received the right care of her condition from the onset and now, she's got a condition which only worsened; She can't lose her sister.
Their mother would not agree to taking her to the hospital, but insist on treating her at home by themselves. Heck! She would not even call a nurse over.
With a heavy heart, she entered their house to find their mother scolding her sister again in the yard. Salma could only let out sobs while holding a railing to support her frail self. Her face was pale with sunken eyes too but it didn't stop the elderly lady from spewing harsh words at her.
“You brought it all on yourself so bear it. Lower your voice and don't attract attention from the neighbors please. No one asked you to get pregnant” she snapped.
Yes, Salma had gotten pregnant and she received no antenatal care because their mother could not accept this disgrace. She had her hopes high in this once bright daughter of hers. Hence, the lie. They lied to everyone in the neighborhood, who asked after Salma.
“Salma is not around. She was able to get a scholarship to study abroad” they'd say, since that was what everyone expected from her.. she'd been their role model.
So, for the past four months, they kept this sensitive secret with the hope that Salma would put to bed silently. But recently she's been showing signs of toxemia.
“Calm down mom. I think we should really get medical hel_” Eve tried to put in a few words to her.
“Oh please shut it. I'd skin you two alive if a word about this gets out. And don't get pregnant too!”
Eve flinched while she watched her mom walk away from them. But at that moment she felt the hair on neck rising.
…………………
Just behind their yard and well hidden behind the fence, a gasp flew out of Shayn’s lips while she took shots of Salma and her bulging belly!
Of course, something's fishy. Didn't Eve’s mom say Salma's abroad? She'd even say so to other moms in haughtiness.
She turned around to leave only to gasp again in shock upon seeing Eve staring at her gloomily.
“I…..”
“You know about it already, that makes us four. This is a very sensitive matter to us, so I'd beg you to keep your mouth shut about it.” Eve said sourly before stomping away, not finding Shayn's nosiness settling well with her.
‘How did she even get to their backyard??’. Earlier, she'd sensed a pair of eyes on them and she was right.
…………………..
“I couldn't believe my eyes earlier mom!” Shayn said to her mom whose eyes got stuck on the image in her cellphone.
“Oh dear!”
………………
Eve's mom held the shopping basket as she strolled across the racks in the grocery shop. To others she looked fine but she was not. That eldest daughter of hers has put her in so much dilemma.
Few feet away, she sighted other moms from the neighborhood walking over.
“Oh! Isn't that Eve's mom?” One of them had called, of course, it was Shayn's mother. She walked over with others
“Hello”
“Please skip that. Didn't you say Salma's schooling abroad?”
“Of course she is”
“I can't be mistaken,” Shayn's mother insisted with a frown.
“What are you talking about?” One of the others asked and Eve's mother was already having a bad feeling about this.
“I couldn't believe it yesterday. Salma is pregnant!” The woman continued, announcing to the other family women. “My daughter took a picture. You should see Salma's bulging stomach. She looked so frail and sick like she'd die soon and needed help. Is this what you've been hiding while telling us your daughter is on scholarship abroad?, ridiculous!” It was not her business but the woman would always prance about like she's better than others and it annoys her. Ha! She'd been lying.
“Gosh!”
“Unbelievable!” The gossip started.
“Imagine my daughter's shock when her friend, Eve, attested to it” the woman continued.
Eve's mother could not hide her mortification and anger; she felt rooted to the spot.
Upon reaching back home, the woman met her younger daughter who's yet to get to school. With the speed of lightning, she hit Eve so hard across the face
“You stupid child. You two have finally succeeded in ruining my dignity. How would I walk in the community?!!”
Eve could only hold her cheek in pain. ‘What happened?’
“Now people would gossip and laugh at us. They know about your wayward sister now since you can't keep your mouth shut!” Her mother continued.
Then and there, a name ran through Eve's mind. Shayn.
Knocks on the door startled them, cutting Eve from sobbing out.
“Who's there?!” Her mother shouted in aggression while the knocks continued and she marched over, yanking the door open.
She could not mask her shock when she saw people by her door post. By people, meaning, Shayn, her mother, police officers, medical practitioners, and a few others from the community.
“There she is. She confined the girl there. She's dying, I can tell” Shayn's mother started.
“Isn't that attempted homicide?” Others continued.
“No, murder”
“Whatever. Search thoroughly, officers”
In no time, the police officers were already in and out with Eve's mother, while the paramedics attended to the dying Salma.
At that moment, Eve glanced up at Shayn. She didn't know if she should be mad or grateful at her for not knowing the weight of confidentiality.
Phew!
Teenage pregnancy can be a blessing and a problem. On the bright side, a newborn baby is on the way. That's good news!
On the other hand, the girl might encounter some challenges given that she isn't financially stable. Might have an extra year at school as well due to baby's needs.
Still this does not justify hiding the truth or denying the girl proper health care.
You've raised an interesting issue.
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Thank you 😊.
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If you are embarrassed by your own children, so that you hide them and tell lies about them, if this puts them in danger - shame on you! If the opinion of your neighbours etc. is so much more important than doing the right thing - shame! When people become cruel in order to appear in a supposedly good light - perverse!
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🫰✨. On point.
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