Episode 32
I slowly began undressing, as I raised my hands to pull off my dress, I felt a sharp pain on my lower abdomen, and winced.
"Amaka, what is it?" She asked, with a worried expression on her face, I sat down at the edge of the bed, wore my dress back and held my stomach, as the pain intensified, "I...I don't know o, the pain is too much, I can't even sit up straight" She helped me to lie down on the bed and used her right hand to feel my stomach all over, while her gaze focused on my face, she kept pressing until she got to my lower abdomen, close to my vagina and I winced in pain, it was more severe this time, "oh my God! Amaka, when last did you see your period?"
I thought about it for a while, before replying, "honestly, can't remember, I don't keep tabs of my period, I just take it anytime I see it, why did you ask?" She sat up, with hands akimbo, "do you have a boyfriend?" "No, I don't have, am not into guys, at all" the pain struck again, I cried out. What could be the problem? I wondered. "You know what? Let me get dressed, am taking you to the hospital, it's still past 10pm" She quickly pulled off her night wear and dressed up, then picked up her phone and called her husband.
Few minutes later, we were on our way to the hospital, they had already called the doctor in the car, so he was expecting us. My fear started immediately we got to the hospital, fear of being pregnant, I had never thought of the possibility of getting pregnant for my uncle, because I know my body very well and I know how to work my mentrual circle, on the days when am not free, he does withdrawal method and he's very good at it. No no no, this can't be, pregnancy? No, it's not possible. Could it be I made a mistake on one of those counts? Fuck! My life is finished. My fear surpassed the pain I was feeling, pregnancy would destroy all my plans and expose me with reckless abandon.
They ran some test, both pregnancy and others. There was a particular one that felt so awkward, I got naked and they took my vagina fluid. And then the waiting started, kai. The pastor kept giving me a reassuring glance, more like saying everything will be alright, with his eyes.
We were jolted out of our thoughts when they announced that the results were ready, we were ushered into the doctor's office to know my fate. At least, I have saved up some money, so if worse comes to worse, I will move out of my aunty's house with my sister, and go for abortion after settling down, but I will definitely not suffer this alone, mbanu, everyone will be exposed, finally, that was the plan.
Sister Margaret and I, sat down and the pastor stood by the side, there were only two chairs in the doctor's office. "Doctor, whàt is it? Is pregnancy right?" Margaret asked, with a sense of certainty. "No, she's not pregnant, she has Chlamydia" I heaved a sigh of relief, at least, I can get myself out of this one. "What is Chlamydia, biko?" Sister Margaret continued, sitting forward.
"Okay, Chlamydia is a bacterial infection, usually spread through s3x or contact with infected genital fluids (semen or vaginal fluid). It can also be gotten through genitals coming into contact with an infected genital – this means one can get chlamydia from someone even if there is no penetration. It can also be passed by a pregnant woman to her unborn baby. Chlamydia can't be passed on through casual contact, such as kissing and hugging, or from sharing baths, towels, swimming pools, toilet seats or cutlery. It doesn't usually cause any symptoms and can normally be treated with a short course of antibiotics, it can be serious if it's not treated early on.
If left untreated, the infection can spread to other parts of the body and lead to long-term health problems, such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), epididymo-orchitis (inflammation of the testicles), and infertility. It can also sometimes, cause reactive arthritis" the doctor finished explaining, and wrote down a prescription and told us to take it to the nurse to give me drugs, that will stop the pains on my lower abdomen and treat the infection. We got home and sister Margaret had a small talk with me, I told her it could be from my Aunty, because I know it's just her and my Aunty, that is doing me, so if I have chlamydia, it could be from one of them, since I don't do men, I said it with serious disgust on my face and she believed me, hook, line and sinker, then made sure I took the drugs and hugged me.
Immediately I got to my room, moved my sister to a more comfortable sleeping position, so as to make space for me, my phone rang, it was the pastor, "my love, how are you feeling now?" "I am fine, the pain is reducing, not as severe as before, thank you, sir" I replied. "You are healed, in Jesus name" I said amen, then he continued, "oya, come and meet me downstairs, let me make the pain disappear completely. My body is so cold right now, you have what I want and I have what you want"...
To be continue...