As fragile as the heart is, comparable to that of an egg or a piece of glass, when broken, it becomes difficulty to mend it – Naa Deidei
Ever since I have known William, saying ‘sorry’ is the easiest word for him to say. And I know that this time around, I am not falling for it.
“William, I have heard you. But really, did you ever thought for once, in your lifetime, that I will be waiting for you to divorce your wife and come threatening my life in the manner you just did some few minutes ago? I think I am a very good person, if not I would have you arrested by now. I will be right to say that the divorce might have led you to go bananas, but you can prove me wrong if it hasn’t, you going looney tunes right now. Like I said before, I have an appointment and your presence isn’t welcomed at all. Also, try to see a therapist.” After these utterance, I just entered into my car and drove off, as our scene was getting crowded by people walking by.
I thought I won’t break into tears but they are just flowing on my cheeks uncontrollably. As far as I know, William left me for no reason. He is always after smart women. And me, to him, I am not too smart to compliment him as a renowned heart surgeon. I am, but a mere make-up artist. Ever ready to make people have a second face from what they already have. What my mother will call ‘Masquerades’. Hm. I could hear the little pride in me say, ‘If returning to William is the only thing that will make me acquire the title of Mrs, I won’t do it’.
I just realized that I was almost at Togolese Embassy, what is popularly known as ‘Round House’ and also known to be a parading ground for ‘sisters of the night – prostitutes’. I drove into the estate and to Cledre’s apartment. Cledre is watering the flowers on his compound and immediately he realized car entered into his apartment, he rushed to open the driver’s door like the gentleman he is.
“You have been crying. What happened to you?” Cledre said just when I stepped out of the car. He held my chin as if to diagnose me of some new ailment. Did I forget to polish my face! I never wanted him to see my face like this and wasn’t even expecting him to be out of his library by this time. How do I cover this up?
“Hey, look …” pointing at his gateman. “He is eavesdropping and that’s not the best. Please let’s go … And you, would you get back to work and be mindful of your reason for been here …” referring to the gateman. Before I thought is only house helps who were into gossiping and the like until I met this gateman.
“Nope. Where nothing means I don’t want to take anything at all until you answer my question.” I sat on the sofa at the living room. He turned on the television and then turned it off. As if he didn’t know what to do at that moment. He then sat by my side and started to play with my artificial braids.
“You don’t expect me to laugh to this do you? The question I asked earlier still remains unanswered.”
“We can’t consider marriage now because I will be travelling in about a couple of months later if not three. I am sorry I haven’t said this to you before, but I am now. My sister in Germany wants me to help her with some business she intend starting in Germany. She will be exporting some local food stuffs to Germany and she need me around. You still don’t want to take anything?”
“Sure.” Cledre led me to his bed room. Sat beside me on the bed and said to me; “I care and cherish you Naa. I will do anything to make you happy.” He kissed my cheeks. “I am going to prepare something for you. Just relax. I will get back to you.” I nodded my head.
Cledre left town in less than a month and it was during this period that I got to know that I am pregnant. I got cold when my mother noticed the symptoms and told me to go for a checkup.
“I must express my disappointment with regard to your conduct. The least I expected of you is to get pregnant before marriage. You don’t want to join the ‘born one, born two’ group of ladies in this country do you? Now, this is what you are going to do. You are going to call Cledre or whatever he calls himself to get back to this country as soon as possible to perform the knocking ceremony. Do you understand?”
I contacted Cledre, and informed him about our child. He sounded very happy upon hearing the news. Little did I know that he was just pretending to be happy and ready to marry me with immediate effect. Whilst lying in bed three days later after communicating with him, he sent a text message to me. A message that shuttered all my dreams about marriage. Cledre informed me that the lady she claimed to be his sister is a white German lady he is preparing to marry. But he is still going to be responsible for our child.
With tears in my eyes, I got up from bed and run to my mother’s room, “Mommy … I want to terminate the pregnancy.” I said this to my mother with my head on her laps, crying out all the tears my glands can produce. My mother’s room happens to be a place I go to anytime I need comfort. She would just lean against the wall and look at the ceiling as if what she need to help me get comforted is just written there. “He isn’t going to marry me. He is now engaged to another woman in Germany. All what he told me before wasn’t the truth mother.”
“It’s okay. You will be fine. Is just a matter of time. No need to terminate this pregnancy. Your child is our child and not his. You will be fine.”