Chapter 5 Alone and Afraid

“You are no match for my son,” Gertrude Johnson’s mother said, her eyes mocking me as she watched.

“I love your son, and he loves me too.”

“That is more reason you should leave. Johnson needs someone of his status. I don’t want to ever see you with my son again,” she said, her voice rising.

Amelia laughed mockingly in my face. “Poor thing, you really think you would become Mrs. Heartmush someday?”

“Johnson,” I cried out. “Where are you?”

“Shhhhhh, you are safe now.” I felt a warm hand on my shoulder.

“Johnson?” I opened my eyes to see a strange man in white scrubs.

I blinked, trying to comprehend everything. Reality dawned on me—it was just a dream. Johnson’s mother and Amelia weren’t here.

But where am I? The question filled my head, sending a jolt of panic through my body. I moved back only to hit my back on the wall, and a sharp pain seared my stomach.

“Ouch.” I winced. “Where am I? Who are you?”

“Be careful not to hurt yourself and your baby. I am Doctor Ruben, and you are in a hospital. An elderly man brought you in yesterday.”

I looked around, studying my environment—white walls, three other beds in the ward. The man standing by my bedside confirmed that I really was in a hospital.

“Baby,” my mind finally registered his words. Panic surged, and I grabbed the doctor’s clothes.

“Baby, did you say baby?” My body began to shake violently.

I saw him inject me, and soon I felt numb again.

I woke to a beeping sound and the smell of drugs. Another woman sat up in her bed nearby, taking her medication. She offered me a polite smile when she saw me looking around, but I was too weak to return it.

Just then the door opened, and the man from earlier walked in.

“I see you are awake,” he said, smiling.

“Am I really pregnant?” I asked.

“Yes,” he answered with another smile. I looked at him, dazed.

“The nurse will come check your vitals,” he said, then walked out.

I looked around, tears blinding me. I heard the door open but didn’t know who walked in.

“Hello, miss,” a soft voice said.

“Am I pregnant?” I asked again, hoping someone would say it was a mistake.

“Yes, a month gone,” she answered with a polite smile.

“But how?” I asked.

“It’s okay. It’s normal to be shocked. It’s your first time, I know,” her voice was soothing.

“You don’t understand.” I cried louder, my chest heavy.

She connected a machine to my arm to check my blood pressure.

“Your blood pressure is a little high. You will need some rest, and we will monitor you till evening. Do you have anyone?” she asked.

I shook my head.

“I can’t pay now. I don’t have any money,” I whispered.

“It’s a government health center, so it’s free for first-time mothers,” she said, smiling. “Just rest. I’ll be back.”

My hands unconsciously touched my stomach, and something moved inside me. I stayed like that until I heard Bruno’s uncle’s voice.

“When will I get the money to fix the door you broke?” he asked harshly. I looked up and saw him glaring at me.

“Soon,” I responded dryly.

He opened his mouth to speak, but the doctor walked in.

“I see you have a visitor.”

“When will she be released? She has work to do,” Bruno’s uncle said.

“Sir, your daughter is pregnant, and her blood pressure is quite high. We need to keep her here for the rest of the day,” the doctor said.

Bruno’s uncle started laughing hysterically. The doctor looked between the two of us.

“Pregnant? You must be joking,” he said, bursting into another fit of laughter.

“She is a month gone, sir,” the doctor said.

As if the words just registered, “Abort it,” Bruno’s uncle said, his voice low and curt, slicing through the hospital room.

The doctor, sensing tension, said, “I know the news is still shocking, but trust me, the joy will come once you all adjust.”

“I said abort it. I can’t keep two bastards in my house. Bruno didn’t tell me this.” His eyes closed. I knew he was trying to control his rage.

The doctor turned to me. “Do you want to abort it? I can start the process for you,” he asked carefully.

“No,” I responded weakly.

I didn’t even realize when the words left my mouth, but I was glad I said them.

“Don’t push me, Betty,” Bruno’s uncle growled.

“Alright, I’ll leave you both. Let me know what your decision is.” The doctor patted my arm and walked out.

“I can’t kill the child,” I whispered, my voice pleading as I turned to look at Bruno’s uncle.

He looked at me without saying anything.

“I can’t kill the child. I want to keep it,” I said again. A strong need to protect my child filled me, and my hands reached instinctively for my stomach.

“Please,” I whispered.

“Do not make me angry,” Bruno’s uncle’s voice was so loud it vibrated through the room, causing the other woman to sit up.

I shivered in fear.

“You either abort it or don’t come back to the house,” he said, slamming the door.

“Sorry,” the other patient said quietly.

Tears blinded me as the realization hit—I was alone, with a child, and jobless.