Falsely Accused

Four

Falsely Accused

Chapter Four.

I am in pain when I finally wake up in a strange room and the whole of my body is aching. My throat is dry and I can feel my lips cracking.

I try to stand but my body is too heavy for that.

 “How are you feeling?” A male voice asks startling me.

 ‘’Like s**t! I have pain all over my body and my throat is dry my head is spinning like crazy and I feel disgusted by the smell of medicine.’’ I say weakly.

I feel emaciated.

 I feel like puking but when I try, someone I guess the person who just spoke holds my shoulder after I groan painfully and weakly. I try to look at the person but that proves impossible.

My head is heavy and I cannot turn to look at them.

‘’Where am I?’’ I ask meekly and forbearingly.

‘’You are in the hospital. Congratulations young girl.’’ That pricks my attention.

 Congratulations? I am in a hospital for God’s sake.

‘’For what would you be congratulating me?’’ I ask very humbly yet again.

 ‘’For the birth of the baby boy.’’

How could I have been pregnant? I never saw or felt any unusual symptoms, no weight, no bulging belly and not even a kick.

 Does it ever happen? Has it ever happened?

I hope I am still a real human being and not an alien.

Did it happen because I have been in prison?

I am breathing abnormally and my heart has a million questions that I hope I can be able to answer.

 ‘’A baby boy? I mean a baby? I wasn’t pregnant and such jokes can actually make one have a heart attack.’’ I say the quietest way I can master.

 ‘’This is not a joke Nada.’’

‘’You know my name?’’

‘’Yes, I do.’’

‘’Do I know you?’’

‘’I am the doctor here.’’

‘’How long have I been in the hospital?’’

‘’For almost a week now.’’

‘’What really happened to me?’’

‘’Someone fed you poison and in the process of treating you, you started having unusual contractions and when we ran more tests on you, we found out that you were pregnant and that’s when we initiated a caesarean section on you. It was either we did that or let the both of you die.’’

‘’A CS? You cut my stomach to remove what I didn’t even know existed? How do I know you are not playing a prank on me?’’ I rant weakly in a moment of pure desperation.

I am having a hard time accepting this.

To me, this looks like a dream and I try lifting my hands a few times just to confirm that I am neither dead nor asleep.

‘’Yes, Nada. You want to tell me you weren’t aware that you were pregnant?’’

‘’What do you mean you found out that I was pregnant?’’

‘’I mean just that.’’

‘’Do you have any relatives I can call?’’ I think very quickly. Based on the last encounter with Naomi, I am not going to call her.

If it is true that I am indeed or rather was indeed pregnant, then she will be the last person I want to tell about.

‘’Please give me some water to drink.’’ He gets a bottle and helps me gulp some liquid down my throat.

I feel better.

‘’Who can we call?’’

‘’Can I see that baby you are talking about?’’

‘’Yes but answer my question. Who can we call to come here for you?’’

‘’Call Rue,’’ I say and give Rue’s number as I feel a presence beside me followed by a shrilling voice of a baby startling me.

The doctor helps me sit supporting my back with pillows until I am comfortable. Then he takes the baby from someone I assume to be a nurse and hands him to me.

‘’You can hold the baby but do not breastfeed until I am sure that the poison is cleared from your blood.’’ He says calmly and I nod.

So it wasn’t a lie that I got a baby? He looks exactly like Neal and I am going to call him Neilan meaning champion.

My heart softens and I feel like I am gaining some energy from God knows where.

‘’Listen, doctor …’’

‘’Jim, Doctor Jim is the name.’’

‘’Do you want to know the last time I was with a man?’’

‘’I wouldn’t mind knowing that.’’

‘’Who brought me here?’’

‘’The prison wardens.’’

My heart leaps and races so fast, I had forgotten all about being in prison.

‘’Well, the last time I was with a man is almost eight months ago, I have been in the prison for all that time and I don’t understand why I have given birth. Did I get impregnated by the Holy Ghost or something?

‘’Maybe something because I don’t see Holy Ghost doing that.’’ He says with a slight smile.

‘’Can you please explain this thing to me, doctor? I am lost.’’

‘’This is a case of cryptic or stealth pregnancy.’’

‘’Explain and please make sure to use terms I will understand.’’

‘’I will, you only have to listen. In cryptic or stealth pregnancy cases, women lack all awareness of pregnancy and report experiencing few, if any, of the common symptoms. But uncertainty over the diagnosis of pregnancy is not unusual. While a woman who thinks that she may be pregnant can now carry out a shop-bought pregnancy test with a high degree of accuracy, historically and even in the relatively recent past, it was not easy to confirm that a woman was pregnant. Signs and symptoms were described as “probable” and “presumptive” rather than diagnostic.’’

I swear I haven’t heard anything.

He speaks like he is speaking in tongues.

I look at him lost and feeling confused.

‘’Sorry doctor, I didn’t hear anything?’’

‘’All I am saying is that it is extremely possible to be pregnant to the end of gestation without you knowing.’’ He explains patiently and I nod

‘’How often does this happen.’’

‘’It is extremely rare and you, you are one of those rare cases.’’

A warm tear escapes my eyes. What really is this? I thought life was creepy until a few minutes ago.

Life is crazy, and God works in the most miraculous ways. I thought I lost Neal, now I have Neilan. My champion.

I will protect the baby with my blood if need be.

He is going to protect me, I will do the same and I will tell him the story of his father.

I smile despite myself, His father was a great man. The best man that ever lived.

Yes, the best.

‘’Your friend will be here in a few, she said she lives just a few blocks away and we should expect her soon.’’

I feel the joy in my heart doubling.

 Rue is the best person I know.

What will I do with the baby anyway? Will I be allowed to go back with the baby to prison?

Will I be able to take care of him while in prison?

And by the way, why did that bumble bee want to kill me? What is really her problem?

I look at the doctor and he shakes his head.

‘’Who really wanted to kill you? You look harmless.’’

‘’Some woman in the prison, I don’t know why she would want to kill me.’’

‘’Do you know her?’’

‘’I don’t.’' 

‘’Any enemies?’’

‘’Obviously. The person who accused me of killing my boyfriend must be behind all these. She or he just wanted us all cleared from the surface of this earth.’’

“You killed your…”

“Yes, she did! Congratulations murderous girl!” Naomi claps as she comes in. “The baby won't be safe here so am going with it until she’s out!”

‘’No I didn’t but for lack of good attorney has made me stay in jail for the past eight months and more to come thanks to you, my sweet sister."

‘’So what will you do with the baby?’’ the doctor asks

“Didn’t you hear me, well doctor?  I said the baby is not safe here and I will go with it!”

‘’I don’t know doc. I feel so much frustrated.’’ The baby starts to cry and the doctor summons one of his nurses to take it away and feed it but Naomi moves swiftly and tries to take it.

“I’ll take him, doctor.  I’ll feed my nephew.  I came prepared!”

“Naomi! Who called you here?” out of frustration and desperation I ask her.

“You did baby sis" she answers and I look at the doctor completely confused now! Did send for Rue or Naomi? The doctor seems to read my confusion and when Naomi is struggling to pick the child from the hesitant nurse he says.

‘’We will have to look into that but don’t be stressed up, we will have a way out.’’

There is a gentle knock on the door and the doctor says a very polite come in. By now Naomi has the baby and it suckling on the hot water bottle she brought with her! Just how much did Naomi know I was pregnant? How long did she prepare? From the way she came, she had bought everything ready long ago.

Rue walks in slowly with a sweet smile on her face.

‘’How are you, my friend.’’

‘’Shitty.’’

‘’What happened?’’ I look at  Naomi with the child and say

‘’They happened.  Besides current terrorist gave me poison and here I am.’’

‘’She did what?’’ she asks with a frown.

‘’maybe you could to me good by clarifying your she.’’

‘’I am listening Nada! I don’t like your games.’’

Naomi comes into the conversation seemingly the child is already accustomed to her.  It is so quiet and warm. She offers an explanation.

‘’Apparently, she was pregnant but had no idea, now she has a baby boy, a champion and a young Neal. He is a blessing and a miracle at the same time I can say.’’

‘’Wow! Are you kidding me, Nada?’’

‘’Do I look like I am?’’

‘’What is going on here doctor?’’

‘’She is telling you the truth, she is one of the rare women who get pregnant without knowing and only realize when they are having contractions.’’

‘’Can I see the baby believe?’’

‘’Yes, here he is!  Isn’t he cute? As handsome as his I’ll be the fated father. Baby sis! Call him Nealon! He’s a champion you know!  Born out of such!” she says and looks around with a sneer.

“Give me my child," I say with unusual courage she flinches but composes herself immediately

“Look who is speaking?  Like you can even take care of yourself in here to start with! Were you poisoned you said? Oh no!” Naomi is winning this and though am weak I retort that the only person I want near my child is Rue

“I will call the nurse to take him away and I will leave you three to speak about your girl issues.’’ He says and then turns on his heel to walk out. He turns to look at me when he gets to the door. ‘’Do not strain Nada.’’

‘’What does he mean?’’

‘’She’s  CS patient, my friend. She needs to recover well before she goes back to that hell hole. I have organised for her place already. Baby sis, you will have a mattress to rest your wound on and Bubble Bee will be your nurse!”

Rue facepalms herself.

‘’You went through a C section?’’ She leans over and hugs me gently. ‘’Congrats my friend and I am so sorry for your agony.’’

‘’Thank you, my dear.’’ We are trying to ignore Naomi but the weight of what she has said and how exactly she knows everything about my life here is gnawing on my mind.

‘’Any time. By the way, who is that lovely doctor?’’

‘’I have no idea girl he must be the one that operated on me.’’ She winks. She has only been out for a couple of days and now she looks all jolly.

“Take the baby with you please,” I say to Rue

‘’He looks cute I am already in love with him.’’ She says with a smile, I love this girl, she makes me happy.

‘’Thank you, dear girl.’’

‘’How many kilograms?’’

I facepalm myself yet again. ‘’I didn’t ask the doctor that Rue but we can ask him later.’’

‘’No need to worry, the baby is healthy and that’s all that matters.’’ That is Naomi.

“Did I tell you I registered the baby already with the name Nealon? Also because of the condition of the mother and I being the nearest kinsman, she is in, the child is legally under my custody. Bond with your partner in crime I have a sweet nephew to take care of!” she says as she picks her things and gets out!

Am looking at Rue but she looks composed and not in any hurry! Naomi steps out and there is a knock not so gentle on the door and I look at Rue in surprise.