shadows of the past

Chapter 3

Yes , and the shocking part of it is that I went to his compound to tell him that I am pregnant and I overhead him telling his friends that he has chopped me, I knew it, that guy of yours he's a dog but you said that his name is handsome and now he has taken away your virginity and put a handsome child in your womb chioma said laughing, don't worry you know that I'm a bad girl, in the morning you come to my house ,there's this leaf I'll give you to eat and that handsome thing in your stomach will go. hope I will not die, which kind of negative talk is that one if you want to die you better go to your father's house and go die. sorry can someone not play with you again but let me ask you chioma how many abortion have you done, you see!,you see!!, that thing that made me say that you have bad mouth, you should be happy that you have a friend who is a harbor doctor and you are asking me how many abortions I have done. when I say that you and your guy are mad people you will say that I have sharp mouth, chioma he's not my guy, but a big dog, no amaka he is a big cow. and they both laugh they are way home.

See girl, eat this thing let me get out of this Bush, chioma what if I die, you are stupid girl , madam eat this thing. then Amaka took in the green leaf inside her mouth and chewed it after sometimes she started vomiting blood, chioma am vomiting blood, yes it is the baby you are vomiting and not blood after sometime, Amaka dropped flat on the floor, no! you cannot die, god please help my friend she was just naive and unexperienced please Lord, chioma cried out unto God to help her friend and give her a second chance but it seemed as if nothing was happening so she took to her heels.

as she was running she was lamented unto herself saying: what will I do, what have I gotten myself into, I think I should go call her father. chioma ran to Mr azuka compound and found him sitting at the corridor, why are you running like a woman who lost her child to the mouth of the river, sir this is no time for riddle talk, your only daughter ,your only child is about to die, what are you saying? that's my amaka is about to die, I cause you to clean that mouth of yours, papa I'm not joking, my friend is dying, take me there right now, the old man struggled to get out of his chair, almost in a state of tears but as a man he showed it not he maintained balance and composure at the same time,as they ran to the spot. before chioma could get to the spot they found out that amaka's body was no longer there, chioma are you playing with me ,is this a prank or what, no sir this is the place her body, her dead body was, you must be a mad girl, let me not see my child and then you will know what fire does to the ears of a rat. And he angriedly left not following the same direction that led them, chioma on the other

hand was looking so confused not knowing what to do she was lamenting to herself saying, what is all this now, amaka if this is a game please stop, chioma state to herself.

Chioma is seen at the king's palace with Chiefs surrounding her, young girl what did you say happened to amaka your friend?

Chiefs and people of Udi, you all know that I and amaka are very good friend, yes we know,, that's the more reason why we ask you hee where about, Amaka came to me, telling me that she was pregnant and she was crying saying that her father will be disappointed in her, as a friend I told her that I will help her, that there is this particularly leaf a friend of mine used in cleaning such shame away from her face and her parents. so the next morning being today's morning I took her to the bush in search of the leaf and God so kind we found it, I gave it to my best friend to eat and take away shame not knowing that it will take her away from me, our town, and her lovely parents, Chiefs and people of Udi I'm very sorry! .

Chioma sorry for yourself you better bring back my child or, and that very moment the king cut him shut saying chief azuka, no my King he protested, it is not okay, we all know this girl to be a liar,

Azuka do not call my child a liar because we all know the saying that says show me your friend and I will tell you who you are ,chief okwudiri chioma's father fired back. it's okay my Chiefs, we don't know if the girl in question is dead or alive so my judgment is that, chioma Okwudiri is there by banished from this town and also Enugu state as a whole. first thing tomorrow morning ,I will locate the governor to let him know of the new development .You may now leave the palace.

People we're shouting, exclamating, exaggerating, some were feeling sorry for chioma, why others say that she deserve it and more and the other part said that the king was not fair enough in his judgment in the sense that they don't know if amaka is still alive or dead.

chioma ran to Ben's house just for his neighbors to tell her that Ben had parked to the city yesterday evening, chioma cried and cried before she left for her home. when she got home, the mother was crying and the father said to her,

you are a fool chioma, so you go around town doing abortion herbalist now see what you have done to yourself, Okwudiri will you let her be, she was only trying to help her friend but wait chioma how many abortions have you undergone

chioma's mother asked,, mama none I have not undergone any abortion so how did you know about the abortion medicine, it was when bola used it on herself, which bola? bola, the one that her father is a pastor, you say, you say, even pastor child oh! , what a word

first thing tomorrow morning you are leaving for Lagos to go stay with your mother sister,, Nneka, papa please help me beg the King I don't want to leave the village. you're not just a fool but a mad human being is it me that chased you out and was I there when you killed your friend, papa chioma!! stop calling her a killer, oh now I'm now papa chioma but before now it used to be mama chioma, stop talking to me because you're the one that gave her this hand and now I'm Papa chioma, my dear I'm not the one that chased you even if I beg the King, what of Amaka's father and the people of our community the land chest you and the Law is against you if I beg and the King and he accept ,you will not live in peace here cuz the people will come after you, so you better make up your mind to leave for Lagos first thing tomorrow morning.

As early as the morning could break chairman left for Lagos and you're not less than 8 hours she was at Lagos, I'm getting to her auntie's house she changed the clothes and relaxed and I aunt came to the parlor to disturb her peace saying, so you have run to Lagos, doctor, with a mockery voice,, who knows if you sing half children in your womb, no Aunt I have not done anything like abortion before,, please keep quiet I have not done anything about abortion before then how do you know about the medicine just go and rest you have destroyed yourself you are finished yourself I pity you.

after her owns has scolded her, she spoke to herself saying, so I am in Lagos, if someone had told me that I will come to a city like this I would have never believed but amaka I know that you are still alive I pray that God would bring us together again.