"Caught Between Yesterday and You"

The Two Lines

Amaka was standing all alone in her room,holding a pregnancy test strip,she stared at the test strip in her shaking hand.Two red lines.No matter how many times she blinked,they didn't disappear.

Her room,once a safe place filled with dreams of university and love suddenly felt like a prison.

The sound of her mom's laughter in the sitting room made her chest tighten.How could she tell her?How could she even tell her boyfriend KELVIN?

He had promised her forever,soft words whispered under the stars,kisses that felt like magic.But lately,forever had started to feel like never.He'd been distant and cold.Saying things like "You don't understand what I'm going through at home Ama..."

Now,there were two lines.Two lives changed forever.

She picked up her phone and typed "we need to talk" she stared at it for a long time before pressing send.

Amaka stared at the message on her phone screen "delivered"

Now she waited _each second dragging like wet clothes on a line.Her heart thudded,a dull ache in her chest matching the storm.in her stomach.

She glanced at the test again,the two lines were still there loud and cruel!

The phone buzzed

Kelvin: "what do you mean 'we need to talk'? I'm busy"

Tears blurred her vision.Busy?....Her world was crashing and he was busy?

She typed with shaky fingers..."I'm pregnant"

Three dots danced on the screen.Then they disappeared.silence.Nothing

Amaka stared,willing him to reply.Minutes passed.Her throat felt tight,her fingers cold.Finally,the response came.

Kelvin:"You're joking right?..it's not mine.Don't bring this to me Amaka,I've got enough going on at home"

The room spun.

She dropped the phone like it burned.her breath came in shallow bursts.Her mother's footsteps echoed from the hallway.she stuffed the test kit under her pillow and sat up straight,wiping her face quickly.

The door creaked open.

"Amaka are you okay"?.Her mother's eyes scanned her "You've been in this room all day"

I'm fine Mama,just tired...she replied

Her mother frowned."Hmmm....I hope you're not keeping secrets from me"?

Amaka forced a smile.."No Mama"

When the door closed,she sank back onto her bed.What do I do now?She thought staring at the ceiling.

She knew what was coming. SHAME,BLAME,PUNISHMENT. ..or probably being shipped off to stay with that bitter Aunt Clara in Abia_the one who ran her house like a prison.But Amaka couldn't go there,she wouldn't.

There was one person she could think of.One person who always make her feel safe. VICTOR

Victor was her childhood friend,the boy who used to help her with her home works,share biscuits after school and call her "Ama the lioness" whenever she stood up to bullies.

He was in a university in Calabar now,a whole new world away.

Her fingers trembled as she opened w******p clicked on Victor's contact and typed..."can I talk to you"?