(written by )

I was a cursed child. I had every reason to have thought that way. Anytime I felt I had progressed then failure tripped in. Did God really allow all that to happen? I asked myself so many questions as Sister Jessica kept repeating herself; “Adobea, you are pregnant.” I wished I had not opened my eyes. Sister Jessica held my hands and cried. It was totally unable for me to look into her eyes. Her sorrow was that of disappointment. “Adobea, we are finished. All your dreams and aspirations have been shattered. If the Reverend Father and the entire Congregation gets to know about this, you’ll be asked to leave the Parish. I can’t hide this from the Reverend Father. He must know and the entire Church must also be told. I am sorry, Adobea. I did my best to protect you as a mother. I am really hurt.” Sister Jessica poured her heart out in lamentation. I did not talk. It was like a dream. How can I become pregnant? I explained to Sister Jessica it wasn’t true, but she wouldn’t believe me. I took the slip from her and truly it had my name boldly typed, “Adobea Kwarteng.” Jesus Christ! The devil must be lying. I solemnly prayed for understanding. I told Sister Jessica I wanted to see the Doctor. The Doctor was fetched and truly he confirmed the Lab results. O my God! I can’t be the next Mary for my generation; I quizzed God in confusion. I asked Sister Jessica if we could visit a different hospital. She agreed. We visited three different hospitals and the results were the same. I was three months pregnant.

my Uncle summoned me to the Church office one very evening. I was so terrified because I knew my farewell message was going to be delivered. I got there and they all had straight faces. Right there I knew my end had come from the beginning. My Uncle asked me to sit down. I sat down and tears dripped down from eyes. Suddenly, the Reverend Father dipped his right hand into his pocket and brought out a tissue. “Have this tissue and wipe your tears.” The Reverend Father gave me his tissue and I did exactly as he ordered. The meeting started and ended with good results. My Uncle pleaded on my behalf. I was no longer going to be sacked from the Parish. I tried to explain to my Uncle and the Reverend Father that I wasn’t pregnant and it might have been a set up. But they wouldn’t believe me because three hospitals couldn’t have connived to have similar results. I was still going to stay at the Parish but no more going to school, rather would be learning a vocation. All these came with only one condition; to name the father of my unborn child. I had seven days to do so or else, leave the Parish for good.

. I started vomiting and it became evident but who was responsible? I knew there was no way I would ever meet that seven days deadline. On sixth day I had packed my luggage and was ready to face the world again. I felt embarrassed of even going back to the Reverend Father and Sister Jessica to say goodbye. The dawn of the seventh day that was 6th May 2017 I left the Parish without informing anyone. It was a painful moment. I knew this time round the world wasn’t any more against me but I was against the world. With the little money I had on me I decided to come to Accra. I had been told life in Accra was a difficult one. But I said to myself I had to survive and make a living for myself and my mystery unborn baby. I got to Accra and my first point of visit was the Adabraka Polyclinic. They also confirmed I was pregnant. Jesus Christ! I felt I was still dreaming or probably watching a movie. I had not had conscious sex with anyone during my stay at the Parish. This was really a mystery, and no one was ever ready to listen to my story. I sat in front of the Polyclinic and in deep thought when a car parked in front of me. The Driver rolled the glass down and said, “get in Adobea.” The voice was feminine. I got closer and it was Auntie Jackie. “What are you doing here?” She asked. I was surprised to see her. She came back to Koforidua when I was at Parish. I met her in town. The following day I visited her in the Guest House. I slept over till the following day.

my situation and the reason why I was at the Adabraka Polyclinic. She came out from her car held my hands and said to me, I am sorry Adobea. Please forgive me. I became more confused. Let me take you home, Adobea. She gently opened the door and I sat in her car still thinking of why she apologized to me. I couldn’t think far. We got to her house. It was a beautiful one. I sat in her sitting room as she took my luggage to the guest room. I overheard her mention my name in a phone conversation. She spoke a dialect that was so difficult to understand.

hand and began to weep. She looked into my eyes and again she said she was sorry but this round she added another statement that nearly buried my soul leaving my body alive. Auntie Jackie told me she was sorry, and she was responsible for the pregnancy. She told me her Boss was around the very day I visited her at her Guest House. He wanted to sleep with me, so he drugged my drink. I became very weak and slept. After having his way, he wiped off everything. I slept throughout that night. I woke the following day with a sharp pain in my abdomen but thought it was my ovulation period. I even had lie to Auntie Jessica for sleeping outside the Parish. The words of Auntie Jackie made me dumbfounded. I wished I had a gun to shoot her, but I knew God wouldn’t forgive me for that. She later told me she had called her Boss and he had promised to take responsibility of everything. A knock was heard at her door. She asked the person to enter. Jesus Christ! Guess who the Boss was… ()