The cereal slushed in the bowl as I tried to hoist myself further up the couch. Urgh... Lord, I'm tired of this. I released a sharp exhale of breath and rolled my eyes to the ceiling as I put down the white cereal bowl beside me. I picked up my laptop from my lap and placed it on the hand rest then used my other hand to push my back up the couch.

"Okay..." I returned the laptop to my lap and picked up the cereal bowl. "Let's begin," I mumbled as I tapped the space bar of my laptop. The new episode of my favourite Nigerian web series 'Skinny Girl in Transit' began to play.

The golden rays of the early afternoon shine filtered into the living room , and bounced off my laptop's screen, into my eyes. I would stand up and shut the blinds, but that would mean I'd have to leave this comfortable position. Instead, I angled the laptop 45 degrees to the right and gobbled down three scoops of cereal.

Three minutes into the episode, my phone lit up and a soft melodious chime filled the empty living room. I pushed my laptop off my lap with a quick glimpse at the screen and shot out of the couch. My mother was requesting a WhatsApp video call. Jesus Christ. I rushed into my bedroom and snatched my robe from the dressing stool.

My mother and I spoke to each other every other day because of the different time zones and high call rates. We actually spoke two days ago but it was just a regular voice call on WhatsApp. The last time we did a video call I didn't even know I was pregnant and it wasn't evident.

I threw the robe on as I raced back to the couch and grabbed the phone. I swiped right to accept before the ringtone stopped. Her face popped up on the screen.

"Mummy, Good afternoon, ma," I said with a plastered wide smile on my face.

"Afternoon my dear, kedu?" She replied in our native language, Igbo. (How are you?)

"A dim mma. Ke maka gi?" (I'm fine. What about you?)

"A nom ofuma, ayi ncha di mma" (I'm fine, we are all fine) she said, adjusting her thin rimmed glasses. The action drew my attention to the lines that etched her dark skin, at the corners of her eyes.

"That's good," I said with a stiff nod.

"You didn't go to work today?" she inquired, eyeing my appearance.

"Mba, I have the day off actually" (No)

"Oh okay," she studied me for a quick minute then said. "You've added weight o. It's like you're enjoying over there"

I sputtered out a chuckle and tugged the sides of my robe closer. "Really?" I glanced down at myself like I was trying to see what she was talking about. "I haven't even noticed"

Tell her, now... Just do it. It shouldn't be too difficult. I'm preg—Aish, I can't.

"Anyways, I'm at Ifeanyi's place, to see the baby. Let me give the phone to Amaka, so you can see the baby too" she got up from her chair and the camera faced the ceiling. The camera shook around and I heard a little shuffling sound before Amaka's face popped on the screen. She let out a little squeal once she saw my face.

My immediate elder brother's wife beamed, even with a face void of makeup and a head of cornrows. Out of my two sisters-in-law, I was closest to her.

"Amy, how far now?" I asked, propping my elbows on the headrest of the couch. (How's it going?)

"I dey o. Ginwa kwanu?" (I'm okay. What about you?)

"I'm doing well"

"You look like you're doing more than well, look at your cheeks. You've added a little weight," she said gesturing at my face. I heard my mom agree with her in the background.

"Enough about me," I muttered and put up a lopsided smile. "You're glowing, our new mummy of the house. Congrats again, my dear"

"Thank you so much," she said with a grin. "Let me even show you the baby"

She didn't await a response from me as she sprung up into action. The shaking and shuffling returned before I was faced with a sleeping baby. A bright pink onesie protected the baby's little frame and a matching shawl was draped over its waist. A lighter pink baby cap covered the baby's head – a deep contrast from her dark melanated skin tone.

"Aww, she's so cute" I whispered. "Thank God you didn't allow my brother's big head to appear on the baby"

Laughter burst out of her mouth and immediately slapped her palm over her lips as the baby stirred. She rubbed her baby's belly with gentle coos, luring the baby back to sleep. I remained quiet the whole time, watching the heartwarming interaction.

This would be me in a couple of months. A shudder wave went through me and tiny goosebumps peeked out of my forearm. I'm not sure I'm ready for this...

"You're next o. Do fast and get married so that we can come and carry your own baby" She poked the screen as if she were actually poking me. I hummed in response and gave her a tight-lipped smile.

If only she knew that the baby in question was closer than she imagined. There was a huge pit in my stomach, designed just for my heart. I wished I didn't have to hide my pregnancy from them.

We talked for a while before my brother came in and demanded to talk to me. We spoke at length and then the phone was returned to my mom. We spoke for five more minutes before she ended the call.

With a faint huff, I stripped off the robe and flung it onto the couch. Then reclined into the one-seater sofa, next to the couch. This secrecy was going to end badly, I could just feel it. What's the worst they could do? It's not like they're going to disown me. I blew out a raspberry and palmed my face with both hands. They'll probably be disappointed and... maybe criticize my decisions but that should be about it. The thing is... I don't do well with both of those things.

In an African home, having children in the medical field, most especially as doctors, was considered to be a thing of pride. Being the only medical doctor in my nuclear family, I'd grown accustomed to beaming faces, chests puffed out with pride and appreciative eyes. How could I possibly... I shook my head and let my hands fall to my laps. I just couldn't.

God, please don't let this blow up in my face. Also, I'm sorry for lying to them.

My eyes travelled to the couch, where I'd practically thrown my laptop upon. I refused to stay in this sombre mood, worrying about this I couldn't change— at least not yet. Might as well get back to my show.

My cornflakes had grown soggy but I forced myself to finish the entire bowl as I didn't want to waste it. Wasting food wasn't really part of my dictionary, as a person and a Christian.

~~~~~~~~~~~

I walked into the sparsely crowded supermarket that was a street away from my apartment. We had run out of food and some basic hygiene products. Since I was going to be home the whole day, I decided to do a little shopping before Whitney got back from work.

A trolley filled with snacks and some food items later, I looked through the shopping list on my phone. I had gotten everything except for toilet paper. I walked to the toiletries section and found the brand of toilet paper we used high up on the shelves.

How the hell do they expect people to reach that thing?

I glanced around for someone tall enough to help me out but no one was in sight. I guess I'm going to have to start hopping like a rabbit. I placed an arm over my bump and stood on my tippy toes as I tried to reach for the toilet paper but failed to even come close. "Ughh..."

I moved to give it another go but stopped when I felt a presence behind me, followed by a tap on my shoulder. "Let me help you with that," a light baritone voice offered.

I stepped aside and allowed the man, to grab a toilet paper pack for me. The tall, godsent man wore a natural blonde buzz cut and a neck scar – presumably a long, deep one - that peeked out the collar of his blue t-shirt. He pulled down a pack of toilet paper with ease and placed it over my trolley.

"Thank you so much," I said, taking over the handle of the trolley. "I thought I was going to have to climb the shelves right now"

He chuckled. "You're funny. It's no problem at all"

"Thank you, again," With a brief nod, I pushed my trolley past him.

"I think I've seen you around, do you live nearby?" he called out

I paused my movement and turned around. "Really? Yeah, I stay at the nearby apartment complex"

His light green eyes widened and a smile appeared on his lips. "Me too, I'm on the first floor," he placed a hand on his waist. "How come we've never met before now?"

"Well, I'm a doctor so I spend most of my time at the hospital," I said, shifting my weight from one foot to the other. I planned to be in and out of the supermarket with the snap of a finger.

"That must be the reason, I'm Tom by the way" he offered me his hand.

"Uh... Amanda," I said, barely taking hold of his hand. "Well, I have to go now"

"Yeah, of course, I'll... see-you-around," he rocked forward, stuffing his hands into his jean pockets.

I gave him a tightlipped smile. "Mm-hmm. Nice meeting you" Without waiting to hear his reply, I took off to the counter and paid for my things.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The short, round woman adjusted her hairnet as she stepped unto the dark balcony with a plastic hand fan tucked under her armpit. The electric power had been cut off since the late afternoon and while she waited for the security boy to switch on the generator, she still longed for the evening cool breeze.

She lowered herself into one of the two white plastic chairs that were placed by the end of the railings. She leaned back into the chair, pulled out the fan from under her arm and began to direct air towards her face with slow, back and forth movements.

After five minutes of mindlessly glancing down at the decline of what had been a busy street, the outdoor fluorescent lamp flickered on and the entire house came alive with power. A huge man appeared in the doorway and poked his head out into the balcony.

"Oh, you're here" her husband announced as he stepped into the balcony.

She hummed in response and looked down at the roar of a motorcycle zooming past. The second plastic chair squeaked in protest as her husband lowered himself into it.

They observed a couple of minutes of silence until he clapped loudly at the air. He hissed and said. "Anwu nta julu ne'bea. K'ayi ba n'ime uno" (This place is full of mosquitoes. Let's go inside)

"Ngwanu" She agreed and rose out of her chair.

As her husband closed the glass balcony door and bolted it at the top of the frame, she stood back a couple of feet and watched him.

"Ehen," she slapped her palm against her thighs. "I spoke to Ada today while I was at Ifeanyi's place,"

Her husband tugged at the door handles and gave a satisfying nod at the secured doors. Then he turned around to face his wife. "ah... How was she?"

"Well, she seemed fine. It was a video call," She started out for the bedroom at a deliberately slow pace. "From what I could see, aru diliya mma," she glanced to make sure her husband was in tow. "I don't know if it's because I haven't seen her in a while but she seems to have added weight" (She looked healthy,)

Her husband chuckled behind her. "That's good. She must be doing well"

They crossed the living room, past the sofas and stools and a large centre table with a flower vase, then came to stand before their bedroom door. With a quick flick of her husband's finger to the wall's socket, the living room lights went out behind them.

Just before she pushed open their door, she glanced over her shoulder and said. "I'm thinking about going to visit her,"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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