This was a nightmare. Oh, God, please let this be a nightmare. I would very much prefer this to be a bad dream, but it wasn't. I'd pinched myself on the arm, twice, to be certain. What am I going to do? I paced back and forth in the living room. I should've told them when I had the chance, but now it's too late. Now, everything would be blown out of proportion. I knew keeping the truth away from them for this long, would come back to bite me, I didn't think it would be this hard. This is terrible. My mother flew in to surprise me. A humourless chuckle escaped my lips. Well, she's going to be in for a little surprise herself.'

Oh, God. My stomach churned from the image of my mother, looking down at me with disappointment and disbelief. I couldn't begin to imagine the thoughts that would go through her mind when she sets eyes on me. I cupped my checks with my palm then slid down to make prayer hands over my lips. I don't think I can go to that airport. I can't-

"Okay, enough," Nicholas's strong hands took hold of my upper arm and kept me in place. "You're going to wear a whole in the ground"

"I'm in big trouble, Nick" I let my hands fall limp to my side as I shook my head, like one who mourned.

"Trouble? How does your mom being at the airport put you in trouble?" he ran his thumb over my shoulders and tried to get me to focus on him.

"You don't understand," I gestured to my protruded belly. "She doesn't know about this. In fact, none of my family knows about this"

"What?" He narrowed his eyes and his brows knitted together. "You haven't told your mom, you're pregnant? Isn't that the first thing women do when they find out?"

"Well, not me." I pushed away his hands and took weak steps towards the sofa. I settled down into the chair and slid forward so that I was balanced on the edge of the seat. I ran my hands over my high puff and smoothened up the laidback bit of my hair whilst doing breathing exercises.

"I don't understand," Nicholas came to sit beside me. "Why is this such a big deal?"

I released a mouthful of air and glanced at him. "Look, from where I come from, pregnancies out of wedlock aren't exactly celebrated. And, that's why I haven't told my family yet because it's not easy to break it to them"

"Okay, so we could tell them we're engaged. I think that would be better, right?" Nicholas said after a while.

I sent him a blank look. "That's even worse. You really think that I'll be engaged and my parents wouldn't have a say in it"

He ran a hand across his face and sighed. "Okay, so what do we do? You have to come up with a plan. And, fast"

I rested my hands on my restless knees as I nodded. "Uhm... how about we act like a couple, right? We're not engaged, just dating. That would soften the blow because she cannot find out this," I pointed to my belly. "Was a one-night thing"

He nodded. "Okay, I can do that" He rose to his feet. "I'll go and get the car around whilst you change. We'll work out the details on our way there"

I stood as Nicholas made his way to the door and rushed to my room. I already had on a t-shirt, so I changed out of my shorts into black leggings and grabbed the largest coat I had. The winter cold had begun to seep in so the coat wasn't far-fetched. I pulled on the coat and looked up at the ceiling. God, I know I'm not exactly the golden child but please, don't let this end badly.

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

"So, we've been dating for over a year and we met at the hospital" Nicholas drummed his fingers over his stirring wheel. There was a bit of traffic on the main road and we were going over our cover story.

I nodded. "Just leave the details to me, I'll handle it"

He glanced at me then back on the road. "So, what's your mom like?"

"Uh," I lifted my attention from trembling legs and unto the car ahead. "She's a disciplinarian, mostly because she was a teacher. You can't predict her, really. Sometimes, she could be easygoing and relaxed, and other times, she could be a bit tough. But, unlike my dad, she's more open to a voice of reason"

I hoped she was the only family member at the airport when we arrived because I could only take so many surprises at a time. She sounded to be in a good mood, over the phone. I prayed it remained that way even after we met.

My entire childhood I'd always clung to my mother's side. I knew her temperaments and things that could set her off. This pregnancy would come as a big shock to her, as a Christian mother. She had always drummed the 'sex before marriage' spiel, my entire life. I could still remember the conversation we had just before I came to America.

I had just finished packing my luggage and had gone over my list to make sure everything was in order. It felt surreal, I almost couldn't believe I was leaving Nigeria. None of my siblings had ever been outside the borders of Nigeria, talkless of travelling internationally.

I climbed into my bed and pulled my soft duvet over my legs. This would be my last night in this room. There was a giddy rush that filled my bones but at the same time, a nervous pit formed in my stomach. I was going to be alone in a foreign land. There were no uncles or aunties over there to help me get settled in. The moment I got on that plane, I would be responsible for myself.

There was a brief knock on my door before it creaked open. My mother stuck her head into the room first, then advanced forward with the rest of her body. She switched on the room light and closed the door behind her. She had on a silk nightgown and black hairnet, her indoor wrapper draped over her chest and tucked underneath her arm.

"You've not gone to sleep, yet?" she came to sit at the side of the bed.

I gestured to my travel bags, packed in the corner of my room. "I just finished packing"

She nodded and rubbed her palms against her wrapper, over her lap. "You know when you were about to enter the university, I spoke with you"

I nodded. Here we go.

"Well, now that you're travelling outside the country to school, I need to advise you. It's left for you to take it or throw it away" she began. "When you get there, your father and I wouldn't be there with you. We wouldn't be there to tell you what to do and guide you aright, o kwa ima?" (I hope you know)

I nodded and crisscrossed my legs in front of me.

"There would be a lot of peer pressure. You're grown enough to know that you shouldn't join those who smoke, drink and party in clubs. Those kinds of people would only lead you astray. Remember, you have a reason you're going there and it's to study."

I nodded. This was the exact same speech she gave me just before I moved to the campus hostel.

"You have younger sisters who are looking up to you. Whatever you do, they will emulate, so you have to be careful" she placed a hand on my knee and drew closer. She lowered her voice as if there were someone else in the room. "Don't go around with men. They would only put you in trouble. I hope you understand what I'm saying?'

"Yes, mummy" I droned out as I nodded. This was a rinse and repeat of all the sex talks I've ever had since I started menstruating.

"You're going there to become a medical doctor. If you get pregnant, just forget about that dream. Children are a blessing, yes, but they can also change the course of your life. Keep yourself for your future husband. You know God frowns at fornication"

I squirmed in my bed and averted my eyes to the floral pattern of my sheet. I could never get over how awkward these conversations always were.

She tapped my knee. "I hope you're listening to what I'm saying?"

"Yes, I've heard you" I pursed my lips as I lifted my eyes to her face.

She cupped the side of my face in her hand. "You're a very beautiful girl and men would flock around you. You must be disciplined and hold onto your virtue. Don't be swayed by lies of men"

I chuckled. "I won't, I promise"

What an irony that was. If this wasn't my life, I would've chortled at this situation. Well, at least, I made it through med school before the pregnancy. Yay, for me.

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

I fidgeted with my trembling fingers as I stood a few feet away from my mother. She was seated on the waiting chairs, a small plastic rolling box stood close to her feet. Her head was buried in her phone and she hadn't noticed my presence.

A caramel blouse and black full-length skirt rested against her rotund body and a black turban over her head. I couldn't see her face clearly but she seemed slimmer than the woman I remembered.

Lord, please let this woman take this news in the calmest way possible. Don't let her cause a scene in this airport. Amen.

I released a shaky breath as I pushed my stiff legs forward. Once I gained momentum, I just kept moving forward till I stopped before her. She lifted her head and a smile broke out on her face once she recognized me. She sprang to her feet, releasing an excited shrill as she enveloped me in a tight hug. She rocked both of us from side to side then froze and I felt her muscles stiffen in my embrace.

Her smile dropped and she reared her head backwards, to get a good look at my face. Slowly but surely, her eyes travelled from my face to my swollen stomach. Her pupils shook and her mouth fell open, her hands losing their grip around my frame.

I moistened my lips and whispered. "Mummy, please can we talk about it when we get home? Please,"

She jammed her mouth shut and nodded, her breathing deep and loud. I exhaled with relief and we walked out of the airport wordlessly. Nick stood outside the airport, waiting. He walked up to us and retrieved her luggage from me as he greeted my mother. She gave him a terse nod in response, her eyes didn't even take him in. She was in shock.

Nicholas hung back so I was walking beside him. His eyes took in my expression and he mouthed. "Are you okay?"

I shook my head and mouthed back. "I don't know,"

Once we got into the car, I kept looking at mymother in the backseat, through the rear mirror. She sat as stiff as a plank ofwood, her eyes remained focused out the window. I knew she remained comportedbecause her mind was reeling with questions. I could feel a heated conversationcoming my way.

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

VOTE, COMMENT and SHARE