CHATER 7: CHILDBIRTH

"Sorry, she couldn't make it, she died in the process of the operation, we are so sorry for your loss " a doctor told my parents.

" No, it can not be true, my daughter cannot be dead ", my mom exclaimed.

"Jesus", my dad screamed "it can't be true" my dad said in continued exclamation.

The nurses rolled out my corpse with a blanket used to cover unconscious me.

When my parents saw my corpse, my mom collapsed , my dad screamed "Chidiebere nwam muo!" (My child)

"Ooh, it was a dream " I said when I woke up being relieved I wasn't dead.

It's only 3 weeks to my delivery and my parents were already planning the C.S operation,the dream obviously is warning us against the operation. I narrated the dream to my parents,my dad took it lightly but my mom who knew about me dreaming and it comes real was a little bit worried. My mum tried convincing dad against the C.S operation, they actually argued about it before they resorted on seeing the doctor again for another test. When we reached the hospital, the doctor re-examined me.

"Mr and Mrs Emeka ,your daughter here needs to deliver through C.S operation if not sorry to say her life may be lost, it is 80% her losing her child and 20% damages to her body if she is left to deliver through labour" the doctor told us after examining me.

"What are the chances of her survival?"my dad asked obviously caring less about my unborn child.

"0 ,if she is let to undergo labour but if she undergoes the operation, her survival is 95% approximately an hundred percent assurance".

The doctor said.

"Thank you, doctor" I said.

"My pleasure , I need to attend to other waiting patients." the doctor said and left.

"Ebere, I am sure you heard what the doctor said and I know you are not ready to die or lose your unborn baby after all the sufferings." My dad said talking to me.

"And you!," he said pointing my mom .

"you are not ready to lose your only daughter and grand child, are you?" He asked rhetorically.

"Dad, I feel a strong feeling against the operation and my dreams are usually...They usually come to pass" I said.

trying to convince him.

"The doctor's words did you not hear them? " he asked rhetorically again.

"Please let's go to another hospital who knows the hospital's lab might be faulty ".my mum suggested.

"Okay ooh, if you say so but if it's still the same result, Ebere is undergoing operation ".he said with an air of authority.

I followed them like a lost puppy to another hospital .It was the same result, by now my mom stopped supporting me , she no longer sawc reasons for me not to undergo the operation. I stayed quiet till we got home.

"Chidiebere, you heard what the doctor said right?"my dad said when we returned home that day.

"Nnam (father), I think I had that dream to warn us against the operation". I said.

"Miracle, do you want to lose your life, do you want after all the stress to lose your unborn child. Miracle don't you love yourself, don't you love me, you want me childless again." Mom said.

"Chidiebere, we went to another hospital, the doctor they said if you undergo normal delivery the chances of your or the baby survival are very slim, so you see? ".My dad trying to convince me.

"Nnem, Nnam,(father ,mother) I know you both love me very much but the C.S operation , my body and spirit does not approve of it at all.I.....please try and see it from my angle please". I said.

"Miracle, I cannot continue batter words with you, Ebere you are undergoing the C.S operation which is final." My dad declared with an authority of a world's power president as he moved to his room.

"Dad, I can't do the operation, i will not do it, don't force me to do what I can't ooh, father i will not do it, is it not my body? or they did not tell you the operation has side effects and possibility of me dying, please ooh Apum, Apummuo Apuie nwanta kiwi [leave me, I am not a kid anymore ]" I said which brought my dad back to sitting room.

"Mechionu there, Mechionu [shut up]" my mom said closing my mouth. "You don't have a say over this matter." She added.

"Nnem [mother] it is my child and it is my life,

I do have a say in this matter" I said

"When did you get this stubborn?, Ebere you are undergoing the C.S operation" my dad said with an air of authority.

"No way", I countered.

"Yes, you are,"

"No, I'm not,"

"Yes, you are,"

" Dad, I can't,"

" You can,"

"I say I can not,"

" Then you must,'

" No way,"

"You must ooh,"

"Nba nu [no], there's no way i will do it ,Never. !

"You are pissing me off, Chidiebere,!!!"

"Go to your room! "My mum ordered to end the battle of words between me and dad.

Even as I walked to my room, i kept mumbling i will not do the operation repeatedly.

* * *

"Chidiebere you don't love your self, do you?" Ijeoma told me as we talked in a mango tree shade.

''Ijeoma, is not like that'' i protested.

"Then is like what, ehh, like what, you want to kill yourself ehh?, "she used her hands to describe how someone would not want to live.

"Ijeoma wait now, let me explain, i had a dream,."

"And so?"

"You know my dreams are always real and I rarely dream "I said trying to get her attention.

I narrated the dream to her.

"But even at that, you should still do the operation now, but I also don't think they should force you either, ah! ah! Ibuie nwanta kiwi [ you are not a kid anymore ] she said "but to me i think you should do the operation." She added

"I've heard, I will think about it" i said

"I'll be going now, "she said about to leave

"Bye, ooh"

"Bye " we said and we parted ways.

*. *. *

"Is like you people don't treasure the life of the young lady, she can't undergo labour, she won't survive it" the doctor said on the day I was suppose to deliver.

"Doctor, I am even tired, she won't agree" my dad said.

"Let us to do the operation now that time is still on our side". the doctor suggested.

"How is that possible, when she won't give consent to it." my mom asked.

"Who needs her consent, I just need you to sign some documents and I will inject her with a sedative and the operation would be done." The doctor said

"Then bring the documents". my dad said.

"Come to my office,."

They were about going when mum objected.

"Dimoma[my good husband], I don't want to force her into this, my spirit tells me that this girl should approve before doing operation". my mum said

"Onyinye, are you hearing yourself, you want to lose your daughter, Mimi! "My dad said and stressed the Mimi.

"I will not be a part of this" my mum said raising both hands.

"Doctor, please let us go and sign, let us forget this woman". my dad said to the doctor

"Am sorry, we can't continue without both the parents signature" the doctor said. "whatever is the outcome of this delivery, is not my fault" the doctor added and left the place.

"Onyinye, you see what you and your daughter is doing, if anything happens to Chidiebere, my angel I will not take likely with you". my dad said pointing angrily at my mum.

" Dimoma [my good husband] I just remembered a story of a girl who did this operation and died. Please leave Ebere alone."My mum said.

While my parents were arguing, I was in labour. The baby had come out with out stress. The doctor rushed out when the nurses told him I've

delivered.

"Ebere's parents, I can't believe things like this still happens. I just can't believe it." The doctor said in ultimate surprise.

"What happened?" my parents asked in unison.

"Miss Ebere just gave birth, normally without stress or complications", I examined her and according to science, she wouldn't have survived, but she did.

Wonderful!" the doctor said amazed.

" Eh,?" my dad asked in shock.

"Chukwudaluu ooh [God I thank you] " Mom exclaimed in joy.

"Where is she?" My dad asked.

"In the maternity ward". The doctor responded.

They rushed to the maternity ward and saw me playing with my baby boy.

"Dimoma ,you see , see if we have forced her into the operation she might not have survive" my mum said.

"Eh, i told you," I said smiling at my little boy.

"God is good, Ebere am sorry for trying to force you to be operated". my dad apologised.

"Eh, me too." my mom said.

"We thank God, he showed us, he warned us before it was too late". I said

I got discharged 2 days later after paying the bills I went home. Ijeoma' s parents visited me and gave me some money to continue schooling when I was strong. I thanked them. Ijeoma narrated how she confronted her cousin to me:

"Emeka, did I give meat pies to give Chidiebere," she started.

"Ij baby what are you talking about?" he asked looking and pretending to be confused and oblivious of what Ijeoma was talking about.

" I will go in there and tell your parents" she threatened.

" Oya,wait, wait now" he begged . " who told you?" he asked again.

"Tell me the truth!" she demanded.

"I just wanted to give her a gift, I know she won't collect it without your name. It was Tochukwu Chuka who brought it that I bought, you know that he has an uncle who makes pleasant meat pies. But she is accusing me wrongly, I did not put anything in the meat pies and I did not rape her" he said.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes"

" How am I sure you are not lying ?"

" No, Ijeoma you have to believe me"

When Ijeoma finished her story, of course, I did not believe her.I mean , even the blind would see that Emeka was the mastermind of the rape incident .Maybe Ijeoma didn't see the plain because it was her cousin and Emeka must have brainwashed Ijeoma with his lies.

My parents told me what happened in the hospital, It was so happy my mom disagreed to sign the documents which could have got me operated