2

Again, the sun was scorching like it was yearning to melt any available mass, but this was centuries ago. The land was still very green and the wind howled naturally. Tope had been sobbing under the mango tree, she was heavily pregnant and it was obvious she wasn't in a pleasant situation. She was just thirteen and she had gotten herself into a situation that the world at that time detested and the consequences had to be faced.

"What do I do now" She laments to herself as she cries the more. She overheard two young girls of her age who were walking by, they had laughed out loud and it drew her attention. They were gossiping in their mother's dialect, native Igbo.

" lekwanu nwada yoruba nke tụrụ ime otu nwoke anyi" which translates "Look at the Yoruba girl that got pregnant for one of our people."

"nne ya doro ya anya na ọ na-emekọ ihe, ọ bụrụ na ọ bụ nwa agbọghọ Igbo dị ka anyị, ọ ga-aka mma ma nwa agbọghọ Yoruba? Mba nu" translates, "His mother is dealing with her, if she was an Igbo girl like us, it would have been better, but, Yoruba? No na!"

Tope had learnt the basics of Igbo Language within the space of those months she spent in the land, she didn't quite get the details of their discussion but she knew they were laughing at her and talking about her pregnancy.

She couldn't conceal her feelings, she cried out more loudly as she stood up, supporting her bulged belly with her hands and started running.

A pregnant woman who is almost due like she was wouldn't have been allowed to run as fast as she did and of course not for as long as she did. She finally arrived at her destination, UMUNEVU SHRINE.

She stood in front of the shrine, panting like someone who was about to lose her life. She debated entering the shrine, and while staring, she burst into tears and walked slowly in. She was trembling, scared. What if something goes wrong and the gods kill her? She knelt before the creeping looking deity before her and bowed, still sobbing.

Thunder began to rumble.

"My name is Temitope Afolabi, I know that I am a stranger to you but condition brought me to your land."

She paused to catch her breath as she couldn't cry and talk at the same time. "One of your people came to my village months ago, he deceived me,…" she sniffed "Actually, I fell in love with him and let him have what he always wanted from me". Another sniff, "Now, I am pregnant. My people disowned me and brought me here. He denied me but I had a witness so his mother reluctantly took me in."

It started to rain. Tope could now cry very loud without bothering about how loud she was.

"I am tired! I am dying! Your people are mistreating me when I am carrying one of your own. I need you to help me! I know I don't deserve your help but for the sake of my child..." she touched her stomach, "he is one of your own, help us and deliver us from the your people who turns out to be an enemy."

Thunder rumbled more loudly this time and it scared Tope, she screamed out as she squeezed herself on the floor.

"I almost bled to death the other day, I don't know who wants to kill me and my child, but I beg you to fight for us! I am innocent!"

It continued to rain more heavily, lightening against the shrine, thundering out loudly.

"You know, in my land, we make a covenant with the gods, I want to make one with you now."

Slowly, the rain began to subside.

"I will offer my life to you as a sacrifice if my child turns out to be a girl, but if it turns out to be a boy, make him extraordinary so that he would be able to survive in the hands of these ruthless people. Give him unique strength or power to protect himself."

The rain stopped and Tope felt better, she had rant all she wanted and she hoped she would get results.

"I am making this covenant with you, and I pray you keep it" Tope stood up and left the shrine.

***