The grasses were still wet with the morning dew and the voices of chirping birds made the calmness of the morning even more pleasant. Mmayen walked in gentle strides along the path that led to the village stream. She figured she needed to fasten her pace because the moment the first cock crows, the villagers would begin their early morning routine trip to the stream, besides, she wanted to get home before her husband woke up. He would go mad with rage if he found out that despite his warnings and pleadings she still went about doing a domestic chore in her delicate condition.The traditional midwife warned her sternly a fortnight ago to prepare for her delivery which was almost due -abstain from house work, take long periods of rest, and bear optimism that the delivery would be nothing short of successful. She sure knew how to take care of herself and so she went about her duties like a wife should.
In no time, she filled her earthen pot to the brim and began her journey back home. She came to meet her husband sitting in a cane chair in front of his hut chewing a stick. The instant he saw her, he spat out with his face squeezing into a stern frown. Mmayen pretended not to notice.
"Did my husband sleep well?" She asked no one in particular as she gently put the pot down taking great care not to hurt herself.
"Mmayen! Mmayen!! How many times have I warned you?" Her husband barked.
"What have I done this time". She feigned ignorance.
"It is obvious you've made up your mind to die but please give me my baby before that happens. From now henceforth i...."
Her legs wobbled, her head spinned and her eyes grew dizzy as she tried to lean on the cane chair but in split seconds, she lay on the floor. Helpless.
She woke up to pains in her abdomen with the inability to lift her thighs and the environment seemed alien.
"Thanks to the gods! She's awake". The midwife exclaimed.
"Abasi sosongho ". Her husband quickly chipped in.
"Have I been asleep? ". A confused Mmayen asked with her eyeballs dilating in a manner that spelt confusion.
"You've been in labour since yesterday morning but you've been asleep for sometime now". The midwife explained.
The pains in her abdomen was becoming unbearable and hushed moans turned into loud screams.
"Leave us". The midwife told Bassey. He quietly left the room, shuffling his feet as he went with his head bowed in the humility his wife's condition had bestowed on him. He silently prayed to the gods for it not to be a still-birth again. Two stillbirths and one miscarriage within the space of three years was no joke and if this turns out the same way, just like Mmayen had threatened, she'd give up on childbearing and resign to her fate. He earnestly wished for the gods to smile on them this time as her screams which he could hear pierced his heart.
"Give it another try, another push".
She screamed, she growled in pains, she pushed, she silently called on the gods to look into her plight because only a thin line separated her now from the world beyond. She was losing every ounce of energy in her. Everything began to look surreal and as though in a trance, she saw herself laughing - a very hearty laughter. And out of the blues, her husband's mother came with her usual rants only that this time she was very fierce. She called her ugly names, howling and screaming at her. Mmayen wanted to say something to her, wanted to fight back, but she stood there transfixed to a spot as tears flowed from her eyes with reckless abandon. Then, the midwife's painful spank on her right thigh jolted her back to reality. Now, she was awake to her pains, to her fears, and to the undying hope of positivity.
"It's a boy!! It's a boy!!!". The midwife screamed. Mmayen didn't even know when it happened and in her pains she felt a sudden soothing relief. A weak smile spread across her face as she tried to raise her head up to see her newborn child.
"Oh no!! There's another one. I can see the head. Relax". Mmayen slumped back into her previous lying position and wondered what manner of fate she had.
An abomination!!!!
In no time, the chief priest and his messengers were there to escort the 'evil babies' to the evil forest and for Mmayen, this was the end. She wished nothing but death for herself.
"...now I know the gods have forsaken me".
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