Chapter 25

I woke up yet again tired and my body aching all over. This was the fifth day this was happening. My body felt weak all the damn time this last week. At first I thought that I was about to get my period. We all know how dramatic my uterus is. Each time I got my period was like a punishment from the African gods for not getting pregnant.

In ancient Africa women were supposed to get pregnant at a very young age. When I talk about young I mean as early as twelve years old. You are deemed mature when you get your first period, so that may vary with some people. Moreso it was the age when suitors would come to your house and offer dowry to your father for your hand in marriage.

Periods or shedding of the uterine wall signified coming of age, beauty and blessings from the gods. At the time,when you got your period you were supposed to go to a secluded spot in the farm and stay there all day or lock yourself in the house. You were allowed not work or exalt yourself.
You couldn't talk to any man directly as you were considered impure. However after you were done bleeding a cleansing ceremony was performed . The cleansing ceremony included alot of herbs,water and prayers . It was conducted by a priest. Not the church priest but an African man who had a strong connection with the gods of our ancestors. I never understood the cleansing part but what the hell,they were old people with old practices.

When choosing a suitor,the parents had to consider the family name,which was very essential then. Every parent wanted their child to be married by a respectable man from a respectable family. The richer the suitor the better. Marrying into a family because they were rich didn't start now.
In the African society it was a practice that was as old as time. No parent wanted their child to suffer ,so they did they're level best to ensure that their daughter had a good suitor. Unfortunately it was practice that allowed rich men in the community to marry more than one wife. Polygamy was very much encouraged in the olden times.

The number of women, children,cows and goats you had was a reflection of your wealth. These men were normally chosen as the village elders as they were seen as responsible and mature. For men laziness was never encouraged. They had the hardest tasks in the village from plowing land, hunting and keeping the village safe.

The other day I had all the signs associated with my periods but they never came. What was going on? I found myself asking that question every day. The symptoms were all there . The headaches,backache,cramping and lastly nausea. The nausea was worse this time as I kept vomiting throughout the day.
I thought through my symptoms to find the possible cause and what came close was a stomach bug. I do get tummy aches but there were rare,like extremely rare. The only way to know for sure was to do some tests at work. As I just woke up,I dragged my ass to the shower and spent an eternity in there.

I didn't have enough energy to stand let alone scrub. I rinsed quickly and wrapped a pink towel around my body. While I dressed I ordered a bodaboda ( mortocycle) to come pick me up. I live in mashinani( upcountry) so ubers are not common here.

When I heard the horn blowing outside, I knew that my ride had arrived. I took my bag and raced out. We arrived at work on record time. I went to the changing room and wore my lab coat and placed my belongings safely in my locker. I went to main lab and most of my colleagues were yet to arrive.

I cleaned my work station and set out to look for my friend Kevin. He was on call today and I needed a fresh set of ears to determine my diagnosis. As soon as I step out of the lab through the back door,I saw him waiting patiently as he tapped away at his phone.

" Mambo" (how are you) I announced my presence.

" Poa sana kafupi" ( very well shorty) he said with a glint of mischief.

" Unafanya?" ( What are you doing?)I asked

" Naangalia Whatsapp" ( I was looking at my WhatsApp)

" Juu uko hapa,nahitaji usaidizi na kitu" ( now that you are here,I need help with something)

" Sawa. Nini mbaya " ( Okay, what is wrong?) He frowned

" Acha kukasirika si kitu mbaya" ( stop getting angry, it's not a bad thing) I eased his mind

" Nimekuwa nikiumwa na mgongo,kichwa na tumbo ,alafu naskia kutapika kila wakati. Shida inaeza kuwa nini daktari" ( I have been having backaches, headaches and stomachache,then I have been nauseous all the time. What could be the problem doctor) I asked in a sweet voice.

" Umenyesha?" ( Slang for getting your period) he asked

" Apana bado,ilitoka kidogo ikaacha"( not yet, I spotted abit and that was all) I answered honestly.

I had to honest,he was my friend and he was here to help me.

" Labda uko mjaa mzito" ( you could be pregnant)

All the blood left my face. If I was lighter I would have looked like a ghost. Pregnant. I had not thought of that. No! No! No! I can't be pregnant,that was not possible.

" Siwezi kuwa mjaa mzito" I protested ( I can't be pregnant)

" Relax, it's just a theory. But maybe do the test first"

" Ooh my God! I can't be pregnant. Shit what will I do?" I asked panicking.

"Kila mtoto anazaliwa na sahani yake" ( every child is born with their plate) he answered

That was a proverb our ancestors used to say. Every child was born with his or her plate. In short it meant God will provide. In this case that did not calm my fears in fact I felt suffocated my the thoughts whirling through my head.

" Are you all right?" He asked.

" I don't know" I whispered

" You'll be okay" he tried reassuring me.

" It's easy to say that when you are not the one who is pregnant"

" I didn't say you are pregnant,I said you could be pregnant"

" And what will I do if I am?"

" We will figure it out once we are sure that you are indeed without a shadow of doubt pregnant."

" Come with me, we are going to do a pregnancy test" I announced.

" Are you sure it is wise to do it in the morning right before work" he asked concerned.

" If I don't do it now, I won't be able to concentrate with work. And as you may not have noticed, we are dealing with people's lives here"

I took his hand and forced him through the back entrance. I left him in the changing room and headed to the serology department to get a pregnancy test strip.
Upon getting the strip I went to the washroom with a polypot and collected some urine sample. I know I can just pee on the stick but I didn't feel like doing any of this alone.

I went back to the changing room and made sure to lock the door behind me.

" The moment of truth" I said with a sigh

I opened the packet and took out the strip. I dipped it in my sample and placed it on top of the packet as we waited for three minutes. Three minutes felt like a life time to me. However when it was done I couldn't bring myself to look.

" I can't look" I confessed looking away from the packet.

" Zee everything will be okay"

" Just check for me please. One line means negative,two lines means positive"

" I already know all that Zee"

" Sorry am just nervous"

" It's okay to be nervous"

" Can you check already" I snapped.

He was silent for too long that I had to check for myself . POSITIVE,two thick lines were on the strip. I felt like my brain immediately switched off and I couldn't comprehend what was happening.

" Zee, are you okay? Zee! Zee! ...Zee"

His voice felt so far away from me. Darkness threatened to take me and I allowed it.