A knock came at the door of Akushika’s room. Standing in front of the mirror, having put on her favourite orange maxi dress, she called out, “Come in!”

The door opened, and Remaliah’s head popped in. “Everything alright in here?”

She nodded quietly. “I’ll be done in a minute.”

“Great, great. Just spoke to Dr. Asamoah, so he’ll be waiting to meet you. He’s another kind soul, so don’t worry at all. Everything will be fine, okay?”

She nodded again. Then she asked, “Umm, so, any success?”

The pleasant look on the retired soldier’s face dimmed a bit. He shook his head. “I called both numbers, but they didn’t respond. I sent a text message, and maybe they figured out that it’s about you, so your mother responded quite simply. ‘We are not accepting any calls about her’.”

Akushika sighed. Just as she had expected.

“I mean, I just don’t understand them. Is this how parenting is done? Your daughter did something wrong and now she’s pregnant. Fine, show your displeasure. It’s normal. But to this level that you don’t want to know what’s happening with her? Come on!” Remaliah wondered out loud in disgust. “I know a parent needs to be strict, but not to this extent that it brings your love for the child into question. Ugh. Anyways, Shika, if they won’t do it for you, we will. So let your heart be at ease, okay?”

Akushika nodded once again and curtsied.

“Good, good. So of course, Superwoman Dru will take you to the hospital.”

Akushika couldn’t help but crack a smile at that. Remaliah and his sweet little quips of praise for his wife. “Yes, yes, I’ll be going with her. A superwoman indeed,” she agreed.

“Without a doubt. And let nobody tell you different. If they do, just tell me, and I’ll be there to deliver a hot double cheeseburger on them!”

It took about five seconds for Akushika to remember what a ‘double cheeseburger’ was, then she burst into laughter. “Yes, please, Sir Remmy. I’ll definitely do that.”

“Thank you. Alright, I’ll see you later tonight. All the best.”

***

About an hour and a half later, she followed Drusilla down the stairs of the flat as they made their way to the car park. She nodded, pretty impressed as Drusilla pressed a button on the car key she held, and one sleek Skoda Octavia responded.

As they sat in the car, though, it hit Akushika once again.

She was getting help she needed, but had expected she’d never get.

For some reason, it just slapped her in the face one more time, and she began to choke up.

“Are you alright, honey?”

Akushika’s eyes filled with tears as she turned to Drusilla. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but whatever those words were, they failed to come out. She covered her mouth and shook her head as the tears began to roll down her cheeks.

Drusilla simply reached out and gently placed a reassuring hand on Akushika’s shoulder. “My dear, I can only imagine what’s going through your mind right now, but please, don’t let judgment weigh you down. All you need right now is all the love and support to get through this.”

Wiping the tears off, Akushika nodded. Sniffing, she murmured, “Yes-yes. I-it’s just that… after all I’ve had to deal with… the boy that got me pregnant, my friends… my parents… this support… it-it’s so overwhelming…”

Drusilla smiled warmly, patting her hand. “Well, like we’ve already said, what you need right now is not judgment but compassion. We all make mistakes, and we all deserve a chance to make things right and get back on track. Throwing you out on the street won’t do anyone any good; all it suggests is that this one mistake you made should be your life definition. And that, my dear, couldn’t be far from the truth. You’re not defined by your mistakes or the opinions of others regarding that mistake. You’re defined by how well you handle the challenges that follow. And right now, you’re taking the first brave step. Keeping that precious life inside you and doing the needful to keep him or her safe and healthy.”

Akushika nodded again. “Yes. Yes, you’re right. I’m going to focus on that now.” For the first time, she looked down at her belly and touched it lovingly. “I’m doing this for him, or her.”

Drusilla smiled. “That’s more like it. Now let’s move.”

***

Akushika could feel her heartrate increase as she and Drusilla walked through the entrance to Hallmark Community Hospital. Making their way to the waiting room, they did all the necessities before taking their seats at the section for those waiting to see the obstetrician. Luckily for them, there were not many people in that row.

It only took about twenty minutes of waiting before they could enter the doctor’s room.

They entered, and there sat a man who looked like he was in his late forties, with plenty of white hairs visible in his beard. He had the most pleasant of smirks on his face upon seeing them.

“My one and only Mama Dru!” he cheered as they took their seats. “So good to see you!”

“Good to see you too, Doc!” Drusilla replied. “Now that you’ve moved further away di33, you don’t come for yam balls again.”

“Oh, Maa Dru, it’s not my fault ooo. You know how this job is. But anyways, one of these days, I’ll pass by so you I can take some. The way Mandy and the kids will be happy, eh!”

Drusilla laughed. “Oh, I can imagine. Mandy loves them paaa. Please, make the time and pass by, wai.”

“Most definitely, Maa, most definitely. Anyways, good afternoon, Miss… Acolatse. I’m Dr. Anderson Asamoah,” the doctor introduced himself. “Excuse me, wai. Maa Dru is one of my mummies, so I was doing some small catch up.”

Akushika managed a small smile. “Oh, it’s okay, Doc. I’m fine with that. After all, it’s Maa Dru.”

Dr. Asamoah laughed. “Exactly. As for Maa Dru, she’s just one of a kind. So, please, how are you feeling today?”

Akushika hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Ummm… nervous. I’m a bit nervous, but… but I know I need to do this.”

Dr. Asamoah nodded understandingly. “Of course, of course. It’s completely normal to feel that way, especially considering your circumstances and all. Like you probably know by now, Sir Remmy gave me the story last night, and I just want you to know this: I’m here to help you through this journey. As to how it happened and all, that’s not my concern. My business is to make sure that you have a healthy pregnancy, and that you give birth safely to your child. Okay?”

Akushika nodded, feeling a sense of relief in her bosom. She peered at Drusilla, who nodded and smiled at her.

“Good. So, I’ll ask you quite a number of questions regarding your medical history, menstrual and reproductive history, and a few other things. Then we’ll proceed with some routine tests to ensure both you and the baby are doing well. Ready?”

Akushika nodded, confidence slowly but surely taking hold in her. “Yes, please.”

“Alright, let’s proceed. So… to the best of your knowledge, do you have any pre-existing medical conditions…”

***

“Have you taken the folic acid tablets?” Drusilla’s voice called from the kitchen.

“Yes, please!” Akushika responded from the dining room.

“Good, good. Dinner will be ready soon, okay?”

“Okay, Maa Dru. But… are you sure you don’t need me to help you out in the kitchen?”

“My dear, don’t worry. I’ll be needing you in the kitchen very soon. But not for now. Just relax and wait for dinner.”

Akushika smiled. “Alright, Maa Dru. Then I’ll step out for just a few minutes.”

“Sure, sure, go ahead.”

Stepping out of the apartment, Akushika could feel a glowing sense of satisfaction. The antenatal visit went pretty well, with Dr. Asamoah prescribing a few prenatal vitamins for her, and scheduling further appointments to check on the baby’s growth. After leaving, she realized how much of a responsibility lay on her, and now that determination to ensure her little one remained healthy was starting to push out all that self-pity inside her.

Forget about all that sorrow and ‘woe is me’ stuff, she said to herself. My little one’s coming. I made the decision to keep it, and I’m seeing it through to the end…

Her thoughts were briefly cut short as she noticed the person standing at the place she usually stood.

It was Raymond.

He turned to see whose footsteps it was. Once he noticed it was her, he turned away without a word, pulling out his phone to check something out.

She winced. That was very much what she expected.

She wasn’t sure whether Drusilla had spoken to him as she had promised, but it was pretty evident he was still very much peeved about her unwarranted attack the previous day. She sighed. I need to apologize to him.

So she took a few steps toward him. “Um, Raymond?”

He looked up from his phone, looked at her again, grunted “Mm-hm?” and went back to his phone screen.

She wrung her hands for a moment and took a deep breath before starting. “Umm… Raymond, I’m sorry for what happened yesterday. It was a totally unnecessary overreaction and I… I’m not proud of that. I don’t know what made me act the way I did, but I’m really, really sorry. Please, can we make things right?”

Raymond sighed before lifting his eyes from the phone back to her. His expression was still as straight as could be, still relaying how salty he still was.

“Honestly, I really am sorry. Maa Dru told me about you when I first came here. I should have realized it was you, especially with your bags and all. I don’t know why I behaved that way, but I’m sorry. We got off on the wrong foot, and it’s my fault. So please, can we start over? Pleease?”

Facing him, she couldn’t resist adding a little puppy-eyed gaze at him. Of course, that tactic never worked on her parents, but she had used it on some people to good effect. Hopefully, he’d be one of them.

The tiny smirk that cracked his face, along with a shake of the head and a look to the heavens, suggested that it had.

“You know, you should thank the Lord God Almighty that you’re such a cutie. Coz I don’t think I’d sleep well if I said no to you.”

Akushika giggled, her adorable dimples now on display.

“Oh wow, you’ve got dimples too? Chai! In fact, I’d have had nightmares if I didn’t accept.”

She giggled even more.

“Fine. All is forgotten,” Raymond smiled. He then extended his hand toward her. “Now, hello, pretty young lady, never seen you around here. What’s your name?”

The smile still plastered on her face, she shook his hand. “Akushika Acolatse.”

“Nice name. Well, pleased to meet you. My name is Raymond Nii Adamah.”

“Pleased to meet you too, Mr. Nii Adamah.”

“Please, call me Ray. So, what brings you to this humble side of Kumasi?”

“Ummm, it’s a really long story, to be honest. And I’ll have to be going back inside soon, so…”

“Alright. Whenever you’re ready to talk. I’ll be going out with my two friends on the next floor. Dunno if you’ve met them yet…”

“Jonny and Bukky? I have, I have. And uh, maybe I can join you guys one of these days and give you all you need to know about my story?”

Raymond shrugged. “Sure. In that case, is tomorrow afternoon okay with you? They’ll be in my apartment.”

Akushika nodded. “That’ll be perfect.”

“Perfect, then. See you then.”

Everything’s falling in place nicely for her so far. Good to see she’s making things right with Raymond, too…