My Ex Almost Broke Me

My baby

“Where are you going?” asked my mom, catching me trying to open the kitchen door. Damn, I thought she was sleeping.

“I told you she hasn’t learned her lesson,” said my little brother. Six months later, he still hasn’t forgiven me.

“I asked you a question,” demanded my mother.

“Lucky wants to see me,” I decided to tell her the truth. And just then Lucky hit the horn in the car he came with. My mom called my dad. He came rushing.

“What is it?” he asked, fastening his gown. My mom tells him what’s going on.

“You’re not going anywhere,” said my dad, leaving no space for an argument. I’m already the black sheep of the family, so sure they don’t expect me to listen to them, right?

“He’s the father of my baby.”

“Didn’t he deny the baby?” asked my sister.

“Just because you have a good job and drive an expensive car doesn’t mean you have a say in my life. Don’t make it sound like you’ve never made a mistake. I don’t need you and your stinking attitude in my life. Don’t act so high and mighty. Leave me alone, stay far away from me you judgemental bastard.” My sister didn’t say anything, she just decided to boil water, probably for tea. But my mom slapped me so hard, I think I saw stars. And then she tried to take the key from the door. And I don’t know what came over me. I pushed roughly to the side. She almost fell and my dad managed to pull her back before she fell. Everyone looked at me in horror. But I didn’t care, I wanted to leave this house. I needed to see Lucky.

“Let her be before she hurts someone,” said my dad. He’s never been a talker. My mom started to say something but my dad shook his head and she stopped and I opened the door and left. I could feel their eyes on me until I turned the corner. Lucky wasn’t alone, he came with his crew.

“What did I tell you?” He asked, roughly pulling me towards him. I’m confused. This isn’t the same person I spoke to just now. He also slapped me so hard I lost balance and I fell on the tar road. “I asked you a question,” he said, bending to look at me in the eye. He puffed the cigarette smoke in my face.

“You’re going to hurt my baby,” I told him, looking away.

“I’m going to deal with you and this baby that’s making you do things I told you not to.” He punches me in the face and I let a scream. I covered my stomach. He’d rather hurt me, but not my baby. When he sees my hands on my baby bump, he smiles. It’s a chilling smile, he stands and he kicks my stomach. I gasp in horror. And I feel the baby move. He continued to kick me, saying this baby is driving me crazy. First I disrespected him in front of his friends and then I went to his house to tell them about the pregnancy even when he told me not to.

“I’ll see how crazy you get when you no longer have the baby.” I tried to scream for my parents but my voice didn’t come out. He kicked me until I blacked out.

*****

I woke up in a hospital bed alone. As soon as the nurse sees that I am awake, she comes over.

“Good evening Nande, how are you feeling?” Before I could answer her, my hand went to my stomach. The baby bump isn’t there.

“I am so sorry, but it was too late when your family brought you here.” She sounded sincere. I’m in shock, the tears aren’t coming out. My family brought me here? Even after I said the things I said to them? I’m so embarrassed. How am I going to look at them?