She also advised me to take better care of myself this time around, and I thanked her.
Our husband was very happy and did other nice things for both of us. I hardly went outside because they always made sure I had everything I needed — I lacked nothing. Sometimes, I only stepped out with my co-wife for shopping.
I asked to meet some of my husband's family, but he said there was no need. He only gave me money for my dowry without introducing me to any of his relatives. I didn't introduce him to mine either. My mother passed away right after I was born, and my father had died even before I was born.
People used to say I was bad luck. My grandmother also passed a few months after I was born. It was my uncle's wife who raised me, but I was treated badly. When my uncle started acting inappropriately toward me, I ran away — and since then, I had been on the streets before I met my co-wife.
He said most of his relatives lived abroad and that he didn't have parents anymore. That was why I didn't ask again.
I didn't know my co-wife's family either. She said they had all relocated abroad, and the few that were still in Nigeria lived far away, and they weren't close.
I noticed we never had visitors, but I didn't ask why.
When our pregnancies reached two months, my co-wife said she couldn't cope in Nigeria anymore. She wanted to go stay with her mum abroad so she could take care of her son and manage her pregnancy better. She said she might even give birth there, as handling pregnancy and a toddler was becoming overwhelming — and I understood. She mentioned that our husband might visit her from time to time.
She left, and I was alone with my husband. He advised me not to go for any scans this time, saying maybe it was my anxiety about my baby being in a breech position that caused my last loss. I wasn't comfortable with it, but he insisted. I agreed — I didn't want to argue much or appear ungrateful. Besides, he had a point: when I found out about the breech position last time, it did stress me out.
I wrote JAMB again — and I failed again. But he reassured me, saying it wasn't a problem. Once I gave birth, I could focus more on my studies and not worry too much.
One day, I was watching a movie when the contractions started. I called my husband immediately, and he rushed home with two women. I hadn't registered at any hospital. I wasn't feeling like myself.
The next thing I knew, I was pushing. The women — clearly nurses, even though they weren't in uniform — helped with the delivery. After giving birth, I blacked out... again.
I woke up on my bed with a drip in my hand. My husband came in and looked scared when he saw I was awake. I turned to him and asked:
"Where are my babies?"
He looked confused.
"Babies? Maybe you've forgotten — you gave birth to a baby girl."
Me: "No, I remember! I gave birth to twins — a boy and a girl. Where are they? What's today's date? Why did I pass out? I gave birth naturally… why did I pass out? Anyway, where are my kids?"
Him: "I think you're just overwhelmed. You gave birth to a child, and it was a girl."
I wasn't convinced. I could still remember everything so clearly.
Me: "Okay... where is she?"
Him (hesitating): "You need to calm down... we lost her."
I broke down in tears. This couldn't be happening again.
Me: "What about my co-wife?"
Him: "She gave birth abroad. I haven't been able to see her because I've been with you."
Me: "Did she give birth to twins?"
Him: "Yes... a boy and a girl."
Me: "Can I see my baby's body?"
Him: "We've already buried her. It's not good for your mental health right now."
Me: "Nooooo..." I screamed.
"I need to see my baby! Let me see my babies!"
Him: "You need to get a hold of yourself. I'm also heartbroken, and I haven't even been able to see my other kids because of all this."
I couldn't take it anymore. I broke into tears again. He tried to hug me, but I pushed him away and kept crying.
How can my babies be gone again? What's really going on? What are they doing to me?
To be continued...
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Thank you for reading 🥰