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Comment your state or country, date and time you're reading the first page into the story.
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The night felt so cold outside the deranged hut as Essien, held her body tightly. She hadn't been feeling too well for the past couple of weeks and had been throwing up ever since. Her mother knew nothing about this illness and her father wasn't a part of this world to take note of her body change.

The only one who knew about this was Idara, a good friend of hers and Idara had promised to take her to a native healer to help with her predicament.

Essien was scared and that was the reason she could not sleep. She sensed some reasons to her illness but hoped it wouldn't be true. She didn't want to disgrace her mother nor defile the land.

A mosquito flew and stunk her on her skin which brought Essien back to reality. What a world. She got up from the little stool she sat on and reached for the Lantern before her. She opened it a bit and blew the burning light out before bending her back to move into the hut. No matter how much she think all night, it wouldn't change fate.

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The next morning, Essien woke up with the sound of the first cock crawl. Her mother probably would still be in bed and Essien, had plans with Idara. Essien brought out one of her long gowns with lesser holes and wore it on. She planned on going to the stream to have her bath once she got back.

"Mma!" Essien crawled out of her hut while calling her mother. Though her mother didn't respond, Essien knew she heard her. All this, Essien spoke in Efik. "I'm going to the bush to fetch fire woods."

This was a lie - partially, Essien thought. She wasn't going to the bush to fetch fire woods. She was going over to Idara so they could meet up with the native healer. But Essien knew she couldn't come home empty handed so she knew she'd go to the bush at the end of the day.

Without a response from her mother, Essien set to meet Idara. Idara had already told Essien were to meet up and it was easier that way. Essien finally spotted Idara putting on an equally long gown but way sophisticated than Essien.

"My brother got me this from Britain," Idara bragged when she saw Essien gawking on her new gown. Idara's brother was one of the few selected by the English men to go over to the English country to serve. Her brother must be doing well now, knowing he sent this much to her.

"Are you scared?" Idara asked on their way to the native healer. Essien couldn't speak so she went with nodding her head. "It could be malaria. That disease grandfather said, killed so many white men."

"So I'm going to die?" Exclaimed Essien, but in a low tone and sharp breath.

"No, that's why we are seeing the native healer. No one knows about this except from Ebong." Essien stiffen from that name. How would she tell Idara?

They finally got to the shrine with several bamboo sticks and strings of long grass. Essien felt shivers up her spine and gulped. Coweries sounds filled the air and humming sounds sounded so sinister in the ear. Now, Essien was thinking if it was a good idea to be here.

"Welcome, my daughters!" A voice said but no one could be seen. "Do not be afraid, for I am only a healer."

A body revealed itself and a woman with a white silky wrapper emerged from the shadow. She had markings allover her and also looked scattered. Essien wondered if she was truly a healer.

"Come in, but take off your slippers." Warned the healer. "For where you step in, is a holy ground."

Essien and Idara shared a look but took off their slippers. They walked slowly and sat on a lower tool while looking up at the healer.

"We greet you great one," Idara chose to be the spoke man. "My very good friend Essien is very Ill and needs your healing."

The healer glanced at Essien and let out a sinister laugh. "You're not sick my child. You're only pregnant."

You attract what you fear the most, wasn't just a saying. "But how can she be pregnant, great one? She is not married and have known no man since birth. Neither is my very good friend betrothed to anyone."

Another sinister laugh by the healer, "Only one with a problem knows where the truth lies. Ask your friend."

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Idara tried asking Essien what the problem was but Essien kept brushing her off demanding she was in a hurry. And a hurry, she was.

Essien approached Ebong's compound and strode over to the back, where the barn yard was located. She knew Ebong would be there and there he was.

Ebong upon seeing his heartbeat, dropped the cutlass and ran to give her hugs and kisses but stopped when he saw the displeased look on Essien's face. "What troubles the only sun that shines the whole village with her beauty? My love, talk to me."

Essien didn't speak immediately, moving away from Ebong's warm touch. She had some minutes to herself before she finally broke the news. "I'm pregnant."

"What a good news!" Ebong felt like the most happiest man alive.

"No, no not good news." Essien whipped her head to Ebong. "I can't be pregnant for my very good friend betrothed. It's a sacrilege. You of all people should know that."

There was deep silence after Essien's outburst. "I'm going to take out this child. And I want you to respect my decision."

Ebong was a man and this decision hurt him so, so much but he knew what they did was a taboo and shouldn't be done.

"I know about a seer in the nearest community, that seer would have equipment to help out." Ebong swallowed his pain and spoke.

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"Take this," The next day, Essien moved over to the next community with Ebong to see the well known seer that could help their predicament. "After five days, blood will flow inbetween your legs."

Essien sigh in relief upon hearing such news. It was a great news to her. Once Essien got home, she did as the seer told her. On the fifth day, no blood could be seen between her legs.

"Ebong, that seer was a fake. I'm still carrying your child." Essien cried to Ebong on the sixth day. Ebong couldn't tell how that happened. Essien Should've miscarried.

"I know a true native doctor. He helped my brother's wife loose her pregnancy when they had it out of wedlock. I'll introduce you to him." Essien decided to give this native doctor a try.

The next day, Essien went with Ebong. Ebong felt the gods were on his side but this was Essien's call. They got to the Native doctor and he handed her leaves to chew on the spot, calling it a fast action.

Essien chewed the bitter leaves with squeezed face and waited for blood to appear between her legs but instead, she vomited the substance.

"This is a strong one," The native doctor said. "I'm sorry, I can't help you."

Essien kept crying on the way home, not knowing how she'll tell her mum nor Idara about this whole predicament. Her mum might disown her and Idara would hate her for life.

"I know one last person that can help." Ebong reassured Essien for the last time. "There's nothing this healer can't do."

To Essien's dismay, it was the same healer Idara had taken her to. The healer looked and examined Essien, then shook her head.

"My daughter," The healer started. "Your child is strong headed and extremely stubborn. This child is determined to come to this world not has a curse nor a blessing, but as a Hope to make you see your mistake. Whether she turns out to be a blessing or curse, depends on her."

"So I can't kill this child?" Essien asked with tears in her eyes and dry throat.

"This is by far the most stubborn child I have ever seen in my life time." The healer said to Essien. "But trust me when I say, this child would bring you Hope."

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For sound effect, imagine the way Africa magic village film normally speak and apply it here.

This is the first time I'm writing a prologue to a story and it was fun, knowing the setting of the prologue is totally different from the main plot.

Chapter one would be out later today, so stay tuned.

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Word count : 1463

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-Eddy💜