It all began as a joke before my eyes but now it has turned into a serious issue that has left me and many others deeply disappointed.

I met her during my National Service. I was teaching in her school. She was in SHS two, going to three.
I liked her but never said a word because I had always been shy.

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Fast forward to my last day on campus, I felt I just had to say something but still could not. Instead, I wrote a few simple words on a piece of paper with my number and left.

Three days passed. She did not call. Then on a certain afternoon my phone rang. To my surprise, it was her little voice saying, “Hello sir.” I was happy but tried not to sound desperate. I told her I was busy and would call back, though the truth was I was not busy at all.

Later that evening, I called back. We talked a lot. She confessed that she liked me too but could not say it because I was her teacher. We started dating. Since my parents are well to do, I promised to support her education so she could complete school and become the nurse she always wanted to be.

Because of my fears, I asked her to inform her mum about our relationship. I imagined the shame of standing with her and suddenly her mum showing up to embarrass us. I could not bear it. Her mum was known to be tough. She hesitated but later agreed. To my surprise, her mum asked to see me.

Two days before that visit, I heard another voice in the background when we spoke on the phone. She told me it was her niece, Blessed. From then, Blessed found her way into our conversations. Even my girl made me talk with her sometimes. Blessed had once been in the same class as my girl before Blessed got pregnant and left school.

The first time I visited was the beginning of the end. My girl was too shy to spend much time with me, so she asked Blessed to keep me company. Blessed always seemed happy to chat with me. She later shared the story of her baby’s father, how three different boys rejected the pregnancy and responsibility.

I have always loved children, especially little girls, so I offered to support the baby in my own small way. My girl had no problem with that. In fact, she even suggested that if we got married, we could adopt the child together.

But the truth is, my girl was not much of a communicator. She only said yes or no, while Blessed was the opposite. I could vibe with her endlessly. Soon, I noticed Blessed was beginning to see my girl as a rival. I complained, but my girl brushed it off.

Later I became sick and needed treatment. My girl’s mum asked me to come stay with them like a son. At first, I refused but eventually agreed. For the first three days, I stayed in a room with my girl. Everything was fine until Blessed also started sleeping in the same room. I questioned it but was told that the room actually belonged to Blessed’s mother, who was the eldest sister.

One day, a relative whispered to me that Blessed’s mum had been saying, “If this boy marries Blessed instead, it would bring me joy. What does Elinam have that she gets such a caring guy?” I shared this with my girl, but we both dismissed it.

Then it happened. One day, while my girl was away helping her sister, I slipped. I ended up with Blessed. I will not lie, it felt different, and though guilt hit me, the memory stayed.

I could not hide it forever. I confessed to my girl. She cried, and I expected her to leave me. Instead, she stayed and asked me to promise it would never happen again. I did. Sadly, Blessed herself told people about it. My girl’s name began to suffer. Still, she stood by me. Even her mum, though disappointed, supported us through it all.

Then rumors began to spread that Blessed was pregnant. I doubted it was mine. Sometimes when we were together, one of the boys who had earlier rejected her baby would call her, and she would meet him. But soon, she was telling people I was responsible.

I became restless. I gave her money for a hospital visit, even though my girl had warned me not to. Through all this, my girl never left my side. She remained the same, strong and faithful.

A few days ago, Blessed’s mum called me and said I should marry Blessed. I asked, “What about Elinam?” She said I should forget her because Blessed was already pregnant for me, and what if that was the only child I would ever have?

I could not accept it. When I told my mum, she only said, “You brought this upon yourself. How will you prove the baby isn’t yours?”

Now my world feels like it is collapsing. My girl cries daily, yet still stays. We had a meeting recently, and to my shock, her mum told me to wait until Blessed gives birth, then do a DNA test. If it is mine, we decide what next.

Three Months After Our Breakup, He Got Married

I still find it hard to believe those words came from her.

Today I am confused. Should I take care of the pregnancy, or ignore it completely? Deep down I am certain the child is not mine, but I am trapped.

What would you do if you were in my shoes?

—Joe

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