I was young when I met that scoundrel. At first, he treated me as if I were the centre of his world, showering me with praise and acting like the perfect gentleman. But as soon as he got what he wanted, he vanished from my life without a trace. The breakup crushed me, but I hadn’t yet realised the full consequences of our relationship. I was stunned when I discovered I was pregnant. At first, I decided to keep it from my mother. But as the months wore on and my pregnancy became harder to hideespecially by the fourth monthI found I had no choice but to tell her. She immediately told my father.
All I received from them were accusations and my mother’s harsh words: I wish Id never given birth to you.
Driven by the fear of bringing shame to the village, my parents pushed me to end the pregnancy, even though it put my health at serious risk. Reluctantly, I complied. In the days that followed, I cried bitterly, overwhelmed by the feeling that Id betrayed my own child. I still beg God for forgiveness for what I did. For a while, life seemed to lose all meaning. Sometimes, I thought I would have welcomed death itselfanything rather than the emptiness I felt. But my parents were unmoved. Their only concern was preserving their reputation.
Within two years, I managed to escape their stifling home. I finished my education and threw myself into building a successful career. In time, I achieved everything Id once only dared to dreameverything, that is, except for a family of my own. No amount of moneyno matter how many pounds I earnedcould buy me that. The chance to be a mother had slipped through my fingers long ago.
I met new men, even received marriage proposals, but as soon as they discovered I could not have children, they left without another word. For that, I blame my parents entirely. They robbed me of the chance to experience motherhood. I have no desire to speak to them or even see them again. When my father suffered a heart attack, and my mother begged me to come look after him, I refused. They betrayed me, and I hold them fully responsible.
To ease my conscience, I send them money each month. But I swear I’ll never inflict such pain on my own daughter. Parents should stand by their children, not turn their backs when they’re most in need. My parents never realised just how much happiness they drained from my life.
