Here is my entry for the etisalat flash fiction prize. Its a simple story about teenage pregnancy. Presently I have got zero votes. Please follow the link and vote, and help a brother. Peace.

https://prize.etisalat.com.ng/flash-fiction/
voteall.php?id=396.



A mother's joy.


I could tell you of the exact moment, and the
exact hour, and the
exact time of day, of the exact month and year,
I'd
probed round my belly and knew for certain that
an illegitimate child was growing inside me.


I could tell you how immediately my heart sunk
far deep into my stomach that I wouldn’t
have been altogether surprised to have seen it
ejected out along with the unwanted fetus, and
bits
of hot, brownish fecal matter already
bearing down my anus.



My exact thoughts were: Chidi you're finished
finished. And if you'd been there to see
how me, initially standing, started to
slowly shrink into a sobbing, miniature ball
rolled up the toilet floor I think you'd
have completely agreed.
But finished did not even begin to describe
things. Firstly, in unambiguous terms, this meant
bye-bye
till whenever ‘September- university-
matriculation.'( if-
ever, we meet again old friend.) Next, it meant a
resounding slap delivered at the centre of my
left ear
that I can still hear the taaaaaa! ringing
occasionally.


I could tell you more things: My botched abortion
attempts, Tunde’s predictable denial, the follow
up depression; or even of my being kept in
hiding, completely shut out from friends and
prying
neighbours; while my parents and siblings did me
-----or themselves, the favor of telling everyone
I’d gained a ruse university admission.
But what would any of these change?


Nothing.



So I'll tell you nothing of them instead, tell you of
the
exact moment I’d first held my child in my
arms-----the newborn kicking and screaming,
infant hope and promise hanging on his
head --my joy indescribable like a rush of
wind so powerful and dignified that it did not
matter in that moment what'd come before, or
what might even come
after.

A big think you to any potential voter. Hopefully I get enough votes to make it to the next stage

jkarmstrong:
A big think you to any potential voter. Hopefully I get enough votes to make it to the next stage

This should be thank you. For a so-called writer a dumb mistake to make.

Would you like to trade votes?