Adeola left the hospital with a heavy heart. She felt she has just committed an unpardonable sin. Her phone rang.
Absentmindedly, she brought it out of her purse and flipped open the protective cover. Her heart heaved on seeing the caller and she gave a quick glance around.

“Good afternoon dear.”

“Hubby, I am quite fine.”

“Yes.” She entered her car.

“I’m on my way from the supermarket but the traffic is congested.”

“Love you too.”

“I’ll drive carefully" She gave a false laugh, “thanks love”.

She felt disappointed in herself. Her “little” mistake had sparked off a series of wrong decisions. In a bid to cover up the truth, she had ended up doing what she would never have allowed her teenage daughter to attempt.
What should have been a happy experience for her has turned awry. Children are blessings. In fact, the Holy Bible likened them to arrows in the hands of a warrior. But she had broken the arrow that was on its way to her own quiver.

Seun, her husband, was away on an official assignment the month before. Her boss, who had been on her neck ever since she got the job some months earlier, finally had his way with her. In a brief moment of unbridled lust, she had slept with her boss.
She assumed she could get away with it but few weeks later, she started experiencing weird feelings. She suspected she was pregnant and a test eventually confirmed her worst fears.

Ever since Adeola realized she was pregnant, she became troubled. It was impossible to hide her agitation from her husband but she was able to conceal the truth from him. She had contemplated telling her husband it was a miracle pregnancy but it seems the “Virgin Mary” miracle no longer occurs.

Adeola had never been one for believing in miracles herself. Her religious belief was not even in support of events just happening because it was orchestrated by a divine being. Most of the miracles she had heard of include septuagenarians giving birth to triplets, impotent men fathering twins, a roadside cobbler becoming an estate owner among others.

Just a few weeks ago, she had stumbled on a magazine when she went to visit her childhood friend, Adenike. She had been attracted to the news via the captivating emblazoned headlines “HIV POSITIVE TURNED NEGATIVE”. The headline had been accompanied by a picture of a woman whose expression bore the outlook of someone at the peak of excitement.

Leafing through the corresponding story, Adeola had learnt of a woman who had contracted the deadly disease through no fault of hers. She was diagnosed as being a carrier of the deadly viral disease. Hitherto, the woman had lost hope, waiting patiently with a heavy heart as her life’s hourglass drained slowly. Not until she had heard of this powerful man of God who could do anything.

The said woman had then attended a revival organized by the miracle wielder, and phew!! After a three day prayer session, she had gone back to the hospital to be retested only for it to come out negative, to the amazement of the doctors and consultants. A retest had to be done in another notable clinic to avoid glitches and it was still the same.

“If only…” Adeola sighed, slowing down as a speeding vehicle rushed past.

Ever since they had their third child four years ago, her husband had stopped sleeping with her. After all, he had told her that he wanted just three children. The economy of the country, he would say, does not allow one to give birth to children like pigs. All this eventually pushed her to following the only alternative she saw in sight, an act she considered despicable.

When she finally got home, she pressed the car horn to announce her arrival and the security guard opened the gate.
As she drove in, she looked out through the window and saw her husband lunging down the staircase. Her heart skipped a beat.

“Has he discovered her secret?”

“Was his affectionate tone on the phone intended to lure her to the wrath of his vengeance?”

She shivered as she looked back. The guard had already locked the gate behind her.

“Was he also part of the conspiracy? And I always give him bonuses in addition to his monthly salary. In fact, just last month I allowed him a two-day leave to visit his daughter at school.”

A barrage of thoughts assailed her mind yet she was stuck to the seat.

Her husband had gotten to the car door and was already opening the door. She stepped out, too fearful to look at his face. Just then her husband hugged her affectionately.

“Baby, I’ve missed you so much.”

“Your aunt came to pick the kids”, Seun winked at her, “and now we have the whole house to ourselves for the weekend.”

The gleeful grin on his face was all she needed to calm down. She looked up at his excited face.

“Adeola temi nikan…” He extoled her in the native Yoruba dialect.

He picked her up effortlessly and, smiling naughtily, carried her into the house. The shopping bag was forgotten in the backseat.

As her husband carried her into the house, Adeola shivered at the thought of what would have happened if her husband had discovered her misdeeds. She decided from that moment that her shameful acts were going to be her secret alone.

Do you think that is really possible? Post your comments and kindly share with others also.

Written by PHILIPS AFOLAYAN (God’s Masterpiece)
Photo Credit: (Getty Images)

Philips Afolayan is a passionate creative writer, content creator and inspirational speaker.

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