The Fall Out

As the days passed, Yewande's cruelty intensified. She gave Alake more chores, treated her with contempt, and refused to provide her with proper food or care.

Ade did nothing to stop Yewande's abuse, and Alake felt alone and abandoned.

But despite the hardships, the baby continued to grow and thrive. Alake felt a sense of wonder and awe as she felt the baby kick and move inside her womb.

As the months passed, Oranmiyan reduced the frequency of their secret meetings. Alake understood that he was trying to avoid suspicion, but she couldn't help feeling abandoned and forgotten.

Eventually, she stopped hearing from him or even seeing him. She had no idea where he lived, and asking other villagers would definitely be suspicious. She knew that she could not be too careful.

One day, Alake decided to take matters into her own hands. She started weaving mats and baskets, using the skills her mother had taught her. She would take these along with her to the market every time she went to sell Yewande's baked corn.

To her surprise, the business began to yield profits, and Alake started saving money so she could escape from the hellish life she was being subjected to. She knew she had to do everything to ensure that her baby was safe.

Finally, the day came when Alake had saved enough money to rent a small hut on the outskirts of the village. She packed her belongings and left her uncle's house, determined to start a new life. Certainly, her family would not even miss her. The only thing Yewande would miss was the labour she did for her everyday. She also bought second-hand baby clothes and equipment, preparing for the arrival of her child.

As she settled into her new home, Alake felt a sense of peace and freedom. She knew that she still had challenges ahead, but she was ready to face them head-on. She kept weaving her baskets and mats to sell in the market.

Living alone was not as blissful as she had imagined because she was heavily pregnant with her baby. She really needed help with chores like cooking and cleaning but there was no one to help. At a point, weaving became difficult for her. She had to put a stop to her profession to focus on nurturing her unborn child.

Oranmiyan's absence in her life did not make it any easier. She would cry herself to sleep many nights. Some days, she would be unable to eat, sleep or walk because of the pains that came with her pregnancy. It was one distressing journey for her and she promised herself to never make such mistake again.

The time of delivery drew near, and Alake felt a mix of excitement and fear. She had no family to support her, no friends to turn to.

But as she sat in her small hut, surrounded by the mats and baskets she had woven, Alake felt a sense of determination. She would face whatever challenges came her way, and she would do it alone.

At midnight, Alake's pains intensified. She knew that the time of delivery had arrived.

Fearfully and with so much pain, Alake made her way to Ifa Shrine, where the high priestess, Ifakemi, lived. She had heard that Ifakemi was a skilled midwife, and she hoped that the priestess would be able to help her.

As she approached the shrine, Alake felt a sense of peace wash over her. She knew that she was in good hands.

Ifakemi greeted Alake warmly and led her to a small, cozy room. Alake laid down on the bed and let out a cry of pain. This kind of pain, she had never felt in her life.

Ifakemi examined Alake and nodded. "You are ready to give birth," she said, smiling.

Alake nodded, shaking with fear and eyes full of tears. Despite the severe pain, she could not help but feel hopeful and excited. All that pain would soon end and she was going to become a mother.

As the hours passed, Alake's pains grew stronger. Ifakemi coached her through the contractions, offering words of encouragement and support.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Alake felt the baby move. She pushed snd screamed with all her might. The pain was so much that she almost tore Ifakemi's garment. She fainted immediately after hearing a cry which wasn't hers.

Suddenly, a loud clap of thunder boomed outside, shaking the shrine and causing the candles to flicker. Ifakemi looked up, startled, as the wind began to howl and the rain started to pour down.

But it was not just a normal storm. The winds were too strong, the thunder too loud. It was as if the very gods themselves were angry, awakened by the birth of the child.

As the storm raged on, strange things began to happen in the village. Objects moved on their own, and people reported seeing shadowy figures darting through the streets.

The villagers, frightened and confused, huddled together in their homes, waiting for the storm to pass. But Ifakemi, wise and knowing, smiled to herself as she watched over the baby.

"This child is special," she whispered to herself. "The gods have marked him for greatness."

As the storm finally began to subside, Alake stirred, waking from her sleep. She looked around, confused, and saw Ifakemi smiling at her.

"What happened?" Alake asked, still feeling dizzy.

"The gods celebrated your child's birth," Ifakemi replied, her eyes twinkling. "It's a boy."

Alake's eyes widened as she looked at her child, sleeping peacefully in Ifakemi's arms. She felt a sense of wonder and awe, knowing that her child was destined for greatness.

"Have you thought of a name for him?", the high priestess asked. Alake shook her head slowly. The circumstances surrounding his birth made her forget to think of a possible name for her son. Also, she was not sure of the baby's gender and just decided to leave it.

"His name will be Sango since he came with thunder and storm", Ifakemi said without thinking.

Alake was too weak to object or give an opinion. She had just pushed out a baby she carried for nine months with no support or help from anyone. She pushed back some tears thinking about how that moment would have been blissful if Oranmiyan was there with her.

Ifakemi handed Alake the baby, and she felt a sense of love and connection wash over her. She could not help but feel that she had made the right decision in leaving her uncle's house and starting a new life.

She looked at Sango's face, and her heart swelled with love. She was ready to face whatever challenges came her way, as long as she had him by her side.