Dear Vee,
I remember the first time I crossed paths with this cousin of mine. We were just teenagers then. My siblings and I had been squatting with his mom for a while, yet, this cousin of ours was away in another state, living with his dad. He was practically a ghost in our lives—only showing up once or twice, briefly, then vanishing like he was some distant memory.
Fast forward to three years ago at my father’s burial, and there he was, standing in the crowd. It was like meeting a stranger all over again. We exchanged pleasantries, but it wasn’t much beyond that. Just formalities. You know how it is at funerals.
Then, four months ago, out of the blue, he calls me. He asks me if I’m still living in my base, like it was something out of the ordinary. Well, of course, I was still here! It’s where I work, where I’ve built my life. He didn’t seem too concerned with that, though. He told me he was coming to town to chase down his late father’s gratuity at the Ministry and wanted to crash at my place for a night or two. Sure, no problem, right? Family is family, after all.
He arrived on a Friday morning, bleary-eyed from a night bus. I’d already made plans and taken the day off work so I could accompany him through all the bureaucratic nonsense he had to face. And honestly, everything went smoother than expected. By the time we wrapped up, I got called back to the office for a quick task. I didn’t want to drag him into that mess, so I left him at a nearby garden. Just a couple of hours, I told myself. I’ll pick him up soon.
But when I returned, what did I find? My dear cousin, utterly wasted. In just four short hours, he had drowned himself in booze. I mean, really? A river’s man, indeed. What more could I have expected?
I didn’t make a fuss. I bought some fish, drinks, and we headed home. Lowkey, a part of me was even a little happy. Finally, a drinking partner! I always preferred drinking at home anyway, so this worked out perfectly. Once home, I insisted we freshen up before eating. I knew if I ate first, I’d be too exhausted to do anything afterward.
I took my shower first, leaving him to his. But when this man emerged from the bathroom, he didn’t bother with a towel or a wrapper. No, he strolled out completely stark naked! He didn’t even flinch. Just walked right past me as if it was the most natural thing in the world. I was sitting there in the parlor, and I saw everything. Every. Single. Thing.
We ate, drank some more, and I let him have my bed for the night while I settled for the floor in the parlor. I didn’t think much of it. Until later that night, when I felt someone turn me over. I wasn’t exactly in the mood to fight, and to be honest, he wasn’t rough. It was like I was in a dream, caught up in a haze. And in that strange haze, I didn’t push him away. I moaned. Yes, I moaned. For my cousin.
Morning came, and just like that, he acted as if nothing had happened. Like the night before had been a figment of my imagination. Maybe it was. But I told myself that if he didn’t acknowledge it, then perhaps I’d imagined it all. He left on Sunday morning, thanked me for my hospitality, and that was it. He went back to his life, and I returned to mine.
Now, let me tell you a little about myself. I’m 43 years old. I’ve been through the wringer with relationships, trying for years to have a baby. I tried so hard I ended up with cysts from all the Clomid I took. Eventually, I gave up. Maybe motherhood just wasn’t in the cards for me. So when I missed my period recently, I assumed menopause had finally caught up with me. After all, I’m no spring chicken anymore.
But then came the shocker. I went to the doctor, and they hit me with the news: I’m pregnant. Yes, pregnant at 43. But here’s the real kicker—I’m pregnant for my cousin.
At first, I couldn’t even wrap my mind around it. How was this possible? After all the years of trying, after all the disappointment, now this? But then I thought, maybe this is the universe’s twisted way of answering my prayers. I’ve wanted a baby for so long, and if this is how it’s meant to happen, who am I to question it?
What should I do Vee?
