Betraying one's trust breeds the greatest guilt of all time.
I betrayed my friend's mum and my friend. Mrs Johnson trusted me so much, and she felt I would tell her if her daughter was doing something bad.
" I would be staying in my boyfriend's house for 3 days but I had told my mum I was travelling to Abuja for a school seminar", she said with gushing smiles while dancing.
And she believed you? Not again! Grace, I asked in a surprised tone.
Yes, she doesn't have a choice, Grace replied joyfully.
I just stood, and stared at her wondering how she is so comfortable lying to her mother, while she was busy whining her little waist, and singing a song that marches her dance steps.
Soon after she had left to prepare herself for Abuja, her mum came to my shop and was asking for 10 thousand naira promising to pay back at dawn.
"Please I need 10 thousand naira to give to your friend", she asked politely.
Did she tell you she is travelling? Her mum asked me with her eyes wide open and almost tearing.
Yes, I replied.
I want to give her transport fare because she doesn't have any money with her. She said as her face became dull, I could tell she was sad.
Just because Grace already told me her plans, I felt she doesn't deserve the money and her mum always endeavours that she and her sister are comfortable.
Mummy, I don't have any money now to give out because I would be going to the market today, I responded feeling sorry for the old woman.
She said okay and then left for her shop.
Soon Grace came by with her cute pink bag.
I am going, she said looking all suave and happy.
Hmm… I don't believe that you are okay with this Abuja plot, and the stress you are putting your mum into.
She smiled and hurriedly left, bye! She screamed.
A part of me felt like it wasn't my business, while other part felt like it was my responsibility to let her mum know considering the trust she had placed on me to help her redirect her daughter. This wasn't the first time Grace had done this.
On the second day, she texted me that she was in the hospital. I asked what the problem was? But I couldn't wait for a reply. I placed a call through to her.
Hello! Grace, what happened? You said you were in the hospital, what for? I asked anxiously.
All I heard was someone crying endlessly.
What is wrong, Grace? I asked again.
I am in pain, she said, still crying.
Grace told me her boyfriend had forced her to have an abortion and that the very day she arrived Abuja he had forced her to take a pill that was going to abort the foetus. She took it and started to have severe pain and bled profusely. He left her in the hospital, and up until now he has not shown up.
My heart sank, I lost my breath for a second, my hands became heavy, I could no longer hold my phone, drops of tears ran down my face and my feet became cold. Guilt has made a hole in my heart. I was an accomplice.
What? Was all I could come up with.
What are you talking about? Were you pregnant before leaving for Abuja? But how? She couldn't answer any of these questions, she just kept crying and asking me to help her. How do I do that?
I hung up on her and rushed to her mother's shop and explained everything to her but instead of reacting swiftly she asked me if I knew about her pregnancy. What could I have said? She looked me deep in the eyes and asked again, and I said NO but I knew there was no school seminar in Abuja, I confessed.
She slammed her hands on the wall and screamed oh! my God, what are my offences? She let herself on the floor and cried with a loud voice.
Guilt rattled on my skin, I knew I had betrayed Mrs Johnson, she trusted me and I failed her. I didn't care if Grace would hate me for telling her mum the truth about her affairs and all her lies, rather I was bothered about what Mrs Johnson would think of me.
Leave my shop! Leave my shop!! Mrs Johnson shouted at me.
Fear gripped me. My heart beat faster than normal, I staggered a bit, guilt drained me leaving me no strength. I went back to my shop and I couldn't concentrate. I had to lock up and go home.
After two weeks, Mrs Johnson walked past my shop. I greeted her but she didn't respond. I followed her to her shop to ask for her forgiveness but she walked me out. Grace stopped picking my calls and I don't even know why🤷 I felt so bad and confused, it took me a while to find my balance. But I heard she had relocated to Lagos to her grandma's place.
I am glad she survived but I had lost that friendship, and I don't know if Mrs Johnson would ever forgive me. I still blame myself for covering up such an act just to keep my friendship with Grace.
