In Ekama, a rural village where traditions and honor ran deep, Ayo faced a terrifying truth—she was pregnant out of wedlock. Raised in a devout family, she knew the shame her situation would bring upon them, especially her strict father, who was a respected elder. Ayo's life had been planned to perfection, from school to marriage, and this pregnancy shattered every expectation. Her family's love grew cold, and their anger loomed like a dark cloud over her. Her pleas to keep the baby were met with silence and disgust.
On the day of her child's birth, fear and despair filled her heart. She wanted desperately to hold her baby girl, to promise her love and protection. But her father's voice rang in her ears, and the weight of societal scorn left her feeling trapped. Trembling, she wrapped the newborn in a thin, tattered blanket and carried her to the edge of the village, where she left her by a refuse dump. With each step back home, Ayo's heart shattered, the cries of her baby echoing in her mind as she prayed for forgiveness, for mercy, and for someone to find the child she couldn't keep.