Shola and Helen's ghost stood outside a modest two-story building in Lagos. The real estate agent, who had escorted them to the location, unlocked the gate and led them into a neatly furnished apartment. However, the agent was unaware of Helen's ghost accompanying them. His only focus was on Shola, whom he could see.
As they stepped inside, the agent cleared his throat and announced, "This is the place I was telling you about, Shola. It's a cozy one-bedroom apartment, fully furnished and well-maintained. Please, go ahead and take a look around."
Shola stepped fully into the apartment, noticing the living room was small but tidy, with a three-seater sofa and a glass center table. She then moved into the kitchen to examine the area, with Helen's ghost silently following her from behind.
As Shola continued her inspections in the kitchen, the agent followed closely, highlighting the apartment's best features. "You can see how polished everything is, right?" he said, trying to persuade Shola further. "I'm a reliable agent, and the properties I lease out are always in top condition."
Shola approached the kitchen counter and ran her finger over the smooth surface. She opened a few cabinets and inspect the kitchen's features, which included a microwave, running water, and a refrigerator. As she took it all in, she remained silent, still not responding to the agent.
The agent, sensing her hesitation, spoke up again. "So, what do you think, Miss Shola?" he asked, attempting once more to persuade her. "Considering your short-term stay, we'd like to offer you a special booking rate of three hundred thousand naira. This includes access to all the amenities, and you'll find that everything you need is already provided in the apartment."
Shola turned stylishly to Helen's ghost to seek her approval, and her ghost nodded in agreement. "I think the apartment is nice and in a conducive environment," Helen said. "The price is convenient for a short stay too, since you'll be leaving soon."
Having received Helen's approval, Shola nodded and pulled out her phone. She scrolled through her banking app, entered some details, and turned to look at the agent a moment later.
"I have sent your payment," Shola said.
She had barely finished her statement when the agent's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, checked the alert, and smiled briefly at Shola.
"Payment received," he confirmed, putting the phone back in his pocket. He then reached into his bag and handed Shola a set of keys.
"I will just need you to sign this lease agreement, Shola," the agent continued, pulling out a document and placing it on the kitchen counter.
Shola took the documents and flipped through them with her left hand. After verifying the details, she signed at the indicated spots, and the agent tore off her copy and handed it to her.
"Miss Shola, I would still love to show you around and chat a bit," the agent said, glancing at his watch. "However, I have another appointment to attend to. Please, make yourself comfortable and enjoy your stay. If you need anything at all, just call me."
With that, the agent walked out of the apartment, shutting the door behind him. As the door closed, Shola turned to Helen's ghost, who had been quietly observing the exchange since.
"What do you think, Helen? Shola asked.
"I think the place is okay," Helen replied, then continued. "I'm heading to the hospital now to pick up Aminat. She was worried sick about you after your arrest and wanted to come along. But, I asked her to keep an eye on Doctor Collins, and see if she can gather any useful information."
"Okay, fine," Shola replied. "I will get in the shower now for a quick bath before you return with Aminat."
Following their conversation, Helen's ghost vanished into thin air while Shola headed into the bathroom for a refreshing shower.
Barely seven minutes had passed since Helen's departure, and Shola stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel with her hair dripping wet.
She had assumed she had at least a few more minutes to herself before Helen returned with Aminat. But as she entered the living room, her eyes widened in shock as Helen and Aminat were already there, waiting for her.
"What?" Shola exclaimed. "Didn't you just leave a few minutes ago?"
"Of course, Shola," Helen replied with a gentle smile. "We've been back even before you turned on the shower. As ghosts, we don't need to walk or use transportation; we travel in one of the quickest ways possible."
"Oh, that's true," Shola said, taking a seat across from them. "But Helen, would you mind telling me about yourself?" she asked. "What kind of life did you live before the accident?"
"It's a long story, Shola," Helen's ghost replied, turning to face her. "But I think I can break it up into pieces so you can understand."
"Break it into shorter parts then," Shola said, leaning forward in her chair. Aminat also glanced up, showing her interest in the story. Then, Helen took a deep breath, crossed her arms, and began her narrative.
"When I was about your age and a teenager, Shola," Helen said, "I got pregnant, just like you."
Shola smiled. "You are so funny, Helen. We are basically age mates, right? So, why say 'you got pregnant when you were about my age'? I'm just glad you've been through a similar teenage pregnancy experience, Your insight will really help me repurpose my life."
Aminat understood what just happened. The word that slipped out of Helen's mouth was a mistake, revealing more than she intended to. However, Aminat kept quiet about it, and Shola remained the only person who had no idea that Helen was her mother.
Helen took a deep breath and continued her story, choosing to overlook the awkward moment.
"I thought my life was over after the pregnancy," Helen said. "At first, it felt like my world was crumbling. But teenage pregnancy... it isn't the end; it feels like you're in the middle of it though."
"So, what happened next?" Shola asked, shifting uncomfortably in her chair.
"It wasn't easy, as you can imagine," Helen replied. "I was terrified and uncertain about how to tell my parents. I avoided them for days, hoping to find a gentle way to break the news. But eventually, the symptoms became evident, and there was no hiding it from my dad and mom, who were both health practitioners. They discovered I was pregnant just a few days after I finished my WAEC exam."
"What did they do to you?" Shola asked, folding her arms and leaning back.
"They were disappointed. Very disappointed," Helen said. "I could see it in their faces even before I told them who was responsible for the pregnancy. My mother cried, while my father didn't say anything; he just kept shaking his head. Their hearts broke the most when they asked me who the father of the child was."
"Why is that?" Shola asked.
"Because Daniel wasn't the type of person they wanted me to be with," Helen explained. "He came from a struggling family, while we were comfortable..."
"Did your parents send you away?" Shola asked sadly, recalling how the Andersons had treated her.
"No, they didn't," Helen replied, shaking her head. "They took me wholly, despite everything. They supported me through the pregnancy, even though it wasn't what they wanted for me. And an adage says "we don't throw the baby out with the bathwater". I was their daughter, regardless of what had happened."
"I wish my parents were like that," Shola said and tears began streaming down her face. "When they found out I was pregnant, they didn't even give me a chance to explain. They just sent me away."
"Well, I had a similar experience to what you went through, Shola," Helen said. "But that was with Daniel. The same way Samuel denied your pregnancy was what Daniel did to me in front of everyone. But I think he denied because of how furious he saw my dad was. Daniel was young and also scared of responsibilities then."
"What! He denied it too?" Shola exclaimed. She forgot she had never discussed Samuel with Helen before, and she was too engrossed in the story to question how Helen got to know the guy who impregnated her.
Helen smiled as memories flooded back, then she continued with her story.
"Yes, Daniel denied the pregnancy, and I was shocked. I didn't even know how to react. I just stood up and pounced on him angrily in front of everyone."
"I went crazy. I was furious because I had basically provided Daniel with everything, even giving him my dad's money. The elders had to free him away from me when I started hitting and biting him. But later on, I made him look me in the eye and tell him to say he was not responsible for the pregnancy, but he couldn't say anything anymore. I remember he even ran away days after admitting to being responsible for the pregnancy. Though he eventually returned, and this time, he stood by me until I gave birth to the baby."
"So what happened to the baby?" Shola asked.
"I delivered the baby safely," Helen replied. "Daniel and I were going to get our lives back on track after that and return to school. But then, just before Christmas, I was involved in an accident on our way home with my family for a celebration. The baby was only a year and a week old when the accident happened. Everyone died exc…"
"I am so sorry, Helen," Shola interjected while Helen was still explaining. "I now understand why you are a family of ghosts."
"It was great having all my family together, even in death," Helen said. "It was even better because you can see and interact with us. My parents couldn't have asked for more. They must be very happy wherever their souls are."
"Oh, that reminds me about your parents," Shola said. "Why didn't they come along with you and Aminat?"
"They have passed on," Aminat said sadly, joining the conversation for the first time. "It was sad because they couldn't help it, and their ghosts were gradually slipping away. Even Helen was not present to say goodbye, and it broke their hearts immensely."
"Your parents have passed already?" Shola asked in surprise, staring into Helen's eyes.
"Yes," Helen replied with sadness. "I was away, thinking of a way to save you from police custody. I had no idea my parents were slipping away and longing to see me when their time was up."
"I felt so bad," Shola said. "Your parents saved my life twice, and I wasn't even present to bid them farewell."
To be continued...
@Berry Tyra