Fear

Being the last child in a close-knit family where everyone showered love and affection on her, Abby could imagine the level of emotional pain Emma was going through right then when she thought of the possibility of her parents and brothers not talking to her again.

'No wonder Emma was sobbing in the parking lot...' Abby thought to herself and wondered what kind of family abandoned one of their own for months on end without feeling guilty about it.

Her heart wrenched for Emma and she quickly got up from her seat and hugged Emma who now had tears in her eyes close to herself.

"I don't know where you got that ridiculous belief from Emma but I'm telling you right now that nothing about you repel people.

I wouldn't have brought you to my room if I don't like you, and Tunde Is a very good judge of character. He would have insisted on staying with me if he feels any dislike whatsoever towards you.

I don't know what to say concerning your family since we're just getting to know each other... What I know for a fact is that a good friend would not hurt you intentionally... And this girl, whatever her name is, chose to do so. If I were you I would say good riddance to bad rubbish to both my ex-best friend and boyfriend.

Now about your grandma... She's the woman that raised you since when you were a baby... I don't think she would suddenly hate you for whatever reason, no matter how grave it was."

"Abby you don't understand... Grandma might think I deliberately disobey..."

"Even if that was the case, I still find it difficult to believe that she would totally turn away from you just like that..." Abby said firmly to make Emma see from her point of view.

"Aside from the fact that she raised you... Grandparents are known to give an endless supply of love and unwavering support no matter what the situation maybe." Abby added convincingly looking deep into Emma's eyes.

What Abby said about grandparents giving endless supply of love and unwavering support made Emma smiled through her tears. Mama silver had never raised her voice against Emma and would always correct her lovingly no matter what she might have done wrong.

That might change now. Emma was disappointed in herself. "Grandma had only ever asked one thing from me. Just one thing and I messed up." Emma said regrettably.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Abby asked softly and Emma nodded in response.

''My grandma is a spiritual person who knows stuff about strange things. When I was old enough... You know during one of those awkward conversations you have with your parents...

Knowing how wild I was back then, grandma and I had a heart-to-heart talk, during which she gave me a stern warning about males in general. She still reminds me of it many years after whenever I'm not at home with her. Her warnings had burrowed so deep into my mind, I remembered it word for word...

According to her; my kind of being can't have sex outside of wedlock. She said it's very dangerous if I did, that I might be condemned to a life of pain and misery. She however told me how I would recognize the right man that was destined for me whenever I come across him...

Yesterday night after I caught Diane and Daniel together at the Lakes hotel. I entered a random lounge to get a drink because I wasn't in the mood to go to the TGIF party.

At the bar, I met this guy and we immediately connected. It felt right... Just like grandma had described it would feel when I meet the right man for me.

One conversation leads to another and we kissed right there at the bar. I-I don't understand what happened afterward because I woke up this morning naked, with a sore vagina and bloodstain on the bed...

"Well if you recognized him as the one for you then where's the problem in that..."

"The problem is; even when I can identify the right man... There's supposed to be a process that must precedes before anything sex could happen between us... I have to first inform grandma who will carry out some rituals on our behalf before we get married... You understand?"

"Yeah, but knowing all these... Why did you do it then!?" Abby asked, thinking Emma's case would be like when she found herself lost in ¹passion for Tunde and couldn't control her needs for him."

"Yeah knowing I might be condemned to a life of pain and misery, why did I do it!? That's the exact question I've been asking myself over and over again but still couldn't figure out the answer... Why did I do it!?" Emma asked pointedly towards Abby as if the answer to the mystery of her first sexual encounter dwelled with the girl she just met.

As brazen as I am Abby, I have never, ever allowed myself to be alone together with any man in a room knowing what might ensue... So what happened to me this time?" Emma asked with frustration, staring into space.

"You don't know what happened!?" Abby was baffled. She now realized that Emma's case was different from her's and Tunde's case.

"No, I don't!" Emma answered looking pleadingly at Abby.

"Abby's eyes grew wide at this declaration. "... And you weren't drunk!?"

"No, I was not drunk!" Emma replied firmly so there won't be any doubt on Abby's mind about that notion.

"I remembered everything that happened between us the previous night... When he walked up to me, what we said to each other... It was after we kissed that everything totally changed! It was at that point that I stopped thinking rationally...

He asked me if I wanted to go to a private place and I answered yes! I willingly followed him to a hotel room for goodness sake!... The urgency to have sex and how we were tearing at each other's clothes was appalling!' Emma said with bitterness apparent on her face.

"I remembered everything but not the actual act! I don't have any memory of us having sex. It was as if that part of my mind was wiped clean!"

''Maybe it didn't happen? Maybe that was why you couldn't remember?" Abby asked suggestively, even though she knew deep down that what she said was unlikely.

"It happened, Abby! Haven't you been listening!?... There was bloodstain on the bed and my vagina is still sore right now!..." Emma almost shouted in frustration.

"I had sex with an unknown man Abby!... How could I have willingly followed a guy I don't know to a hotel room despite knowing the consequences!?... I don't even know his name... And why can't I remember the act!?... Why!?

The worst is, this SOB thought I was a prostitute! He left me some cash and morning-after pills." Emma gave the envelope she received to Abby who checked out what was inside.

"Wait, what!? He went nude on you!?" Abby was alarmed!

"Obviously!... If he didn't why would he include the pills!?... I'm scared Abby! Do you think he did something to me to make me go with him to the hotel room!?" Emma indeed looked scared asking the obvious question and hoping Abby would be able to assure her that that was not the case.

"Do I think!?... Emma, there are so many crazies out there who would do anything to get rich!... Even if this bastard thought you were a prostitute... Who in their right mind sleeps with a prostitute without a condom!?"

Abby was afraid herself and anxious for Emma's well-being. She didn't mean to sound alarming but Emma needs to know the kind of danger she might be in if the guy she had sex with was one of those men who use young girls for money rituals by having sex with them.