Two years in A level was not a joke but Tatenda got 18 points and received a bursary to study law. She celebrated her achievements with Rudo, but she missed her family. She commenced studying law at the University of Zimbabwe in Mount Pleasant, Harare. She found a flat two streets away from varsity and used taxis for transport. Rudo would visit her from time to time. One weekend while she was studying, Rudo came.

“Don’t you miss her?” Rudo asked.

“Yes, I do. I will find her,” Tatenda answered.

“I saw Peter and he doesn’t have the baby,” Rudo said looking at her friend.

“Why are you getting in my affairs?” Tatenda asked angrily.

“I thought you were my friend, Tatenda. How could you lie to me? Where is your baby? Did you kill her?” Rudo asked and stood up fiercely.

“Are you calling me a murderer?” Tatenda asked unpleasantly.

“I’m leaving. You’re not to be trusted.” Rudo said angrily and walked to the door.

Tatenda sat there crying quietly.

“I dumped her at Chinhoyi Park. My heart is not at peace. I try to forget what I’ve done, but it haunts me every second of every day. I am a bad mother!” Tatenda shouted.

Rudo stopped at the door and walked back to Tatenda and gave her a hug. Tatenda should have told her the truth, she thought. Tatenda sobbed on her shoulder while she continued to pat her on her back.

“It’s OK, but you should have told me the truth. I wouldn’t have judged you,” Rudo said sympathetically.

“I will look for her. I will find her. Someone could have taken her,” Tatenda sobbed.

“I know you will,” Rudo comforted her.

They sat down and decided to eat out. They sat in the shade of the patio overlooking the garden. Tatenda noticed a familiar couple walking towards her apartment, it was her parents.

“Tatenda,” her mother said when she opened the door.

“Where have you been? We were so worried,” her father said.

Her mother hugged her for a long while long before giving Rudo a hug as well. Tatenda wasn’t smiling, she looked confused.

“Can we join you for dinner?” her mother asked.

She said yes with a nod of her head. Now she was going to have to face her parents for the first time in two years. They would want to know what had happened in those two years. Rudo just smiled but knew she had to keep Tatenda’s secret.

Having reunited with her parents didn’t give Tatenda so much joy. Her parents were so happy with her success in her studies.

She could now visit her parents and sometimes go for weekends, she thought. Her sister, Chipo, however, wouldn’t be that happy to see her at home again; she loved being the only child over the past two years. Her heart was not at peace. Her heart ached to turn around what happened.

She sat on the patio with her mother talking about school. She couldn’t stop thinking about her child.

“Is something worrying you?” Her mother asked when they were alone in the kitchen.

“I dumped my baby at the park two years ago,” she said depressed and started to cry.

Her mother came closer and hugged her. Mrs Shumba comforted her daughter. Tatenda could finally let her mother know the truth. She told her mother her secret and mother vowed not to tell her father. Mr Shumba didn’t care where the baby was, he probably thought that she aborted it.

Things went back to normal after her parents’ visit. Tatenda finished her five-year law degree and graduated successfully three years later. Her parents were so proud of her and boasted about raising her well to anyone who would listen. It seemed that people in her community had forgotten that she was ever pregnant or could it be that they didn’t know?

***

Tell us what you think: Do you think Tatenda will ever really look for the baby?