Mark then decided to reply to me.

Lulu I hope you had an abortion. I am getting married to a lady, please abort the baby.

I looked at it and was disgusted. I was six months pregnant. All of my salary I saved for the day I gave birth. I never replied to Mark again. Our friendship was destroyed because of feelings. He lied to me; I was just an object that he used. I hated him.

When I was left with a week till I gave birth I called my mom and told her everything.

“Please come home Lulu,” she said.

I prepared for the journey back to Mokopane. My parents were happy except for Ken; he was shocked when I said Mark was the father.

“Mark was here with his wife, they are invited for dinner here.” Ken said.

I was scared of what I would do but my parents wanted him to know that he must pay damages. Dinner time came and I sat with my baby boy, Thando, in my bedroom. Ken called me as the guests arrived. I didn’t want to see Mark; I hated him but I had to do as my parents said. Ken was like a brother to me, he cared and he was hurt by what Mark did.

“Mark, what you did to our daughter is not right,” my Dad spoke first. I looked down and didn’t want to see his face. “Do the right thing, Mrs Melo. Your husband is the father of my daughter’s son,” my Dad continued.

I was shocked. What if he refused or denied that it was his? But he sat quietly and looked at me. But his wife was angry. She just sat and looked at her husband. Yes, he must do the right thing, I thought. We cannot be friends.

*****

Mark and his wife, Eunice, were always arguing. I knew it was because I had Mark’s son and she hated me for this. During holidays Mark came alone and I had come back from my work in Welkom. I heard that he was around but his wife was not there. I did not want to see him. I still hated him for everything. My son was growing up well and I loved him but hated the fact that he was Mark’s; who used my best friend.

“Lulu? Long-time hey,” I heard his voice.

I was walking to the Spaza-shop. When I looked behind me and saw his face I started to walk faster.

“Lulu, hey… Please give me a chance to speak.” he ran over me and pulled me.

“What do you want Mark?” I hissed like an angry bull.

“I am sorry hey. I can help with finances for my son,” he said pathetically, thinking I wanted to see his sorry face.

“That boy wouldn’t be here if I had aborted as you wanted,” I shouted removing his hand from my wrist.

“Can we talk? Over lunch? We’ve got a lot to talk about and please bring my son,” he said.

I agreed to meet him but wasn’t sure what he wanted. I thought maybe he wanted to tell me it was over with his wife and that he loved me. I kept thinking that after I left him and got home. I needed to move on and not keep hanging in the past. Would I want his son not to know his father? Wasn’t it good to get back with him?

I kept thinking of what he would say the whole night. I was feeling happy and the other part was sad. Would I be happy if he divorced his wife?

***

Tell us what you think: What do you think Mark will say?