She held the pamphlet in her hand.

‘Safe abortion. Call Mama Akimbo.’

She was so afraid to get inside.

A shady, small backroom, somewhere unknown.

But she had no choice.

From a family of six.

Raised by a single parent; a domestic worker who

worked her fingers to the bone.

Father left many years ago,

She was in a predicament.

The father of her baby denies being responsible

and wants nothing to do with her.

Just three days ago, her mother caught her

covering the bulging bump.

She didn’t mince her words: “I can’t have an extra

mouth to feed. Deal with that thing.”

That’s why she has no choice.

She is all alone.

She took a step and went inside, her heart beating

out of her chest.

The next day,

Her body was found in a waste heap of squatter

campers

With a lifeless fetus next to her.

Found by a rubbish fiddling nyaope addict; flies

buzzing around them.