A girl: unborn.

It was the year the rains came early. It was preceded by a cough that never ceased until it deposited into the cold embrace of death. Kulu first felt it in the while sitting at the back of a taxi on a hot day like any other in Gwayumba. Both the driver and his friend sitted next to him would be dead before the rains came. She quietly prayed to God to hold on for, she wasn't sure she could take another loss. She pressed her thighs together and tried to suck in her stomach. "innalillahi wa inna ilayhi rajiun ya Allah please keep this one for me" she prayed. The pain went as quickly as it came and the tears flowed freely from her eyes. As the taxi pulled up near her street, she brought out a 200 Naira note from her bag and passed it to the driver who was chatting away with his friend.

"No o, its 500 Naira"

"What do you mean? From Layin Kasuwa to Unguwar Rama ...how is that five hundred?"  she retorted hotly.

"Pls I don't want to fight with you madam, it is 500 Naira o, dollar exchange ya tashi"

She hissed and brought out a 500 Naira note and tossed it at him. She really didn't have the energy for this nonsense right now. He didn't say thank you. As she trekked the last few steps towards her modest bungalow set in the middle of a bare concrete compound, all she could think was about the bitter taste in her mouth now. It was the third time now and she told nobody, she guarded the hurt covered in shame in her chest like a parasitic lover. She opened the door and walked straight to her bedroom. She didn't even bother to go to the bathroom to confirm the bad news. She just lay in her bed and let the tears flow.

Two hours later she would get up and apply her smile and her all cheery personality, a complete mockery of the grief that had wrapped itself around her throat...like the earth should just swallow her and bury her in her chest, a crushing yet comforting embrace. She made a dinner like any other night and hugged her husband tight and laughed with him. The remaining tears unshed would have to suffice to water her remaining hope.

She would have named him Imraan a boy..or Iman, a girl .