My rapt attention was buried to the brochure lying open before me. As I flipped through the thick pages, each photo that met my gaze brought back the pang of my unpleasant moment with them. The photos ran in their hundreds, all female patients that had terminated a pregnancy or two under my auspice.
I had religiously kept these records since time immemorial, and down till the latest session. It was a way of tracking my immoral records, or improving where deem necessary.
My success rate in this abortion thing had been beyond impressive, recording just two casualties in as many as a hundred and fifty attempts. I wasn’t just called the ‘Abortion King’ for nothing.
I was still engrossed in the plethora of images that I didn’t know when my next patient had walked in, and when I had finally lifted my gaze, I was taken aback. A young girl was seated before me.
“Sorry, who are you?” I stammered, gawking in uncertainty.
“My name is Gabriela” She began in a petite tone and paused briefly “I, I, I want to…”
“Don’t tell me you are here for a session” I cut in
She nodded and her gaze dropped.
“How old are you, Gabriela?” I inquired “Be honest”
Gabriela’s gaze was drawn to her fingers as she fondled each against the other. I could hear her wheezing in anxiety.
“I’m sixteen” She snapped and sniffled
“Sixteen? why should a sixteen year old be having sex in the first place? where are your parents?” I bemoaned
She blinked and swallowed hard.
“Who’s the father? Where is the man that got you pregnant!?” I demanded crossly
The fondling became intense as her gaze began to dart across the table. She tried to speak but the words froze on her lips.
I leaned forward and stared her in the eyes. She looked up and our gazes met.
“I don’t know, sir” She mumbled
“You what!?” I yelled “Look here young lady, nothing is happening until you get me the father of your child”
Gabriela soon fell on her knees pleading in tears. I ignored her and returned to the brochure.
“I don’t know who the father is because I was r@ped” She disclosed amidst plea
I paused
“I had attended this house party about a month ago where unknown to me, my drink was spiked” She continued and sniffled “I innocently consumed it all and before long, I lost consciousness. I only woke up the following morning in a small damp room with semen all over my private parts”