Lati breathed in deeply before he responded. "Look Dorcas, what happened between us last night was a mistake. It wasn't meant to happen. We were only controlled by lust"
"A mistake. Really?" Dorcas asked looking into his eyes hurtfully. Too bad she had fallen in love with this man. Her eyes were gleamed with tears already. "Do you realize you were the first man to sleep with me?"
"Dorcas, I am sorry but I didn't force you, you were willing too"
"Okay. That's what you are going to say.... Good-bye Mr Soldier" she said and ran back into the house sobbing
Lati stared at her as she walked away. He didn't know whether to call her back or not to. But nonetheless, nothing could happen between them. He is a married man, and the fact that he cheated on his lovely wife is bad enough as he felt so much guilt. For ten years he has been married to his wife, he has never cheated on her not even while they waited three years for a child. 
He sighed, turned back and walked to the direction that leads to the Village park. 
*****Dorcas went back inside sobbing. She could hardly believe what just happened. Oh she was a fool. She was such a big fool. To allow a total stranger undress her and sleep with her. 
She sniffed and wiped her tears. She picked up the mat he had slept on so she could fold it when she felt something drop, it was Lati's office ID card. He had forgotten it.
"Oh.. " She mumbled. Then he would still come back here again. When he does, she would make sure to tell him a piece of her mind. Let her know she is not someone to be messed with
******A month after
Dorcas and her Grandmother walked into the house, they were just coming from the physician's lodge, her Grandmother's face look hardened like never before. She looked devastated too while Dorcas' expression remorseful. 
"You know Dorcas, I never knew you could be this cheap, you are not only pregnant but you are pregnant for a total stranger! That man just spent a night in this house and then you decided to open your legs for him?!..we don't even know where he lives Dorcas!..." She wailed
"Grandmother, I am sorry, please" Dorcas said regretfully. She knew she was a disappointment and she had never seen her Grandmother so angry
"Your mother...." The old lady blurted out putting her fore finger on Dorcas' chest. "Your mother made the same mistake. Got pregnant shamefully and then ran away fifteen years ago, living you for me to care for..and you have also decided to tread on the same path! How, how am I supposed to care for you and the child, From the petty sale of farm produce I sell?!" The old lady said slamming herself to the ground.
"Grandma, I am sorry. But I will work, I won't leave that responsibility to you, I won't, I can even pend the teacher's college..."Dorcas promised. 
"Oh..Just look at how you chose to tamper with your dreams Dorcas!".."She said spreading her hands in awe and disappointment. 
Dorcas continued to sob and plead with her Grandmother. 
"Leave my sight, Dorcas. Please leave my sight now!" She uttered. 
*********
A week after
Dorcas brought her clothes to spread outside, when she saw a Car Zoom towards their house. The masculine figure that highlighted looked quite familiar to Dorcas. She could finally see clearly who the person was. She dropped the bucket of clothes swiftly and watched him as he walked towards her. 
"Hi Dorcas. How are you and how is Grandma?" He greeted her, a smile forming on his lips. 
"You!...you think you can just sleep with me like that, you knew I was naive yet you took advantage of me!" Dorcas uttered angrily
"Dorcas I have apologized, but you saying you were naive? Come on! "Lati scoffed. "If I remember clearly you told me that night you are nineteen, you might be a teenager but you are not under age Dorcas, and I did not rape you!"
"Really?!" Dorcas uttered staring intently at him, her body suddenly engulfed with sweat as she breathed in heavily
"Look, Dorcas I am sorry, Alright? I shouldn't have truly and I am sorry. Please let bygones be.. I am here for my office ID card. I remember I left it here. You found it?"
"Well, it is too late to be sorry Mr Soldier" Dorcas said sharply
"What do you mean?"
"I am pregnant! I found out I am pregnant four weeks after you left this house!"
Lati's expression drastically changed. His heart racing faster than normal. No this can't happen. He thought to himself. His mind swiftly wandered to his wife, Helena and his child he left at home. How would Helena react to this? What would she tell her? 
"And...who is.. who is responsible for it. Me?!" He asked the obvious question.
"What a question. You of course! I have never slept with any other man, you disvirgined me remember?"
Lati took a deep breath, he was silent for a while before he responded. "I cant accept this pregnancy, you have to find a way to get rid of it! What would I tell my wife?"
"You are married?!" Dorcas asked, shocked. She had slept with a married man.
" Are you serious right now?, You think a man like me, a fourty year old man would not be married, I am married to a lovely woman and we have a pretty daughter together. You cannot destroy my home Dorcas"
Dorcas gazed in stunned silence. She was suddenly speechless. How could she be so ignorant, for her not to even think, that this handsome soldier she fell in love and lust with could be married.
Lati dipped his hands in his pocket. "Its good I have enough cash here, I planned to deposit it in the bank on my way home but you can have the most of it, this is roughly not less than 50,000, that should be enough to get rid of that foetus in your womb" He uttered stretching the bundle of cash to her
But Dorcas refused to take it
"I will advise you to take this money Dorcas for your own good, you wouldnt want to raise a fatherless child"
Dorcas wore a devastated look, still refusing to take the money
"I dont have the time to waste young lady" Lati said and dropped the bundle of notes on the ground
"And I would want to warn you, dont try anything fishy, dont think you can come looking for me in Liba or anywhere, You would be risking your life, I am very familiar with guns as you know and I could kill you with no repercussions. I am a soldier, if I kill anyone, its for protection and defence. So if you know whats best for you, get rid of that" He said giving her a malicious glare and pointing his finger towards his belly
Dorcas was now terrified. She didnt ever imagine she would see this side of this man. She slowly picked up the money
Lati further adjusted his suit "Good, can I have my ID now?'
"Uhh...its. I...." She stuttered gesturing her hands backwards to the inner house
"Go get it"
Dorcas walked nervously back into the house and came back shortly bearing his ID card
"Thank you" Lati said receiving it.."and goodbye. I hope our paths never cross again"
Dorcas watched him leave till he entered into his car. She slammed to the ground sobbing.
*****The next two days
The old lady walked towards her Granddaughter. Dorcas stood up gazing at the rising sun through the wooden window. She felt someone tapped her from the back. 
She startled: "Grandma it's You"
"Yes. Have a seat" she told her. Dorcas settled on the chair. Her Grandma remained Standing
"You should sit too" Dorcas told her. 
The Old Grandmother let out a groan and said she was fine. 
"Dorcas, I want to let you know that children are a blessing. The only mistake you made is you having it at the wrong time and for the wrong person. A Stranger. We don't know him from anywhere. You can't blame me for being harsh on you when I found out. This is not what I envisioned. I always thought you were different from your mother. You are smart, decent and stay out of trouble. But now you disappointed me" The Old lady uttered sadly
"I know Grandma. I am sorry. Please forgive me"
"I have no choice Dorcas. You are my blood. My offspring. I can't desert you ever" she took a deep breath before she continued: " About the baby. You do not have to get rid of it. Don't listen to whatever the soldier said. If he does not want to be in his child's life, no one is asking him to. But don't abort this child"
"But how are we going to take care of him? Besides I already took the money from him"
"Use the money for something else.. Besides, since this happened I already sent a letter to your Uncle in Alluti, My son I got a reply this morning and he promised to assist financially to nurture you and the child until you have a job of your own. He promised to visit us in two days"
"Really?" Dorcas asked her worried look finally alleviating
"Yes. And I will also assist with whatever I can to take care of you and the baby. You won't be alone in this alright?
Dorcas nodded and immediate hugged her Grandmother
"Thank you so much. What would I do without you. I will forever cherish you and I am sorry for everything"
"I know. It's Alright" The old lady uttered tapping Dorcas' slightly.