{"time":1689284886752,"blocks":[{"id":"fx49gO7zJD","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Pink and blue balloons were suspended from the ceiling as it overlooked the entire room, and white roses rested elegantly as centerpieces on each table. Diffusers exhaled humidified air that smelt like lavender while strings of sparkling clear crystals hung from the top of the walls to the floor as the chandelier's reflection bounced on and off it. "}},{"id":"tbDZ3HrVh3","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The food station accommodated the pastries and finger foods; each guest had the luxury of serving themselves as many times as they wanted, but many did with less consideration for the next person as the portion of food grew larger with each passing plate."}},{"id":"ie6rwPASis","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The party commenced an hour ago with a prayer from the family priest, and the games followed, filling the room with laughter and reoccurring shouts from the playing teams. A moment of seriousness was introduced to the event with the heart-warming speeches from the family and friends who had watched the expectant couple go through a difficult conception journey. Tears rolled down cheeks, passionate sighs of agreement were released, and jokes were made to lift the mood. After the speeches, people dispersed throughout the room, sipping from feeding bottles and engaging in banter as light music played in the background."}},{"id":"cy6hyaXL_x","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Osa sat alone at her table and looked at the transformation of her open-floor living room. Her furniture had been moved, and the space turned into an almost angelic scene. She looked around, wishing she could feel a bit of excitement like everyone else. "}},{"id":"jVXpI-Iq6B","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"She had been to a few gender reveal parties where the parents would wish for a particular gender but still be satisfied when the opposite was announced. Osa's anxiety would either end in joy or detriment. There was no grey area for her. "}},{"id":"UnJq7gjFW5","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Her family flew into town to be with them; her closest friends and Tochi's were around too. She was surrounded by so much love. Tochi had made t-shirts available in different sizes for everyone to pick from. Blue represented 'Team Boy' and pink 'Team Girl.’ Osa had gotten blue nail polish to go with her Ivory dress while Tochi had dyed his hair in a pastel pink shade. He was so sure it was a girl. It was an assurance that scared Osa because he was never wrong about anything."}},{"id":"daU0diDgg1","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"It was her first gender reveal and one that'd be her last. The doctors had told Osa that this was the one shot she had at being a mother, as her body was only fit enough to handle one healthy pregnancy. She had no problem accepting the reality. With the amount of suffering in the world, her selfish desire would take her as far as bearing just one child."}},{"id":"UbnYpKKcM8","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Besides, they were open to adoption if Tochi ever wanted more children; at least she could determine the gender of that one. But as of today, most of the guests have chosen pink shirts. She watched her husband and his friends from across the room talk about his future daughter. "}},{"id":"eqtB4kkmVz","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"\"I want her to look more like Osa facially, though. She's going to be too pretty.\" He grinned in excitement."}},{"id":"TMzaKm65-_","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"\"Instead of you to pray that she takes Osa's IQ, as you're not the brightest.\" Ugo, his younger brother, teased, slapping his mates as his belly hurt from laughing."}},{"id":"hKFzI7VLI5","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Osa hadn't slept for nights leading up to the gender reveal. She would slip away from the master bedroom into the guest bedroom at midnight, kneeling as she wailed. Each cry would intensify as she tried to speak. She believed God understood her prayers even though she hadn't said any words – her cry for a boy child. As far as she was concerned, God owed her this one request. After all, He had let happen to her in her life, He owed her this one."}},{"id":"f3u0UtPpcC","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Janet’s peck on the cheek startled Osa out of her thoughts. She smiled widely at her as she kept her arms wrapped around her; she held eye contact with her as if trying to read her soul. \"Are you okay?\""}},{"id":"cEipzz0SfZ","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"\"Yes, I am.\" Osa replied in a high-pitched tone hoping to clear all doubts. She assured her friend that she was sitting alone because she was pregnant and tired. Who wouldn't believe that?"}},{"id":"yfijVrmm-0","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"She watched her walk away to join Tochi's discussion group. She couldn't help but love them, but at this moment, their aloofness irked her. They all wore pink! And for what?"}},{"id":"0-zYl0ISXE","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"She replayed the answers they gave her when she had asked them, \"Why do you want it to be a girl?\""}},{"id":"lxIJ20J5wl","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"\"She's going to be your 'Mini-me.'\" They pouted at the idea."}},{"id":"3ebnXHhohQ","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"\"Ah! Since you don't have my time again, she'll be coming to stay with me. Two of us will be going out together.\" Her mother's voice echoed in her head."}},{"id":"gHglJhfvf5","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"\"Trust that I'll be the best aunty. I'm going to make her the best girl.\" Janet said."}},{"id":"z2pvXMmdTM","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"\"I'm going to teach her how to DJ. Best female DJ the world would ever see.\" Her brother claimed."}},{"id":"KCb_CnFU54","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"They all sounded to her like people who were out of touch with reality."}},{"id":"ChO5qBUVqE","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"'Are they not scared for her life?' She thought to herself. No one thought about the dangers of being a girl in a world like this. Osa thought about what it would take to be a mother to a girl child. She felt her pulse increase."}},{"id":"eNVldOBmdt","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Was she careful enough?"}},{"id":"VseU3AUAXS","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"How would she dress her?"}},{"id":"bMGAbM2ew5","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Who would she allow around her daughter?"}},{"id":"xFXZcu2QGL","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Was she going to restrict her house staff to only women? Was that even safe too?"}},{"id":"6-zLaYFYiw","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"At what age would she let her go out alone?"}},{"id":"j6G4cTypHD","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Was she even going to let her attend concerts?"}},{"id":"zo-Geh4JCM","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"No male friends?"}},{"id":"Q7exte8LSN","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"No going for sleepovers at Uncle Efe or Uncle Ugo's house? Hell, in anyone's house?"}},{"id":"mU0rMFi6sl","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"These were a few situations that Osa felt she could control, but there were more that she couldn't."}},{"id":"t37VFeFE5Q","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Who could she trust?"}},{"id":"33DlWcsP5u","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"What if we get robbed?"}},{"id":"mGuxqtLQMg","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"What if she decides to take a stroll at night? She'd teach her self-defense, but can she fight off eleven men? She could buy her a taser or a pocket knife, but what if she forgets her bag?"}},{"id":"PBIe00wJwN","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"She'd teach her to lock her door before she goes to sleep, but what if she gets sick and calls out for help and no one rescue her in time? "}},{"id":"gwHYpwXw_t","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Osa swore that she'd teach her daughter the same lessons her mother taught her:"}},{"id":"BdAUCGDEmT","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Don't sit on any man's lap."}},{"id":"devBIq4iPy","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Always walk with a friend."}},{"id":"ij3augBimf","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Make sure you're not alone with any boy in a room."}},{"id":"vfhN1HQYaQ","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Always cover your body. Dress decently."}},{"id":"PtgaEQ2Wo1","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"No body-hugging clothes."}},{"id":"RGCkoItice","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"When you're walking, you must not move your waist so much. They might get the wrong idea."}},{"id":"SxgFBsijaE","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Never leave your drink unattended."}},{"id":"V89z0XzURx","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The instructions were endless. "}},{"id":"5LaLlFmLm_","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"She scoffed. She was a fool if she thought that any of those instructions would stop her daughter from getting raped. She applied every one of those lessons, and still… so who was she kidding? "}},{"id":"UkpfSxOZYE","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"She looked up at her mother and aunties as they dropped into the chairs beside her. They greeted her and went about their conversation. The poor woman probably thought that her overprotective nature had prevented her from being a victim. She had no idea. But she couldn't blame her; if she could have prevented it from happening, she would have."}},{"id":"1IC_ifbKoA","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The news did her no good too. She stayed off news blog sites but still encountered stories of terrible things happening to young girls and women. An article said: \"At least one in every five women have been raped or molested.\""}},{"id":"FMeSQFALGR","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"She scanned the room that held over fifteen women in it. There were at least three victims. She was one of her five, but who were the others? How would she ensure her daughter doesn't get counted among the victims?"}},{"id":"TfmtJ4fcBf","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Was there a manual available to teach a mother how to prevent her daughter from being sexualized by a man, even as a baby, toddler, preteen, teenager, and a grown woman?"}},{"id":"ZJ67Ixdfbc","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"This is what she was avoiding- the paranoia. She knew that having a daughter would mean living her life in fear. She wasn't sure if it was her self-centered desire to live differently or that she loved her daughter too much to even want to bring one into the world. She knew that raising a son wouldn't be a walk-through, but for some reason, she could handle it, maybe because a son was incapable of ever becoming her – a still broken girl. "}},{"id":"1LlfdfA64o","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"\"Please, Lord, just give me a boy. Please.\" She whispered to herself one last time as she looked at the box that contained the balloons that would reveal the gender of her baby."}},{"id":"3eBUSegpQZ","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"\"Right about now is the time we all have been waiting for. Osaand Tochi, please come over here. We are about to reveal the gender of our little bundle of joy.\" Daniel, Tochi's cousin, who was the emcee geeked. The guests immediately took out their phones, ready to make videos."}},{"id":"Cmh8AdZM3Y","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Tochi rushed over, helped his wife stand from her chair, and walked over to the large box."}},{"id":"Smp8VLBV30","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"\"Oh my God!\" Tochi held her shoulders and shook them a bit as if shaking how own nerves off."}},{"id":"CBJk_vB11m","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"\"On the count of three, you're going to take off the top. Are you guys ready?\""}},{"id":"mUrZwDCPLf","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Osa closed her eyes, and her husband nodded affirmatively. She wasn't ready. "}},{"id":"As8HPfDlLa","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"\"1…2….3!\""}},{"id":"uxzAaBES2R","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"He lifted the lid of the box slowly. Balloons elevated into the air as the room shook with uproar, people running back and forth, screaming and cheering."}},{"id":"LGujveagLU","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Damn, she already knew. Osa opened her eyes."}},{"id":"DGOR42F4NW","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Blue. "}},{"id":"dhoUYqxrwD","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Wait, what? It's blue. It's a boy!"}},{"id":"m_UfkH8ZQd","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"\"It's a boy.\" She repeated it as the realization hit her. She screamed as her eyes widened at her husband and family, who were jubilating as though they had never wished for a baby girl. She jumped as high as her pregnant feet could raise her."}},{"id":"1ZgJaGGECw","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"God didn't fail her this time, she thought. "}},{"id":"iEsNW_jd6m","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Now that she was having a boy, she had a new plan. She would teach her son what she wished her abuser knew: \"No means no.\""}}],"version":"2.27.2"}