“Adaugo…..adaugo..get up…ada it’s me..please get up. You can’t leave me..not now”. I heard my husband crying like a little child but what I couldn’t understand was why. Why was he calling my name?.. why was he asking me not to leave him? I tried to touch him and tell him that I was not going to do such but I couldn’t. Both my hands and mouth refused to move. My whole body felt stiff and heavy,what was happening? Everywhere was dark so I couldn’t see anything. As I was trying to process what was happening, something hit me..my child. What happened to my baby? I remember being pregnant and going into labor but I must have passed out from the pain. What was going on?

Growing up in the village was quite blissful. We worked hard to get the food we ate,we were taught to respect our elders and to help each other. Everything was perfect.. except for one thing,my village believed in cutting the private part of a lady when she reaches a certain age. They believe it would help the girl remain a virgin till she was married to her rightful husband. I didn’t think too much of it till I was fifteen and had reached the age of puberty. My body had changed drastically and was receiving alot of attention from the opposite gender. I did not mind the attention I was getting,if I was being honest I enjoyed it but my mother was not a fan of it.The following week I was laid on a mat with my legs up and spread apart while three elderly women hovered over me. I did not object to it because it was a common practice and so I did what anyone would do,I bit my lips and braced for the pain was about to come but no matter how hard i bit, I was not ready for the pain I felt. Eight years later,I’m married and heavily pregnant with my first child. I went into labour a week early and was rushed to the hospital. The doctor told my husband that while pushing,the poorly sewn cut ripped open and I lost alot of blood. My baby and I died.. Tell me mother was it worth it?