Title: MY SISTER’S SHAME

Title: MY SISTER’S SHAME

“My daughter, stand up! Don’t sit on the ground with that stomach. You will kîll me before my time!” Mama’s voice shook as she shouted at Ada, my elder sister.

Ada did not move. She sat quietly at the corner of our small room, her wrapper loose on her shoulder, her eyes swollen like someone who had not slept for weeks. Her stomach, round, heavy, undeniable, rose between us like a curse no one could ignore.

“Mama, please… stop shouting,” I whispered, afraid the neighbors would hear again. Already, they whispered about us in the market, on the road, even in the church.

But Mama was not ready to stop. Her chest rose and fell as she wiped her tears with the edge of her wrapper. “Ada! Tell me who put you in this condition! Tell me whose child you are carrying, so I can know whether to die or to live!”

Ada lifted her face slowly. Her lips trembled, but no words came out. She only held her stomach like it was her only friend.

I wanted to defend her, to beg Mama to give her time. But Papa stormed in that moment. His eyes were bloodshot, his shirt half open. He had not been home for three days. The smell of alcohol followed him inside.

“Stand up, Ada!” he roared, pointing a shaking finger at her. “You will not sit there and disgrace me in my own house! Tell me, who is the father of this shame?”

Ada flinched. Mama collapsed on the bench, weeping loudly now. The room was hot, tense, like the walls themselves were waiting for her answer.

“Papa… please,” Ada whispered, her voice breaking. “Don’t ask me…”

Papa slapped the table so hard it shook. “Don’t ask you? Don’t ask you? You will open your mouth today, Ada, or I swear—”

“Papa!” I cried, rushing forward, grabbing his arm before his hand could land on her. “Please, don’t beat her! She is still your daughter!”

He shook me off as if I was nothing. His anger was deeper than I had ever seen. “Daughter? Which daughter? Does a daughter bring shame to her father’s name?” His voice cracked. “Tell us, Ada. Who is the man?”

Ada broke into fresh tears. She shook her head, her body trembling. “If I say it… this family will never be the same again. Mama will hate me. Papa will disown me. Sister will never forgive me…”

Her words froze the air. Even Mama stopped crying. I looked at Ada in shock. What kind of secret was this?

“Talk, Ada!” Papa screamed again, his voice thundering.

Ada pressed her hands to her face, sobbing uncontrollably. “I can’t… I can’t say it… The shame is too heavy.”

Note _ this story belongs to jennylight any other page aside from hers stole it.
Papa rushed forward, but Mama threw herself in front of him. “Please, my husband, don’t touch her. Let her talk in her own time.”

Papa’s chest heaved. His fists were tight. But after a long moment, he turned and stormed out of the room, slamming the door so hard the walls shook.

Silence filled the room. Only Ada’s sobs broke it.

I sat beside her, holding her cold hand. “Ada, please… I am your sister. You can tell me. I won’t judge you. I just want to help.”

Her eyes met mine. The pain inside them pierced my heart. “Promise me you will still love me when I tell you.”

I squeezed her hand. “I promise.”

She swallowed hard, then leaned close, her voice so faint I almost did not hear.

“The man responsible… he is someone you know.”

My heart skipped. “Who?” I whispered.

Ada closed her eyes, fresh tears rolling down her cheeks. Then she opened her mouth and said a name.

The moment the name escaped her lips, my whole body went cold. My chest tightened. I could not breathe.

“No…” I gasped, staring at her. “Ada, say it is a lie! Please tell me it is not true!”

But Ada only wept harder, hiding her face in her hands.

That night, for the first time, I wished the earth could open and swallow me… because the name she spoke was not just shocking, it was deadly.

Episode 1
Title: MY SISTER’S SHAME