“Guilty” by Joan Wawira Thatiah is on the shortlist of 15 for this year’s #QuramoWritersPrize
Excerpt from Chapter 9
“I was calling to tell you the pregnancy test was faulty. I took another one at the clinic and it turned out negative.”
“Oh, that’s great news.”
His response was like a punch in her belly.
“Yes, it is great news. It is late. Have a good one,” she said as hot tears pricked her eyes.
He could reject her, but she was not going to give him a chance to reject her child. After she had cried her voice hoarse, she had a cold shower and sat in candle light on her couch, her body draped in a bright red kikoy.
As smart and enlightened as she was, a man had left her holding a baby. This was something that happened to clueless teenagers. Not to women like her. But she couldn’t undo any of what had happened. All she could do now was allow herself to feel the shame.
Announcement of the winner for this year’s #QuramoWritersPrize will be made on Sunday, December 15 , 2019 at Qfest 2019.
