First Time in America Episode 10
(Ali create and post)
Liza finally finished serving her jail sentence. She came out looking weak and worn out. Life in prison had changed her. She wanted to start afresh. Her plan was to go back to school and complete her studies. She believed that once she focused on her education, everything would be fine again. The morning she stepped back into the school compound, she felt a small sense of hope. But that hope died immediately she was called into the Dean’s office. The Dean looked at her seriously.
“Miss Liza, we regret to inform you that you have been expelled.” The dean said.
She stood up in shock. “What? Expelled? For what?” she asked with tears already forming in her eyes. The Dean sighed. “We read about your case in the news. The school has a reputation to protect. You brought shame to this institution. You were charged for false evidence and forgery. The entire city read your name on the internet. We cannot have someone like you as our student anymore.” Liza started shaking.
“Sir, please, I have changed. I just want to continue my education.” But her words meant nothing. The decision had already been made.
When she came out of the Dean’s office, she could hardly stand. Her legs felt weak. She walked to a bench and sat down quietly. Everything she worked for was gone. Just then, two police officers arrived in a car. One of them walked straight to her and said, “Miss Liza, you need to come with us.”
Liza’s heart became troubled. “What did I do again?” she asked. “You didn’t do anything new,” the officer said. “But since you are no longer a student, you have no valid reason to stay in this country. You are hereby deported to Nigeria today.”
Liza’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Deported? Today?” she cried. “Please, give me time to arrange my things. I have nowhere to go.”
But the police refused. They took her straight to the airport. Everything happened so fast that she couldn’t even inform anyone. Within hours, she was on a plane to Nigeria. Her heart was troubled. She thought about her husband. She wondered if he would still accept her. She wondered if she could ever rebuild her life again. As the plane took off, she closed her eyes and whispered, “God, please give me another chance.”
Coincidentally, that same day, Chikobi also returned to Nigeria. He had heard about the deportation and felt that it was time to go home too. Deep down, he still had a soft spot for Liza. He told himself that if he saw her again, he would try to fix their marriage. He believed she had suffered enough.
When Liza arrived at the airport in Lagos, she was surprised to see him waiting there. He helped her carry her bag without saying a word. She looked weak and embarrassed. “Thank you,” she said quietly. “Let’s go home,” he replied calmly.
For a few days, they stayed together. They didn’t talk much, but the silence was peaceful. Then one morning, Liza came out of the room with tears on her face.
“Chikobi,” she said slowly, “there is something I need to tell you.” He turned to her. “What is it?” She took a deep breath.
“I am pregnant,” she said. Chikobi froze. He looked at her for a long time without saying anything. “Pregnant?” he finally asked.
“Yes,” she whispered. “It happened before I went to jail. Please forgive me. Robert got me pregnant. I know I made mistakes. But this child can be our new beginning.”
Chikobi stood up, breathing heavily. “Our new beginning? Liza, are you hearing yourself? You were with another man. That child is not mine!”
Liza broke down. “I know. I know the baby is not yours. But please, forgive me. I still love you. I don’t have anyone else. Please don’t leave me again.”
But Chikobi shook his head. “Liza, I can forgive everything else — the lies, the shame, the pain — but I cannot accept another man’s baby. I can’t raise what is not mine. You have crossed a line that I cannot return from.”
He walked away from her and started packing her things. “Please, don’t do this,” Liza cried, holding his leg.
“I have nowhere to go. I’m begging you.” But he didn’t listen. “Go and stay with the father of your child,” he said. “I have tried. I came all the way to America to find you. I forgave you even after everything. But this is where it ends.”
He pushed her bag outside the door and locked it. Liza sat on the ground, weeping uncontrollably. The neighbours gathered, whispering about her. Her shame had followed her even back home.
That night, Liza stayed in a small guesthouse. She couldn’t sleep. She kept thinking about everything — the jail, the deportation, the rejection. The more she thought, the more she cried. She decided she couldn’t keep the pregnancy.
“I can’t have this child,” she said to herself. “It will remind me of my shame forever.” The next morning, she went to a chemist and bought abor.tion medicine. The woman warned her, “Madam, take only two.” But in her confusion, Liza took too many. She went back to her room and lay down, waiting for it to end.
Minutes later, she started ble.eding heavily. She screamed and held her stomach, but there was no one around to help. Her phone was off. She tried to reach the door, but she couldn’t stand.
“God, please forgive me,” she whispered weakly. “I just wanted peace.” Within a few minutes, her voice faded. She took one last breath and died on the floor. When the people in the guesthouse found her the next morning, it was too late. That was how Liza’s story ended — a story of love, betrayal, and regret.
The End.
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