REFINED BY FIRE 2

OUT OF THE SHADOWS, INTO THE FIRE
In 1992, while I was living with Patrick, I conceived. Any mother
reading this can attest to the joy I felt deep within. Becoming a
mother is the best experience any woman can have. The
knowledge that a life is growing inside you is truly fascinating.
However, as it dawned on me that I was carrying a child, fear
and uncertainty engulfed me. The news that I was pregnant
sparked off a total turn of events. Everything around us started
to change. It was time to face reality. For starters, I dropped out
of school because I could not keep up with the physical and
emotional changes that were happening to me. I missed home. I
missed my mother and wished she was with me to help me
navigate the unfamiliar terrain of being with child. While I was
trying to find my footing, I began to worry about the fate of my
relationship with Patrick. I had heard perturbing stories of
reckless men who abandoned their women after they
conceived. I had the tormenting fear that Patrick would do the
same. What a frightening occurrence that would have been.
However, Patrick did no such thing. He comforted and loved me
and made it clear that he was taking responsibility of his baby.
As a matter of fact, after discovering I was going to have his
baby, Patrick felt it was time to come out of hiding and take
responsibility. As a man, he knew that hiding wouldn’t
13