Rachel, a widow with two beautiful children, has been having a hard time trying to take care of her kids. One fateful Monday, she woke up sick and decided to go to the hospital. After seeing the doctor, she was asked to have some tests done, but she had to pay for the test first before it could be carried out. She didn't have money for the test.
So she begged the hospital receptionist, who then told her to meet the doctor who attended to her and ask for his help. She quickly ran upstairs to meet the doctor. On getting there, she had to wait her turn. When it was her turn, she quickly dashed into his office, kneeling down with her two hands put together.
The doctor was confused. “What is it?” he asked while standing up. “Madam, stand up,” he said as he reached out to help her. Rachel was crying profusely.
She stood up and sat on the chair provided by the doctor, who then reached out for his tissue paper, cut some, and gave her to wipe her tears. “What's the problem?” he asked again.
Rachel narrated everything to him, including how she had not been able to get a job since her husband died. The doctor felt so much sympathy for her. After a deep silence, he asked her if she could be a surrogate mother. Rachel hadn’t heard about surrogacy before, so she asked for more clarification, which the doctor was glad to explain to her.
The doctor told her that the couple were willing to pay five million naira if she would agree. And aside from the money, they would care for her until she delivered and a little bit after childbirth.
After a long thought, she begged the doctor to allow her to go home and think properly about it. So he agreed, and he also paid for the test and the drugs afterward.
A week later, she came back with an answer. She agreed to do it. After implanting the egg, she was given two million naira, a place to stay with her children, and they were being well taken care of.
Days grew into months. Rachel was seven months gone when she came across her good friend, Lilian.
Rachel tried to avoid her, but it was too late. Lilian had already seen her.
“Hey, Rachel! Long time no see!” Lilian screamed while hugging her tightly.
“Hi, Lilian… urm... m... how have you been?” Rachel stammered.
“I'm good! Look at you, you look good. Tell me—you seem to have moved on since Josh died, huh? Tell me, who's the new catch?”
“Ah… urm... mm... it’s a l-long story. Can we talk sometime?” Rachel stammered.
“Oh no! Tell me all about it. It's been a while since I saw you. Cut the long story short, okay?” Lilian replied.
“Okay, but I don’t want criticism. Pinky promise?” Rachel replied, stretching out her pinky finger toward Lilian.
“Yes, yes, I promise. No criticism,” Lilian replied, grabbing Rachel’s pinky finger with hers.
“I was paid five million to be a surrogate mother,” Rachel told Lilian how it all happened, and Lilian was in shock about the price for the surrogate thing. She was worried about Rachel because it's going to be the world’s word against hers, but she promised not to criticize her for whatever reason she had.
At exactly thirty nine weeks and five days, Rachel gave birth to a bouncy baby boy. One week later, the child was taken to the original parents, and Rachel was paid three million naira with an additional five hundred thousand naira so she could take care of herself and the children. She used part of the money to start up a hair business.
