Showing posts with label Speak Out. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Speak Out. Show all posts
Beaten But Not Broken
Labels:
Domestic Violence,
Fiction,
Married Life,
Speak Out
·
He
was in a really foul mood, i could tell. Fouler than usual. His murderous countenance,
the slammed door and that bark in response to the kids excited “Daddy!!!” were
dead giveaways. One look at his face and i had Semilore my eldest, take Nimi to
their room, praying silently and fervently that tonight would not be one of
those nights. Quick as i could, considering how heavily pregnant i was, i shuffled
into the kitchen to get his food. I wasn’t going to give him a reason to make
me the end user of his wrath.
After
I’ve served his meal at the table, i went to call him. He grunted a “Bring it
to me!” Thankful for at least a feedback even if it was a grunt, i went to
fetch his tray from the dining room. I was preoccupied with rending a song of
gratitude albeit inaudibly, to the forces-that-be for averting tonight’s drama
when my leg hit the edge of the bed and i nearly fell. In trying to regain my
balance, the glass of water i had put on the tray fell and splashed...on the
bed but mostly on him!Before i got married, I had a list of what i wanted in a man. A hot temper was not one of them but my husband, he scored a whooping 9 out of my 12 wants on that list. I figured i could deal with the hot temper. After all, everyone who’s been on the receiving end of his temper deserved it...sort of! I figured wrong!
I knew he was in a really foul mood that night; i just didn’t how bad he’s got it. No sooner had i opened my mouth to apologise, than he landed the mother lode of slaps on my right cheek! I SAW STARS, literally. The tray of food i was carrying slipped from my hands, emptying its contents all over the floor. Impaired vision would fetch same reaction from even the strongest. That night wasn’t one of those nights. That night was THE NIGHT! He beat me until i felt my water break. My God. Even then, he didn’t stop until he noticed i was doubled over in excrutiating pain, hugging my pregnancy. I don’t remember much after that. I think i passed out. I heard i was out of it for two days. When i woke, a beautiful baby girl was put in my bruised arms. My daughter. My third child for this man i loved...and i had no recollection of birthing her. He stole that from me.
I
should hate him with all of my heart but i couldn’t. I was bitter, yes but i couldn’t
hate him. Not when he was standing there by my bedside, eyes glittering with
unshed tears, pleading for my forgiveness and pledging his undying love. I
forgave him. Why wouldn’t i? He is my husband
and I love him. Nobody had it all. Nobody needs to know what he did. It was our
business and my shame to bear. Moreover, we were reasonably happy...
...until
that late night, two months later.
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