Unf

ri
endl
yfr
iendpar
t1

KateandIarebestoffr
iends.Thoughreal
l
yclose,wehavediff
erentt
ast
esi
nmen.Kat
e
i
soneal lt
heseshowbizgirl
s.Shelovehermenr i
ch,t
alldar
kandhandsome.I
fyouar
e
notspeaki
ngmoney ,
don'tspeaklovet
oKat e.

Wewerein200lwhenStanleyst
art
edshowi nginter
esti
nKate.Heisourcoursemate
andal
soourreadi
ngpart
ner.Al
ongtheline,hestart
eddevel
opi
ngfeel
ingsf
orKatebut
Kat
ewasn'
treadytohearanyofitbecausetheguywasbr okeanddoesn'
treal
lydr
ess
wel
l.

It
ri
edmybesttomakeherfal
lforhi
m butshewar
nedmet
omindmybusi
nessandt
hat
i
fIli
kehi
mthatmuchforher,
Ishoul
dgoaheadanddat
ehi
m.

Thi
saf
fect
edourf
ri
endshi
pwi
thSt
anl
ey.West
oppedst
udy
ingt
oget
her
.

Whenwewerein400l,Iwashavi
ngissueswithaparti
cularcour
seandtomakematt
er
wor
se,Ir
ecent
lybrokeupwithmyext hen.Iwasr eal
l
yov er
whel
med.Ihadnochoi
ce
t
hantopl
eadwithStanl
eytohel
pexplai
nthatcour
sewel l
f orme.

Thatwashow myf
ri
endshi
pwi t
hSt
anl
eygotreki
ndl
ed.HewastherewhenIneeded
hi
mt hemost
.West
art
edtal
kingmor
eof
tenandspentmostoft
hedaytoget
her
.

Well
,wedev elopedfeel
i
ngsf oreachotherandst ar
teddat
ing.WhenKatehear
dIwas
dat
ingStanl
ey ,shemockedmel ikeneverbefor
e.Atapoint
,Ievenconsi
der
edbreaki
ng
upwithhim becauseoftheconstantmockeryIgotfr
om Kat
e.

Thel
oveIhadf
orhi
m wasgr
eat
ert
hant
hemocker
yIgot
,soourl
ovepr
evai
l
ed.

AfterNYSC,Stanl
eygotaschol
arshi
ptost
udyabr
oadforhi
smast
ers.Hepr
omisedto
comebackf orme.Yetagai
n,Kat
emockedmeandt ol
dmeIwil
lgr
owoldwhil
ewait
ing
forhim.
Ay earlat
er,Kat
egotmarri
edt
oabi gboy.Heiswealthyandverygener
ous.Her
eal
ly
spoil
thersil
lywi
thmoney
.Iwashappyformyfr
iend.Shefi
nal
lygott
omar r
ythemanof
herdreams.

Foury
ear
slat
er,St
anl
eyr
etur
nedbackt
oNi
ger
iaandest
abl
i
shedhi
msel
f.Ourl
ovegr
ew
andhepr
oposedtome.

If
inal
l
ymar
ri
edt
hel
oveofmyl
i
fe.Mybestf
ri
endandmyconf
idant
.

Theweddi
ngceremonywasthehott
estt
opi
cofdiscussi
onintown.Itwasaluxur
ious
andagl
amorouscer
emony.Ever
yonewhoat
tendedt
heoccasi
onwer elef
tst
unned.

Ifi
nall
ymovedi
nwit
hmyman.Afourbedr
oomsdet
acheddupl
ex.Youknowt
hoseki
nd
ofhousesy
ouonl
ygett
oseei
nmovies.

Myl
i
fehasst
art
edf
all
i
ngi
ntopl
ace.

Kate'
shusbandgotar
rai
gnedbyEFCCf
ori
nter
netf
raud.Al
lthei
rasset
sandmoneywas
confi
scat
ed.

Iwast heonlyoptionKat
ehadlef
tsot oldhert
omov ei
nwi t
hmyhusbandandIt i
l
l
she'
sablestandonherfeet
.Atf
ir
st,St
anleywasagai
nsti
tbuthel
atergav
einaf
terso
muchpersuasion.

IthoughtIwasbeingagoodfr
iendt
oKat
enotknowi
ngt
hatj
eal
ousyandenv
yhas
eatendeepi
ntohersy
stem.
..
.

Unf
ri
endl
yfr
iend.Par
t2

Inot
icedt
hatsi
nceKat
est
art
edl
i
vingwi
thmyhusbandandI
,shewasal
way
sonbum
shor
tsandot
herski
mpyandr
eveal
i
ngwear
s.

Iwasn'
tcomf
ort
abl
ewi
thi
t.Ihadt
oconf
ronther
.

"
Babedon'
tyouhav
eot
herappr
opr
iat
ecl
othes?
".Iquer
iedonemor
ning.

"What
'swr
ongwi
tht
hisone?
".Sheaskedpoi
nti
ngatt
heski
mpygownshewasput
ti
ng
on.

"Habana!You arenotev
en wear
ing abr
a.Honest
lyI
'
m notcomf
ort
abl
e".Isai
d
disappoi
ntedl
y.

"
Don'
ttel
lmey
out
hinkI
'
mtr
yingt
oseducey
ourhusband?
".Sheaskedangr
il
y.

"I
'
m notsayi
ngyouar
etr
yingt
o..
."Iwast
ryi
ngt
oexpl
ainmyf
eel
i
ngst
oherwhenshe
snappedatme.

"
It
'snoty
ourfaul
tna.
..I
t'
sbecauseI
'
miny
ourhouset
hat
'swhyy
ouar
etr
yingt
odi
ctat
e
t
omewhatt owearornot"
.

Shewal
kedoutonmeangr
il
y.

Iwasshortofwords.Ij
uststoodst
il
lforov
ert
enmi
nut
eswhi
l
etr
yingpr
ocesst
he
whol
edramathatj
ustwenton.

Si
ncethatmor ning,Kat
estoppedtal
ki
ngtome.Shedoesn'
tevengreetmenorret
urn
mygreeti
ngs.Itriedtohaveahear
ttohear
tdi
scussi
onwit
hherbutsheshunnedme.I
j
ustdeci
dedtol etherbe.

Myhusbandnot
icedt
hedist
ancebetweenKat
eandIandt r
iedtoreconci
l
eusbutI
askedhi
mtol
etusbeasIwasn'
treadyt
ofor
cemysel
fonheranyf
urt
her.
Myhusbandl
i
keswat
chi
ngmov
iesi
ntheseat
ingr
oom downst
air
sal
mostev
eryni
ght
.

Oneni
ght
,myhusbandspentmoretimethanusualdownst
air
s.I
twasal
most11:
00pm
andmyhusbandwasst
il
ldownst
air
s.Ideci
dedtogocheckuponhim.

Tomysur
pri
se,
hewasseei
ngacomedywi
thKat
eandt
heywer
eindeedhav
ingagood
l
augh.

I
mmedi
atel
yKat
esawme,
shest
oppedl
aughi
ng.

"
Babewhyar
eyoust
il
ldownst
air
s?"
.Iaskedmyhusband.

"
Can'
tyouseeI
'
m seei
ngacomedy
?".Myhusbandsnapped.

"
It
'sal
mostmi
dni
ght
,youwi
l
lbel
atef
orwor
ktomor
row"
.Isai
d.

"
Pleasel
eav
emeal
one.Sl
eepi
fyouwantt
osl
eep"
.Myhusbandshout
ed.

If
eltsoembar
rassed.Thatwassounl
i
kemyhusband.

Iwentbacktot
heroom andwascr yi
ng.Icoul
dn'
tevensl
eep.Iwaswai
ti
ngf
ormy
husbandt
ocomeupst
air
ssothatIcantel
lhi
m mymind.

Myhusbanddi
dn'
tcomeupst
air
sti
l
litwas12:
34am.Iwasext
remel
ymad.

"
Kat
emustl
eav
ethehouse"
.Isai
dtomyhusbandi
mmedi
atel
yhegoti
ntot
her
oom.
"
Wher
eist
hatcomi
ngf
rom?
".Myhusbandi
nqui
red.

"
It
'scomingforaplaceofhur
t!
!Youar
ehur
ti
ngme.Lookathowy
ouembar
rassedme
i
nherpresence"
.Isaid.

"Peleo(sor
ryo)
".Myhusbandsai
d.Hecov
eredhi
msel
fwi
tht
heduv
etandt
urnedt
othe
othersi
deofthebed.

Iwasdisgr
unt
led.Thi
swassounl
i
kemyhusband.Idon'
tev
enunder
standwhatwas
goi
ngon.

Thenextmor
ningwhenmyhusbandhadgonet
owor
k,Iconf
ront
edKat
e.

"
Whenar
eyoul
eav
ing?Youhav
eov
erst
ayedy
ourwel
come"
.Iasked.

Shel
ookedatmef
rom headt
otoeandsi
ghed.

"
Yourhusbandsai
dIcoul
dst
ayt
il
lI'
mreadyt
oleav
e".Shesai
d.

"
Wasi
tmyhusbandt
hati
nvi
tedy
ouov
er?
".Iasked.

"
Itdoesn'
tmatter.I
fyouwantmet oleav
e,thenletyourhusbandbet
heonet
oaskme
t
oleave.Aft
erall
heistheownerofthehouse".Kat
esaid.

"
Youar
eunbel
i
evabl
e.Youwi
l
lleav
ethi
shouset
omor
row"
.Ii
nsi
sted.

"Let
'swatchandsee.Youshoul
dbegrat
efulIrej
ect
edy ourhusbandbackt
heni
n
school
.Inf
act
,youshoul
dev
enpaymeobei
sance"
.Kateboasted.
Igotangr
yandsl
ãppêdher
.Shesl
appedmeback.West
art
edf
ight
ing.

Wef
oughtt
il
lnei
ghbor
scamet
osepar
ateus.I
twasamessyf
ight
.

Whenmyhusbandgotback,
hewassomadatmef
orconf
ront
ingKat
e.

"Youareunbel
i
evabl
e!It
houghtshewasy
ourf
ri
end?Howcany
oubesohear
tl
ess?
".My
husbandshout
ed.

"
Arey
oubei
ngser
ious?I
sthatal
lyouhav
etosay
?".Iasked.

"
WhatelseshouldIsay?I'
m hi
ghl
ydi
sappoi
ntedbyy
ouract
ions.Comeon!Iexpect
ed
mor
efrom you!
".Myhusbandsai
d.

"
Youst
il
ll
oveherr
ight
?".Iasked.

Iwasscar
edt
ohearhi
srepl
y.Ir
egr
ett
edaski
nghi
mthat
.

Genui
nef
eel
i
ngsdon'
tfadesoeasi
l
y".Hesai
dandwal
kedoutoft
her
oom.
Unf
ri
endl
yfr
iend.Par
t3

"
Genui
nef
eel
i
ngsdon'
teasi
l
yfadeaway
".Myhusbandsai
dandwal
kedoutoft
her
oom.

Iwasbr oken.Myhear tcouldn'

tcarrythatstat
ement.Thi
si ssomeoneIstayedfait
hful
toallt
hroughhi sdaysabroad.Iwast hereforhim whenhehadnot hi
ng.Igotri
dicul
ed
andmockedbyf ri
endsandcour semat eswhonev erthoughthewoul damountt o
anyt
hinginlif
e.Iwouldwat chmyf r
iendsgetspoil
edbytheirboyf
ri
endsthenwhil
eIwas
theonedoingt hespendinginmyrelati
onship.

It
rust
edt
hepr
ocess.Iknewhewoul
dbegr
eat
.Isawhi
spot
ent
ial
sandi
nvest
edonhi
m.
"
Idon'
tdeser
vet
his"
.

Br
okenandweak,
Isatsor
rowf
ull
yont
het
il
edf
loor
.

"
WhatnextohLor
d?Whatshoul
dIdonow?Iwasonl
ytr
yingt
ohel
pmyv
erygoodf
ri
end.
Wast
hatabadthi
ngtodo?"
.Icr
iedoutl
oud.

Icr
iedt
il
lIf
ell
asl
eepont
hecol
dfl
oor
.

WhenIwokeup,Iwentdownstai
rstopreparedinner
.Tomygr eatestsur
pri
se,my
husbandandKat
ewer
eal
readyhav
ingdi
nner.Kat
epreparedj
oll
ofr
iceinmykit
chenfor
myhusband.

"
Int
erest
ing!Younowcookf
ormyhusband"
.Isai
dsar
cast
ical
l
y.

Theybot
hcont
inuedeat
ingwi
thoutmi
ndi
ngme.

"
Am Ii
nvi
sibl
eorsosomet
hing?
".Iasked.

"
Ify
ouarehungry,ent
ertheki
tchenanddi
shf
oodf
ory
our
sel
fandst
opt
hrowi
ng
t
ant
rums"
.Myhusbandsai
d.

Kat
ejustsatt
her
etear
ingt
hechi
ckenwi
thhert
eet
hwhi
l
sthav
ingaswel
lti
me.

Angr
il
y,Ipour
edKat
e'spl
ateofr
iceont
hef
loor
.

"
Ican'
ttaket
hisnonsense!Shemustl
eav
e".Ishout
ed.
Thenextt
hingIrecei
vedwasaheavysl
aponmyface.Yes!Myhusbandsl
ãppedme.
Thatwast
hefir
sttimemyhusbandwoul
dhi
tme.

Iwasdumbf
ounded.

"
Yourunr
ulybehav
iori
sget
ti
ngoutofhand!Iwon'
ttakei
t"
.Myhusbandscr
eamedat
me.

Myv
isi
onwasal
readybl
urr
ybecauset
ear
shasal
readyf
il
ledmyey
es.

"
Wow"
.Iexcl
aimed.

Iwenti
ntot
her
oom andst
art
edpacki
ngmycl
othes.

WhenIwasdonepacki
ng,
Itookt
hem downst
air
s.

Myhusbandwasi nthekit
chenwashingplat
es.Somethi
nghehasnev
erdonesincewe
gotmarri
ed.Idi
dn'
tevenemployhousehelpsbecauseIwant
edtodoever
ythi
ngmy sel
f
becausemyhusbandlovesdomest
icatedandindust
ri
ouswomen.

Iweptagai
n.

ImetKat
ewel
lseat
edandr
elaxedi
ntheseat
ingr
oom.

"
Arey
ouhappynow?
".Iaskedher
.

"Nobodyi
ssendi
ngy ououtofthehouse.St
opact
ingl
i
keaki
d.Ther
e'snot
hinggoi
ngon
betweeny
ourhusbandandI".Katesai
d.
"
Int
erest
ing!Ther
e'snot
hinggoi
ngonbuthehasal
readychoseny
ouov
erme"
.Isai
d.

"
Wel
l
,youknowI
'
veal
way
sbei
nghi
sfi
rstchoi
ce"
.Kat
esai
dwi
thherl
egscr
ossed.

"
Iwi
shy
oubot
hal
lthebest
".Isai
d.

Il
eftt
hehouseaf
ter
war
ds.Icr
iedt
il
lIgott
omypar
ent
shouse.

Icoul
dn'
ttel
lmyparentswhatwashappeni
nginmymarri
age.HowdoIexpl
aint
othem
thatmymarri
aget
hatisn'
tuptofi
vemonthshascr
ashedori
t'
satthev
ergeofcr
ashi
ng?

Il
i
edt
othem t
hatIcamet
ospendsomet
imewi
tht
hem.

Ikeptwai
ti
ngformyhusband'
scal
l
.Iwoul
drefr
eshmyWhat sAppaf
terev
ery2mi
nst
o
seeifmyhusbandhassentmeamessage.Ievenupl
oadedamemeonmyst at
ust
o
seemyhusbandwouldvi
ewitandr
epl
y.

Iwai
tedandwai
ted.Iwashopi
ngmyhusbandwoul
dcal
ltoapol
ogi
zet
omeandbeg
metocomebackhome.

Myhusbandnev
ercal
l
ed

Unf
ri
endl
yFr
iend.Par
t4.

Iwaitedandwai
tedf
ormyhusbandt
ocal
lmet
oatl
eastf
indoutwher
eIwentt
obuthe
neverdid.

Iconst
ruct
edmessagest
osendt
ohi
m butendedupdel
eti
ngt
hem.
Iwasbr oken,shat
teredandbruised.I
magesofhow Kateandmyhusbandwoul
dbe
spendi
ngt hei
rti
met oget
herkeptrunni
ngt
hroughmymind.

It
ri
edmybestnott
oov
ert
hinkt
hesi
tuat
ionbuti
twasn'
twor
king.Iwasl
i
ter
all
yrunni
ng
mád.

ThepainIwasf
eel
i
ngi
nmyhear
twassoi
ntenset
hati
tcoul
dbeequat
edwi
tha
phy
sical
pai
n.

Mymot hernot
icedmygl
oomycount
enance.Shekeptonpr
essur
ingmet
ospeakupbut
It
oldherIwasf i
ne.

Icoul
dn'
tbeari
tany
mor
e.Myhusband'
ssi
l
encewasdeaf
eni
ng.Ideci
dedt
ocal
lhi
m
mysel
f.

Ical
l
edhi
mtwi
cebuthedi
dn'
tpi
ckup.

Iwasgoi
ngcr
ázy.

"
Ishedoingi
twi
thKate?Aretheybat
hingtoget
her?I
sshemassagi
nghi
sback?Ar
e
t
heyseei
ngamovi
e?"
.Thethought
skeptpouri
ngin.

Ical
l
edf
ort
het
hir
dti
me.Thecal
lwasf
inal
l
yanswer
ed.

"
Babywhyareyoudoi
ngt
hist
ome?Di
dyouev
erl
oveme?Di
dIev
ermeanany
thi
ngt
o
y
ou?"
.Iaskedt
eary
.

"Madam cal
m down.Yourhusbandi
sbusyandcan'
ttakey
ourcal
l
satt
hemoment
".
Katesai
d.

Iwasdumbf
ounded.Iwassoembar
rassed.
"
Whatar
eyoudoi
ngwi
thmyhusband'
sphone?Howdar
eyou?
".Iaskedangr
il
y.

"
Deypl
ay!Justdeypl
ay"
.Shesai
dandendedt
hecal
l
.

Ist
art
edsweat
ingal
lofasudden.Iwasshaki
ng.

Unknownt
ome,
mymot
herhasbeenwat
chi
ngme.

"Isai
dit!Somet
hing i
s def
ini
tel
y wr
ong.St
artspeaki
ng my f
ri
end"
.My mot
her
commanded.

Ibur
sti
ntot
ear
s.Iwascr
yingl
i
keasmal
lchi
l
dwhosemot
herl
eftbehi
ndwi
thnei
ghbor
s.

"
MummyImadeami
stake,
agr
àveoneatt
hat
".Isai
dwhenIwasal
i
ttl
ebi
tcal
m.

"
Whathappened?
".Mymot
herasked.

It
oldherev
ery
thi
ngf
rom t
hebegi
nni
ngt
il
ltheend.

"
Whydidyouevenmakesuchagri
evousmistake?Areyouababy?Ohmygoodness!I
n
t
hismoder
ndayandti
mey ouar
esti
llnai
veandcluel
ess".Mymot
herber
atedme.

"Idi
dn'
tseeanyt
hingwrongwithhel
pingafri
end,mummy .Youknow how cl
oseKat
e
andIwere,
Inev
erthoughtshewoul
dbetrayme".Isai
ddef
ensi
vel
y.

"Ther
eyougoagain!There'
snof ri
endi nthej
ungl
e.Ther
e'snoladywhowoul dn'tf
allfor
amanl i
keyourhusband.Comeonnow!Hei samulti
mil
li
onair
ef orcr
yingoutloud.You
knowKateandhowmat eri
ali
sti
cshei s.Youdon'
tgi
vepeoplebenefit
sofdoubtwheni t
comestoyourmar ri
ageandf amily.Youshouldguardyourhomej ealousl
y.I
'm highly
di
sappoi
ntedt
osayt
hel
east
".Mymot
herchi
dedme.

"
Mummywhatshoul
dIdonow?Theyar
est
il
ltoget
her"
.Iasked.

"Iam goingtothathousewithyouf i
rstthi
ngtomorr
owandt hatyourfr
iendmustl
eave
thathouse.Thisisnotthetimet ocr y.Eveni
fyoushouldcry,i
tshouldbetoGodi n
prayernotinselfpi
tyandreproach.Wipeawayy ourtear
s,f
orGodi saboutt
ostepin"
.
Mymot herencouraged.

Yes!Thatwasit.Mymot hergav
emet
hest
rengt
handencour
agementIneeded.
Mother
sarei
ndeedpr
icel
ess.

Unf
ri
endl
yfr
iend.Par
tFi
ve

Thenextmor
ning,
mymot
herandIt
rav
ell
edt
omybase.

Shedi
dn'
ttel
lmyf
atheraboutt
hei
ssueongr
ound.

"Youdon'tneedtot el
lever
yoneaboutt hechall
engesiny ourmar ri
age.Therearesome
batt
lesyouwillhavetofi
ghtinsecretasawomani nordertopreservethedigni
tyofyour
home.Youandy ourhusbandmayr econci
leaft
erami sunderstandi
ngbutbadi mage
you'
vepaintedtoothersaboutyourmar ri
agemaylingerforever
.".Mymot heradvi
sed.

I
tmadesenset
ome.

Whenwegott
omyhouse,
myhusbandwashomewi
thKat
e.Theywer
ebot
hsur
pri
sed
t
oseemymom.

"
Goodmor
ningmama"
.Kat
egr
eet
edwi
thherheadboweddown.

Kat
eandmymom ar
eacquai
nted.Kat
eusedt
ospendsomehol
i
day
satmyhouseback
t
heni
ntheuni
ver
sit
y.

"
Ihear
dyoul
i
veher
enow"
.Mymot
hersai
d.

"
It
'sj
ustf
orawhi
l
ema"
.Kat
eanswer
ed.

"Ihear
dyouar
en'
tev
eni
ntal
ki
ngt
ermswi
thy
ourf
ri
end,
ist
hatt
rue?
".Mymot
herasked
Kate.

"
Mamay ouj
ustcame,wecandiscusst
hatl
ater
.Letmet
akey
ourbagst
otheguest
r
oom "
.Myhusbandv
olunt
eer
ed.

"Don'
ttouchmybag!I
'mver
ydisappoint
edaty
ou.Howcoul
dyout
aket
hesi
deofat
hir
d
part
yov ery
ourwi
fe?"
.Mymotherfacedmyhusband.

"
It
'snotwhaty
out
hinkma"
.Myhusbandsai
ddef
ensi
vel
y.

"
So,
tel
lmewhati
tis,
I'
mli
steni
ng"
.Mymot
hersai
dwi
thherhandsaki
mbo.

"
Itwasy
ourdaught
ert
hatev
ensuggest
ed.
."
.Myhusbandt
ri
edt
oexpl
ain.

"Oh!She'
snol
ongery
ourwi
febutnowmydaught
er.Whatat
ransf
ormat
ion"
.Mymot
her
said.

"
MamaIwi
l
lleav
eassoonasI
'
m abl
etost
andonmyf
eet"
.Kat
esai
d.

"
Nomydear.Youwon'tbetheonetodeci
deWhent
oleav
e.Asamat
teroff
act
,youar
e
l
eav
ingt
hisweek!
".Mymothersai
d.
Kat
eandmyhusbandbot
hexchangedgl
ances.

"
Butmamashedoesn'
thav
eany
wher
eel
set
ogo"
.Myhusbandsai
d.

"
Thelastti
meIchecked,hermot
heri
sst
il
lal
i
ve.Whati
sst
oppi
ngherf
rom goi
ng
t
her
e?".Mymot
herasked.

"
Mamapl
easel
etherst
ayf
orawhi
l
e".Myhusbandpl
eaded.

"
Ican'
tbel
ieveyouar esti
l
ltakinghersideeveninmypr esence.Wheny oucameto
mar
rymydaught er
,youneversaidy
ouwi l
lbemarry
ingherwithherfr
iendoh.Youhav
e
t
ochooset odayifyouwantt okeepy ourmarri
ageory ouwantt okeepKat e"
.My
mot
hersai
d.

Ther
ewasapr
olongedsi
l
ence.

"
Iwi
l
lleav
ebyweekend"
.Kat
esai
d.

Myhusbandgav
eherapuzzl
edl
ook.

Shel
eftt
heseat
ingr
oom angr
il
y.

Myhusbandj
ustsatdownl
ooki
ngconf
usedandhear
tbr
oken.

"St
anl
eymyson.Iknowi t
'
sy ourhousebutit
'sal
soyourwi
fe'
shome.Thedayy
ougot
marri
edt oher,y
out wobecameone.I tdoesn'
tmakeanysenseifyoukeepmaki
ng
deci
sionswit
houtconsi
deri
ngheremotions"
.Mymothersai
dtomyhusband.

Mymot
herkeptonadv
isi
ngt
hebot
hofusonhowt
omakeourmar
ri
agewor
k.
Myhusbandnev
ersai
dany
thi
ng.Hekeptonpr
essi
nghi
sphonewhi
l
emymot
herspoke.

Whenshewasdonet
alki
ng,
shest
oodupt
oleav
e.If
oll
owedherout
side.

"
Mamawhyar
eyoul
eav
ingsosoon?Pl
easedon'
tgo"
.Ipl
eaded.

"Idon'twantyourhusbandtodi
srespectmemydear.Ihavedonemypar t
,it
'snowyour
turntostepupy ourgameandguar dyourhomewit
hy ourwomanlypower.Youhav
et o
protectwhatyouhav el
ikeamotherhen.Theworl
disdangerous.Ihav
esaidmyown" .
Mymot hersai
d.

If
oll
owedmymom t
othepar
kwher
esheboar
dedabust
oIbadan.

Asherbusdr
ovef
rom t
hepar
k,If
eltsoempt
yandl
ost
.

Ij
our
ney
edbackhomewi
thaheav
yhear
t.

WhenIgott
othehouse,myhusbandandKat
ewer
enotathome."
Theymusthav
egone
outt
oget
her
".It
hought
.

Iwassowor
ri
edandconf
used.

"
IhopeIhav
enotf
inal
l
ypushedmyhusbandawaycompl
etel
y".Icr
ied.

Unf
ri
endl
yfr
iend.Par
t6.

Myhusbanddidn'
tret
urnhomet
il
lpastmi
dni
ght
.Heonl
ycamet
oourbedr
oom oncet
o
getachangeofcl
othes.
Hesl
epti
nthev
isi
tor
sroom t
hatni
ght
.

Iwoket
henextmor
ningt
ogethi
m pr
epar
edf
orwor
kwhi
l
eipr
epar
edbr
eakf
ast
.

Iselect
edabeaut i
fulnati
veforhim andgotitironed.Theynormall
ydressinnati
ve
atti
resonFri
days.IbroughtoutonehisblackIt
alianshoesandgotitpoli
shed.Ial
so
pickedaboxerandasingletf
orhi
m.Iarrangedeveryt
hingonthebed.Ihav
ebeendoing
thissi
ncewegotmar ri
ed.

Ipr
eparedscrambl
edeggsandbreadforbr
eakf
asttobetakenwi
thahotchocol
ate
bev
eragedri
nk.Ial
soprepar
edj
oll
ofri
ceandpackagedi
tforhimt
otaket
owor kfor
l
unch.

Whenigottotheroom,Isawhewasal
readydr
essed.Hedi
dn'
tweart
hecl
othesand
shoeIpr
epar
edforhim.

BeforeIcouldsayJack,
hehasal
readyl
eftf
orwor
kwi
thouteat
ingt
hef
oodIsuf
fer
edt
o
prepareforhi
m.

Iwasdi
sgr
unt
led.

He al
so r
eturned backforwor
kver
ylat
e.It
ri
ed i
nit
iat
ing conv
ersat
ions butgot
compl
etel
yignoredbyhim.

Heevenbar
elyanswermygr eet
ings.Icr
iedandbeghi
mtopl
easespeakt
omebuthe
nev
ergavemeanyattent
ion.

Icoul
dn'
tev
enunder
standwhyhewassomadatmewhi l
eIshoul
dbet heangr
yone.
Hewasthefi
rstt
obr
eakourmar
it
alv
owsanddi
srespect
edourmarr
iage.

Wel
l
,Ideci
dedt
opl
ayt
hef
óôl
inor
derf
orpeacet
orei
gn.
Ikeptonprayingdayandnightf orhimtochangebuthenev erchanged.Iwentto
di
ffer
entcrusades and r
evi
vals wit
houtseei
ng any r
esul
ts.He ev en gotwor
se.
Sometimes,
hedoesn'tev
ensleepathome.

Onemor ni
ng,hewashavinghi
sbath.Helefthisphoneont hebed.Iwantedt
opeep
thr
oughhisphoneandsawhehasalreadychangedhispassword.Iwast
ryi
ngtofi
gur
e
outthenewpasswordwhenKat
e'smessagepoppedin.I
tread;

"
Thanky
ouf
orev
ery
thi
ngy
oudof
ormedear
.Whatwoul
dIhav
edonewi
thouty
ou?
".

Idi
dn'
tknowwhenthephonesl
i
ppedf
rom myhand.Lucki
l
y,t
hescr
eendi
dn'
tcr
ack.I
qui
etl
ydr
oppedt
hephone.

Iwentst
rai
ghtt
otheguestroom andcr
iedmyeyesout
.Thepai
nwasunbear
abl
e.Whi
l
e
myhusbandmademecr y,hewasmakinganot
herwomanhappy.

I
fitweretobearegul
armanwhoImetr andomlyandgotmarri
edto,Iwoul
dn'
tbet
his
pai
ned.Thi
sissomeoneIsacr
if
icedmyy
outhto.Igav
ehim al
lI
'vegot
.

Ideci
dedthatI
'
vehadenoughal
ready
.Nomor
ecr
yingov
eraspl
i
tmi
l
k.I
fhewant
sto
goastr
ay,
heshoul
dgoastray
.

Aft
erhavi
ngagoodcry
,Itookmybat
handgotdr
essed.Iwentst
rai
ghtt
othesal
onand
gotagoodhai
rhai
rcut
.Idyedmyhai
r.

WhenIgothome,hewasintheseat
ingroom seei
ngamov
ie.Hewassur
pri
sedt
osee
mynewhair
cutbuthedi
dn'
tsayanyt
hingtome.

Unl
i
kebef
ore,
Iwal
kedpasthi
m wi
thoutgr
eet
ing.
Ifi
xeddinnerformysel
fandatet
omysat
isf
act
ion.Idi
dn'
tpr
epar
eforhi
m becausehe
hardl
ytouchedmyfoodsincet
hewhol
edr
amastart
ed.

It
ostar
tjobhaunti
ngo,I
'm agr
aduateaft
erall
.Whil
eatit
,Iwentoutmor
eof
tenIev
en
st
art
edvisi
ti
ngthegym.Aft
erawhil
e,If
inal
lygott
hejob.

Idi
dn'
ti
nfor
m myhusbandaboutget
ti
ngaj
ob.What
'st
hepoi
nt?Notl
i
kehecar
es.

Ipurposel
yleavethehousebef
orehi
m.Somet
imesIwor
kov
ert
imesot
hatmyhusband
getshomebef or
eme.

Iwil
lputmyphoneonalar
m atrandom moment
ssot
hatwheni
tst
art
sri
ngi
ng,Iwi
l
l
pr
etendasi
fIwashav
inganact
ual phonecal
l
.

Inev
erknewt
heset
hingswer
eget
ti
ngt
omyhusband.

Oneev
eni
ngwhenIgotbackf
rom wor
kreal
l
ylat
e,heconf
ront
edmeangr
il
y.