domestic violence

SWEET REVENGE

Written by Nickkie'maf

Sitting on the dresser, I gladly remove the make up covering every mark and scars present on my once beautiful face. Staring back at my reflection I wasn’t surprised at the woman staring back at me. Dark and swollen eye bag, deep gash adorned her forehead. Her lower lip has a thin cut, her cheeks puffy and red from too much tears.

I’m accustomed to seeing her every time I stare into the mirror, two years ago she would have made me cry but now I’m stronger. I stopped crying and now I’m bracing up and fighting back not for myself but for the woman in the mirror, for Tom and for Kiki cause they need me.

The ringing phone brought me back to life. I took a peep at the caller, its Barrister Chucks my husband greatest enemy who is my newly found friend.

“His he back?” I heard from the other end.

“Not yet” I reply curtly.

“Get prepared, it ends tonight my dear” he said as he chuckles.

“And I’m happy already. Don’t be late, I will need help packing” I smiled genuinely for the first time in 7 years.

Wait, it’s not what you’re thinking. I’m not that that kind of woman but its said that your enemy’s enemy is your friend so Barrister Chucks is just my friend. Okay, now I got you confused. Let me tell you my story and then you tell me where I went wrong.

I am Selena Williams, second child and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chijioke. My parents aren’t wealthy neither are we poor. My elder sister, two younger brothers and I attended very good schools. We were trained in the way of the Lord. We never had luxury of freedom.

Even when I gained admission into the university my parents must never hear me talking about the opposite s*x, No, it was a sin for my siblings and I. I remember when a guy came looking for my elder sister from her university. All hell was let loose by papa even though she was 22 years then.

The university gave me the freedom I never had. I made few friends, went partying and dated a couple of guys. The fact that I didn’t have the chance to mix with people other than my siblings made me have low self esteem. Papa will criticize us for everything while mama will always compare us to the other church kids. We grew up feeling and knowing that we will never be good enough.

I met Alfred Williams when I was in my third year in the university. He was in his final year studying Law. He is a charming young man who stole my heart at first sight. I had a crush on him the first day I met him at a party but he was way above my league. I knew getting a guy as cute and charming as him was impossible. Everyone knows of his extravagant and spoilt lifestyle but who cares about that not even I, with my level of home training.

Alfred was a spoilt guy but he showed me love. Spending lavishly was his lifestyle which I wasn’t comfortable with, his friends will call me too local and his fling of girls hates my guts. He had gotten into too many troubles but I never left him to his cross. I had bore every pain he made me pass through cause I felt he will change, even after sleeping with my roommate when I was serving.

I didn’t know he never loved me. Thank God his parent had caught us in his apartment doing it because he later denied getting me pregnant. Yes, he asked me to abort it like the previous three but the doctor said I could lose my life. I went to plead with his mother who I later love so much.

I’m doing whatever I’m doing now because those loving parents left me with their monstrous son on earth. She accepted me quicker than expected and they got us married. If I had known, I would have preferred to be a single mother than the life I’ve lived for the past seven years. Well its okay now, it all ends tonight.

Alfred was never ready for marriage; he felt I had trapped him with the pregnancy. It was my fault I should have known better after her denied me the first and second time but I felt no guy will ever notice me. I’m not good enough; he is just trying to manage me so I should be grateful to him.

Marriage should be the greatest happiness of a woman, waking up to meet the love of your life next to you every blessed day. Cuddling next to the one who cherish and adore you.

I was married to a big shot, a Barrister who holds a prominent post at 35 years of age in Rivers State government. An activist and human advocate. He is the perfect husband and dream man for every woman out there. Only if they knew, how I wish they could know but they can’t know.

Marriage to Alfred has made me realize that some things are not meant to be no matter how hard you try to fix it. I am the real example of an abused and smiling wife, I was dying and smiling. I know most of my husband’s concubine and side chicks because he brings them home and I have to behave or I'll get the beating of my life. I am a victim of r**e in my own marriage; he tears my clothes and forces himself on me. But all I needed was makeup to cover every bruises and scars to attend every meeting, interview, parties