I stared at my mother-in-law and my husband. The tear starts to drop but I remembered Aunty Tina’s voice “Don’t let this problem swallow you up, rather stand tall. You are victorious because God is with you”.
“I won’t sign the divorce papers mummy. I stand against divorce and I won’t allow my child to grow up in a broken home”. I said
“Nobody cares about what you want. So far you are useless. No male child, yet we still manage you, now you have turned my son into a violent person. I can’t have that”. She replied.
“Mummy, did Uzor tell you I was pregnant with a child but he beat it out of me?”
“Oh yes He did, but why would you control a man in his own house on how and what to eat? That’s plain foolishness and being outright stubborn”. She said
“It’s okay mama, I would sign the divorce papers once they are ready”. I replied and walked away. Her words were beginning to pierce through the new barricade I had set up.
“Good girl, it would be better for us all and Uzor can have that male child your womb refused to bear” she said after me.
I would be regarded as a divorcee soon. I never dreamt of my marriage hitting the rocks but this reality stings so bad I could feel it in my bones.
I was in my room thinking about my new status and the words of my mother-in-law when Ada walked into the room. Apparently her grandma had delivered her message and had left the house.
“Mummy, why are you sad?”. Ada asked
“I’m not sad, mummy is the happiest woman on the planet”. I said smiling and tickled her until she started laughing.
After cooking and delivering food to Dera at the hospital. I returned home and with Ada sleeping I had time to think of the next course of action to take. I didn’t want Ada around for this confrontation and ugly battle. I want her far away from the sadness and ugliness.
I called Ada’s godmother who was my distant aunt. Ada occasionally vacations with her and her family. She lives so far away and wasn’t around for most of the family engagement. I told her I was sending Ada down for three weeks which seem convenient due to the summer break. I packed Ada’s bag and booked a flight for noon the next day. I went to the room and found Uzor talking on the phone. He was rounding up a phone call but my ear caught the last part, “I love you too baby”. I sighed and stood directly in front of him.
“I’m sending Ada to Aunt Amaka tomorrow. I don’t want her to experience this ugliness. She’s been through so much already and I would hate to see her go through more”.
“That’s fine”. He said looking back into the laptop in front of him and ignoring my presence.
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