Beginning Again 3 (Aunty Janet's Story)

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"Find any means to adapt to him, he is your husband, whatever he wants is final", she told me. As she made attempts to say more, I politely excused myself as I already knew where the discussion was heading to and I didn't want to give action to the war that was raging in my mind. Why must it be the woman that has to adapt to everything? Why do some mother-in-laws back up their son like he is a saint and the wife is a sinner that must be cleansed by the action of the saint? What kind of society do we even live in that a woman is not allowed to speak up to her husband when he does things that are not favorable to her? I took a long work to clear my head that evening but there were a thousand and one questions running through my mind as I walked. We lived in an estate close to the GRA, so I figured by the time I walked to the GRA and back, I would feel much better. Little did I know what laid in wait for me at home.

"Where are you coming from?" was the first question I heard when I closed the door. I looked back to see Phil standing by the adjoining door linking the sitting room and the dining room.
"I took a walk"
"Since when is it that you live this house without informing me?"
"I am sorry, it was a spur of the moment decision"
"And didn't we agree every decision, however minute should be run through me first?"
"But it was just walk, I didn't think I had to also run that with you now, besides I wanted to clear my head"
"Clear your head from what exactly? Has the house suddenly become to choky for you or is it me that you find repulsive?"
"I didn't say that Phil. I had a discussion with mama and after that I felt the need to leave the house"
"A discussion with mama to warn her boy, right?" He moved towards me, anger visible on his face. Phil had a short temper and though he had never raised his hands on me once, I had the premonition it could happen someday, I just never knew it would be soon.
"Can't you talk?" He roared
"I just felt she could get you to understand how I feel, since I've spoken to you several times without results"
"Are you saying I'm unrepentant?"
"I didn't".. the next thing was a slap on my face. I was stunned, so much that I landed on the rug. 



For the first time in 2 years , 2 months and 2 weeks, Phil raised his hands on me. What happened to the sweet and quiet Phil I knew before we got married? What happened to the man who would write me poems and sang it to my ears? Where is the guy that made me lose all my friends just to keep him? Where is that guy that promised to love and cherish me till death do us part? As I tried to find answers, I heard him still ranting as he panted heavily.
"So because you are beautiful, you think you can go anywhere you like so that everyone can compliment you? Are you not aware that now that you are married to me, you are totally mine to command and to do as I please? Now listen real well, under no condition must you leave this house again until I permit you to, and that includes going to work". 

Did I hear him right? He continued, laughing hysterically in between his words
"And let me also warn you, no one in my family would ever believe what you say about me. I will always be their sweet son but that is all they know about me. Who would blame them anyway, my parents were never at home to take care of my siblings and me, so they dont have the slightest idea who their son is. They left us to our house maid, who manipulated and abused us for 6 years of our adolescent lives. Since then, I've hated having company and I vowed any woman who tries to manipulate me again will feel the rage of my bottled anger. Now, you want to manipulate me through my mum to be who you want? It won't work Janet and for the records, this is just the beginning of more to come, if you continue to tow that path" Having said that, he left me still holding my cheeks on the rug.

Whaaaaaaaaat the ..? As I asked no one  in particular that question, I came to realize that I had signed a warrant for emotional and physical abuse the day I rebuffed my sister and parents insistence to know Phil more before going serious with him.

The next morning, as he took his leave to go the office, he locked the door and took the spare key. From that day, unpleasant events began to unfold. Sometimes, I wished I found courage to leave him earlier but I was too scared too, as I didn't entirely know what he was capable of doing. I cried and cried until I fell asleep. It was our maiguard's voice that woke me.