CHAPTER TWO

It had been five months already, and I had just tested my urine on the pregnancy test, but it was negative.

Again.

That morning, my mother had called to remind me that it was high time I got pregnant.

Was five months enough to start looking forward to children?

I was washing the dishes in the kitchen when I heard Richard call out my name from the room.

I rushed to check on him, surprisingly, it wasn't as bad as I thought.

He had found my pregnancy test tube.

Why did he look so paranoid?

"What happened, Richard? I was so scared, I had to rush in here."

"I thought we agreed on one year? Why are you consistently checking?"

I sighed. "My mother has been asking me. You know I am their only daughter, and they are a little bit concerned."

"Tell them we had an agreement..."

"I told her already, but she said there was no point."

"Who is the man of the home? Your mother or me?"

I sighed deeply, understanding that I might be overreacting. "I am really sorry, my husband."

We stopped short when we noticed someone at the door.

I looked up at him curiously. "Are we expecting someone?"

"Yes. My sister, Cherish."

"Cherish? But you didn't tell me anything."

"I should tell you that my sister is coming to my own house?"

"Yes, so that I could have prepared for her visit. Is that too much to ask?"

"I didn't see the need to tell you because my sister shouldn't be a visitor in my own house, right?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Instead of arguing here, we should go and help her with her load."

"Load?" I followed him eagerly as he hurried toward the door.

"She is staying for five months". He walked to open the door for his sister and helped her with her bags.

I was so shocked that I remained on a spot for as long as only God knows when, trying to figure out why my legally married husband didn't see the need to tell me that his sister was coming to live with us for five months.

The girl who I was obviously ten years older than didn't even greet me properly, she just waved.

I felt really disrespected and walked back into our room, fuming.

I sat on the bed pondering all through the evening until he returned to the room.

He ignored me and continued working on his laptop.

"Why on earth will you disrespect your wife that way? It is absolutely wrong!". I snarled.

He grinned sarcastically. "Do you know why I married you? I didn't marry you because I couldn't find a lot of people that were obviously better than you, I married you because I was compassionate about the fact that no other man would be able to tolerate you. You have a bad character and every man wants nothing but peace in his home".

"Bad character? Because I feel disrespected that you didn't tell me that Cherish was coming to stay for five months? Why do you men bring war and expect peace?".

"I know you are a naturally frustrated person, but no matter what you do, make sure my baby sister doesn't see any reason to want to leave before that five months ".

I shrugged. "But tell me, what exactly am I not doing for you? Financially, mentally, socially, I am trying my best. Why then do you still feel you did me a privilege for marrying me?".

"You had numerous problems in your relationships before you found me and I made sure I stayed for you".

I sobbed. His words were breaking my heart so much. "Please tell me where I am currently slacking as your wife. I wake up as early as five in the morning to put the house in order. We come back the same time but even sometimes when I am stressed, I still have to make sure you are fine so what exactly am I doing wrong?".

"You are doing nothing wrong but you are not doing everything right ".

I sighed deeply. "Has Cherish eaten?".

"I took her out since you wouldn't even welcome her properly".

"What is her favourite meal so that I can get it and make it for her first thing tomorrow morning?".

"Pepperoni and cheese ".

I was extremely worn out that moment. "No problem then. I will go get it from the market. What will you like to eat in the morning?".

"Yam as usual ".

I nodded thoughtfully. Though famished, I grabbed some money from my purse and left the house.

After just five months of marriage, my body was already signaling that I might be overdoing things.

I spotted my childhood restaurant and ordered some food.

I began to devour it like I was the hungriest woman on earth.

I soon noticed someone watching me.

I looked up and saw her—my best friend Juliet.

This was the restaurant we had frequented throughout our childhood, so her presence didn't surprise me.

She was clearly on a date, sitting across from a tall, stout man and laughing excitedly, pretending not to notice me.

But I knew my friend well enough to know she had seen me.

At that moment, two parts of me clashed.

One part wanted to open up and scream to her and my family about everything, to tell them I wanted to come back home. The other part reminded me that I was a married woman, and I needed to be strong and keep things to myself.

After eating, I paid and headed to the market.

I bought the necessary items and returned home.

After stocking them in the fridge, I joined Richard in the room. I greeted him, but he didn't respond.

Was he angry? "Richard, I greeted you and you didn't respond," I said, trying to catch his attention.

"Where did you go? Why did you take long? Who did you meet?".

"I  was famished on my way to the market and I stopped by at Justins restaurant ".

He sighed. "You positioned at Justin's  without telling me you were going to branch there because you wanted to be easily spotted by a man, right?".

"A man? What are you talking about?".

"You think I don't notice that you dress too extra these days? You even stayed out and no one knows if you followed him to his house or something".

"Before we got married, I never cheated on you and why then will I cheat after marriage?".

He shrugged. "I use your car and I am just a colleague earning as much as you do. I am definitely not surprised why you wouldn't show such person regard. After all I am nothing to you".

"Richard, other husbands would have asked me how I dealt with hunger and market and here you are, getting worked up because of your ego".

"You see the reason I should never have married a career woman? They always think they are bigger than their husbands!".

"I have never done that to you! I have always respected you! What more do you want from me? My life???".

He fumed and slapped me hard.

It was the first time Richard had raised his hand on me.

He glared at me that moment. I had never seen that expression from Richard. It felt so scary like he would hit me with a sharp object that moment. "Look here, this will be the last time you raise your voice at me! I am your husband and you are meant to submit your voice, your everything! Anything I say, just accept it like that before arguing! I will sleep in the parlor you bastard!!!". He fluttered to the sitting room.

The slap had landed me to the floor and i remained right there, pondering on everything that had happened in the space of five months.

Juliet's warning words came shutting me out again.

Was it too early to admit that I just should have listened to Juliet?

It was five months but everything felt so hard.

Too hard.

I needed someone to talk to.

Just one person.