The One Commandment

Nia had returned home with shame, covering all of her over the words she said to Layla. I had thought she had really missed me because she was screaming my name, knowing that I was the one that saved her from drowning, for the second time, yet all I get is insult and disrespect. Ermias was already waiting for her at home, hoping his wife would come right to him after the incident that happened. It has been all over the news that Nia, who is the wife to the great Ermias, has fallen into the sea and due to suicidal attempt. This has sparked a numerous concerning situation, whereby Ermias might stand the chance of loosing is empire if Nia had really died on the claims of suicide. He has grown so arrogant that he cared less about her and her family. She went straight to the bedroom and to the shower, while he seats at the parlor waiting for her arrival. He followed her to the room as he realized she had no intention of coming to him. He asked her what happened tonight as she had left the party and she replied that she just missed a step and that landed her in the water, and he should disregard anything the paparazzi says. Ermias also said to her that he thought it was out of jealousy of him that's why she tried committing suicide, but its more hurtful to realize all his imaginations and wishes are nothing but dust in thin airs.

"Why do you hate me this much, Nia? It's been five years since our marriage and all I've been waiting for is for my wife to at least love me even if it's just for ones. It's been five years, and I have been waiting for this marriage to be a real one", Ermias cried.

"Emias, I had no other option other to move on with this marriage and it was based on agreement, so do not expect anything else than this from me", she replied to him.

"Yet I am sentenced to you, and I am addicted to you Nia. Why can't you see all that. All I wanted was you and I had an opportunity to make that happened, and now I have you", he cried out again.

"You threatened me with my brother. You used my brother as a weapon against me and against my own will, because you know I will never love or marry you if not for this", she continued.

As they went back and forth on the conversation, Ermias told her he never forced her int marry her but only used the opportunity at hand to get what he wanted, and it was her parents that made the choice. He claimed they did not want their son to be sent to prison, and by doing so, they sacrificed her instead of letting him face the laws. He was the only person who could protect and resolve whatever happened, as he continued to claim. The part that got me the most was when he said her parents had sold her to him and so she has no option but to accept the fact that he is her husband, and she is his wife.

Nia got really angry by these words and gave him the slap of his life. As he realized she was not ready and willing to change her mind, he continued to threaten her more.

"As from today, after our fifth wedding anniversary, you will either become my real wife and act accordingly, or I will personally go to the police, report to them the crime your brother had committed and will not just leave it there. I will personally hand him over to the police and he will have to face the law and punish him accordingly. The ball is in your court now. You either take it or leave it", he said to Nia as he leaves the room into the guest room where he had been sleeping for the past five years of their marriage.

The Nia I know will never allow her brother to spend even a second in prison, how much more if he is to spend almost half of his life behind huge thick bars.

That same night, Layla became angrier as Nia had said those things to her. She could not believe Nia could have the effrontery to come to her home and say such things about me to her. As I came out of my hiding place, she asked me what I had understood from all that Nia said. All I understood was that she did not want me to be a bother to her or her marriage. She did not want me to be a problem with her marriage, and that really pierced even more. After abandoning me all these years, all she could think of me was a problem to her marriage. At that moment I begin to regret coming back to the city, but as it stands, I am on a business mission and my goal is to get it all done, neat and dusted.

It was morning already and my mother, as she always does, was in the kitchen preparing breakfast for the family. My sister was preparing for school and she never found anything of hers without asking my mother. She had gone to the kitchen to ask my mother where she had left her dress, and my mother directed her to go check the ironing room. It is always funny that my sister will never let my mother rest unless she makes her voice to be heard in the house, every morning. I had sneaked into the house last night and went straight to my room. My room has now become the ironing room, but luckily there was a sofa seated in the corner of the room. My sister had stepped in to get her dress when I suddenly heard her scream. She was all over me shouting and calling out everybody to come see me.

"So, it was true", she said.

I turned to ask her what she meant by that and suddenly my mother entered the room. She thought something had happened to my sister and was rushing to come check on her. She could not hold her joy as well, as she jumped at me holding me so tight. She starts to rain praises at then until everybody in the house wakes up from bed. It was a magical moment for me, as she continued screaming in the neighborhood that her son was back. My sister was sent to the bakery to go fetch some bagels and bread, so we all have a nice breakfast in celebrating my surprise home coming. My sister, being stubborn as always, called Nia immediately after she had stepped out of the house, to inform her it was true that I was in town but unfortunately couldn't reach her.

Nia has been breaking down, yet she never said a thing to me. So, as long as she refuses to say anything to me, then I assume she abandons me for her selfish interest. Ermias has been giving her some tough moments in the marriage, since he has vowed to report Leo to the police and make sure he is dealt with, she has since not had any peace of mind, as if she has had that peace of mind for the past five years. She would go for a jog every morning and cry her heart out, yet her voice is barely heard, especially by me. She cried so many times that she began to find solitude in children, after a child offered her a wiper to wipe her tears, because she has always seen her coming around and crying all the time. She grew so fond of the girl that she always tried to meet up with her so she could spill out all she has been keeping withing her for the past five years. The things that she couldn't say came out drop as tears, and that is how she finds some solace. If only I had known that she, did it for her brother, then I might have had a different perspective about the whole situation, but that could have happened if only she had told me.

News has spread all over about the night party that happened on the ship which was organized by Ermias. It has also been published that the mistress of Ermias was the queen and winner of the night. He has been reckless about his life as well as his marriage life, everyone is beginning to take a toll on them. The house helps were with the newspapers when Nia's mother came in. She asked if her son had his breakfast and if he had taken his medications as well. They responded that he refused to have his breakfast and insisted he wanted to have some rest. She then reinstructed them to wake him up while they make, they he has his breakfast, and they should never allow him to skip his medications hours. They all nodded in respect and left the kitchen. She took the newspaper and saw the news as the main headline. She knew Ermias does not regard nor respect them in any way, yet she decided to be blind to the truth and pretends like everything was okay. She came to the poolside and met her husband reading the article about the night. He was really furious yet cannot do anything about it, as the life and future of his son depends on the actions he will do. All this left him with no other choice than to sit back and watch Ermias do his thing. They begin to argue as the mother is trying to lay all blames on Nia that she is the reason why all these are happening. The father got irritated by her comments and decided to take it on her.

"Why is Ermias not being careful about sensitive things like this. This should be a concern to him since it involves his wife and us as her family. What do you expect people to say when he is being obvious about his reckless lifestyle. Why does he leave his wife all by herself and allow such inappropriate articles to be published", the father said.

"Nia does not care a bout it. She has been the one who has been careless about their marriage for the past five years, yet Ermias does everything possible to get her to behave like a real wife that he is married to", the mother replied.

"This girl has unhappy, and I expect you as a mother to read it easily from her face. I am disappointed that you are in support of such abysmal behavior always exhibited by Ermias, the father added.

The mother to side with Ermias as she continues to put all blame on Nia for leaving her husband's side at such an event. She even claims that they are planning on their fifth-year anniversary and Nia is even planning on the gift she wants to get for her husband.

As they continued debating, Leo came from the house heading to their side while asking of what was going on. They immediately pretended as if everything is okay and just changed the topic on their discussion.