Oh that we may blog
Ireti and Henry were having dinner together. Their dining room had a long rectangular table that could sit a family of twelve, including a little chair for a child. The room had one big chandelier that hung from the ceiling, positioned to be at the center of the dining table. Since Henry grew up with a silver spoon, even from his behind, he made sure that his home decor showed it all. He had paintings that he bought from his travels around the world hanging nicely at different corners of the house. But he had recently removed some endearing pictures of himself and his wife together, showing that they were once some-what in love. Or so it seemed.
In the hour that they sat eating, no one said a word. All the while Ireti kept her eyes low, trying hard to concentrate on the food she had served herself from the meal the cook had prepared. Tonight was meant to be special – Henry had not spent time with her for weeks now, not even for one meal together – but somehow Henry managed to hurt her again. He was always so outright with the way he made her feel less of a woman.
“Ireti, will you not eat your food?Hmm? Sly prostitute. At least that is the very thing you know how to do well. Always planning parties when you know women would bring their children. Worthless woman” Henry blurted out when he noticed her quiet demeanor.
She tried hard not to let it get to her, but tonight she had failed woefully. His words from earlier that night kept echoing in her head “Worthless woman”.
She just about cried her soul out on the dining table while trying to force her throat to cooperate with her. She had lost her appetite, but her “dear” husband was having a fill, gulping down large quantities of his rice, feeding his mouth (with barely enough space) with his plantain. He was really enjoying himself. Ireti dared a glance at him and nearly puked on herself. Why had she made the mistake of marrying this beast?
Ireti could not bear children, even after five years of trying. Henry had pulled her to every doctor in and out of town, asking the same questions over and over, and the answers came back the same – Ireti had no eggs left in her to make her a mother.
She looked down at her belly, wondering why this was happening to her. But she felt so young, so ripe, so beautiful, so ready to become a mother. Yet, somehow, the universe deemed it fit to leave her “egg-less”. She sighed involuntarily at that thought, got out of her chair, and walked away without a word to Henry.
“Ireti! Ireti, where are you going? How dare you walk out on me, you, childless woman? Are you not hungry again?”
By now Henry had gotten up from his position and was walking rapidly, trying to catch up with Ireti. Ireti wouldn’t have any more of his insults so she ran for the stairs, praying to God that he would just let her be. Henry grabbed her arm from behind, turning her so fast she almost fell, if he wasn’t holding her up. She caught the hatred in his eyes as she placed her hand on his chest to steady herself.
“Get away from me Henry! Leave me alone! Stop harassing me! Let me go!!” She struggled hard to break free, banging on his chest with her free hand. Ireti began to weep, taking in shallow breaths as she thought about what he was about to do to her. She couldn’t let him have his way this time, so she became hysterical, but Henry was always stronger. He punched her hard on her nose, causing her vision to blur for several seconds, before she felt the free-flow of blood running down her broken nose. She couldn’t cry, she couldn’t scream anymore.
She struggled hard to breathe through her mouth, unable to scream for help. Henry twisted her again so that both of them were facing the flight of stairs. He pulled her behind him as he climbed the stairs, hurrying to get away from any prying eyes. Unfortunately, the cook had seen it all happen.
“You are just a witch, Ireti. Everything about you screams childlessness. You charmed me with your beauty all those years ago. I should have listened to my mother. She said you were no-good-for-nothing and she was right! I thought she was just being old-fashioned. Now look how you’ve proved me wrong! I will teach you a lesson today. You won’t ever forget the mistake you made marrying me. I SWEAR, IRETI!”
By the time he was done lamenting, they had reached their bedroom, slamming the door behind him. Henry shoved her across the room towards the dresser, where he tied Ireti to the chair.
“Please Henry, please have mercy. I’m sorry, I will never be rude to you again. Please have mercy my husba…”
“Tah! Who is your husband! I forbid you, woman, to ever call me that again! You hear me? Or I will beat you to death. Now hold on to that chair like your life depends on it”.
Ireti did as she was told, shivering to her bones, murmuring prayers to God to save her soul, wishing her mother was here, and her father alive to defend her. There was no one to save her this time, not even her beloved uncle. So she obediently held on, hugging the chair, with her back facing Henry.
By the time he had started to lash her with his belt she felt nothing, until the thin fabric of her evening gown tore and the belt collided with her bare skin. She screamed the loudest her throat could endure. The pain was so raw; she couldn’t imagine how much more she could take. Nevertheless, the lashes kept coming, all the while Henry kept talking.
“You witch! I will kill you today! You will regret why you married me! Bloody marine spirit! Ashewo! You have committed so many abortions, there’s nothing left in you! I will kill you today!”
His whips became harder, and harsher as his blood boiled, as he tore the skin of his dear, helpless wife.
