The Sword Called Divorce (Episode 7)

When it was 7pm and Marie wasn’t back in the house, her parents began to worry. She’d stormed out during breakfast and hadn’t returned since then.
Nike was getting worried but didn’t voice it out as she went for her women’s meeting that evening. Maybe Marie had gone to the church and decided to stay there.
She harboured that thought as she drove to the church premises for the meeting. The truth is, that day had been very hard for her. Marie’s words that morning had sliced through her and sent a chill down her spine.
Her daughter was only fourteen, how could she wish she’d never been born? Was she hurting that much?
As Nike parked her car, she leaned against the steering…and let the tears fall. It was too much for her. The jumbled feelings and the tension in her home had gotten to her.
Oh Lord, help me. She sobbed. I’m trying so hard to be strong.

She was still sniffling when there was a soft knock on her window. Nike looked up, it was Bro. Nelson, one of the church ushers.
Nike scrambled for her handkerchief and wiped her face;  removing all traces of tears.
Then she opened the door and stepped out with a plastic smile on her face and her glasses shielding her eyes.
“Hello, Bro. Nelson.” She greeted airily.
“Good evening ma. We saw your car arrive and when you didn’t come in, Pastor  asked me to check you.”  He explained.
“Oh. I was…uh…having a little eye trouble. I forgot to use my eye drops.” The lie came smoothly. “Er…did you by any chance see my daughter Marie here?”
“Uh…I don’t think so ma. The children are having rehearsals but she didn’t show up today.”
She nodded and they both walked into the church building.
Nike pulled herself together as she walked in, now was no time for weakness. She had a group of fifty women to attend to and needed to be strong for them. She’d deal with her family issues later.

While her parents worried about her, Marie was in her best friend Amina’s house. When she’d run out of the house in the morning, she’d no idea where she was going and she also had limited money on her. So, she’d just kept walking and walking, trying to let her anger at her family subside.
She was fourteen today. She was supposed to be ecstatic and over the moon…instead she felt like a deflated balloon, one whose air had just been taken out of her.
Truth was, she missed her family. She missed the love and togetherness they shared. She missed listening to her parents’ tease each other…she missed listening to her daddy’s bad jokes.
She missed being able to talk to her Mummy about anything…only two weeks ago, she’d seen her first period. She’d so much wanted to tell her Mummy, but the huge gap between them wouldn’t let her.
Instead, she’d borne it quietly and told Amina. It was Amina who’d given her the pads she used to take care of herself.
She’d known what to do because Sister Izie had taught her how to use a pad a few months ago. Sister Izie…oh how she missed her!
They’d formed a bond which was amazing. Marie had grown to love Sister Izie like her big sister. They talked about anything and everything, Marie had been very comfortable with her.
Why? Why did she betray her family like that?
So many questions Marie wanted to ask.
“Stop thinking about it.” Amina had said over and over again.
“Easy for you to say.” Marie retorted.
They were in Amina’s room, lying on her bed and talking. The time was 6pm and Marie knew she should be on her way home but she couldn’t seem to find the urge to go home.
“Mr Bambi said he’s giving a test on Tuesday.” Amina’s attempt at changing the subject.
Marie shrugged. “Whatever.”
Amina gave a frustrated sigh. Her friend’s mood was depressing.
“Let’s go out! It’s your birthday! I’ll tell Daddy to let Sambo drive us to Silverbird! We’ll get ice cream and snacks…and see a movie.”
Amina’s father was a wealthy business tycoon who pampered his children…and Sambo was the driver who Amina was allowed to use whenever she wanted.

“I’m really not in the mood.” Marie said.
“Ahn ahn…then what are you in the mood for? You’re so annoying right now.” Amina climbed down from the bed angrily. “I’m trying hard here to make you happy. Come on!”
Marie sighed. I’m sorry. I’ll leave.”
“No, no. I didn’t say you should leave.”
“I want to. I’m spoiling your mood. I need to go home anyway.”
Even as Marie left Amina’s house she knew she wasn’t ready to go home. Not yet.
She had only five hundred naira on her and she needed to go somewhere. Somewhere she could get answers.
She walked to the bus stop and got on a bus. Although it was almost 7pm, she wasn’t scared, she was used to Abuja. She’d grown up there all her life.
As the bus neared her destination, she felt the fear pounding in her heart. She was going where she shouldn’t be. She was going to confront the cancer that had eaten into her home.

The bus ride took little over thirty minutes and soon she was at her destination.
Her legs shook as she strolled into the street. As she knocked on the door, she felt a shiver go through her.
The door opened and she said with all the hardness she could muster: “Good evening Sister Izie.”

(To be continued…)