"So you do whatever you want when you go to Zee's house? We get drunk and hang over men!?" Sean's voice got louder.
He couldn't be serious! How dare he!
"Yes," I said.
"We come back late from Zee's house and have a man dropping us off while our husbands are waiting for us at home?" he asked.
"I need to sleep," I said. He tightened his grip around my wrists.
"I am asking you for the last time, where were you?" he demanded.
"Are you kidding me!?" I asked.
I yanked my hands off his grip and I stumbled back as my left cheek burned in response to the hot hard slap that landed! I screamed!
"What are you doing!?" I cried.
"You think I'm a fool, Beauty!" he shouted. I could hardly hear with my left ear. "You want to try me! Busy getting drunk and hanging over men fully knowing you are married? Who do you think is doing your wifely duties?"
"What are you talking about?" I asked. My cheek felt numb.
He moved away and took his cellphone from the pedestal and he showed me a picture of Wayne and I when he was holding my hands. The picture was taken at an angle that might get people to think we were dating. The smile on my face was everything. I gave it to the person who took it; they had a good shot.
"What is this!? Isn't this you hanging over men?" he asked.
"Even if I was, it doesn't give you any reason to be mad. You brought your mistress into our home! You told me straight in the face that you met someone else. It was you who accepted another woman and now you're taking advantage of me and telling me that I'm hanging over a man? Because of a mere picture you are threatened! Don't joke here," I told him.
"Beauty, is this your boyfriend!?" he yelled.
"Mxm," I said.
I attempted to walk to the door, but I was pulled by my braids and pushed so hard that I landed on the floor. I screamed loudly.
"Beauty, are you cheating on me? Are you sleeping with that man!?" his voice echoed loudly in the room. My head was going all fuzzy.
"Yes I am! Beat me up then! Kill me if you have to, Sean!" I screamed, defenseless.
Then the kicks followed. I took it all in, every kick and punch. The walls of marriage we had built over the years came tumbling down without making a noise. My tears and blood certified my divorce from this man. Each insult slowly pulled him out of my soul. With each time he twisted my arm, my heart smiled as it finally got its closure.
I took all his beatings lying down, defenseless. The pain slowly became my comfort. Come tomorrow, I would be leaving him. I was done with him. God knows I tried, but this was the last straw.
I woke up the next morning my body in pain, the events of last night flooding my mind. How I went from having the time of my life to having the worst time of my life was funny and sad. My whole body was in pain. I could barely feel my left arm. I winced and got up from the bed; my ribs gave me a hard time. I slowly made my way to the bathroom. I took off my clothes and looked at the reflection of what was supposedly me. My nose had a faint dark color, I had missing braids, my scalp was burning, and my left arm was swollen. He didn't do much on my face, it was just my nose. My body; he wrecked my left arm and my ribs were sore. My thighs had marks, which I prayed would fade away in time. With each step I took, excruciating pain ran through my body. I got in the shower and allowed the water to soothe me. After what felt like forever I got out of the shower, dried myself, applied lotion, and settled for a hoodie and trackpants. I took my cell phone off the charger and made my way downstairs to the kitchen.
"Hi," Sean greeted as I walked in.
He was already making breakfast. From what I made out, it was breakfast for two. I didn't answer him.
"We should talk about what happened last night, Beauty," he said.
"And say what?" I asked.
"That I am sorry. I lost it when Mncina sent me that picture of you with that man, and then he dropped you off. I just couldn't hold it," he said.
"You couldn't hold? I can't believe you," I replied.
"I am sorry, Beauty. I am really sorry. Please find it in your heart to forgive me," he said.
"Who is this Mncina you mentioned and what relationship do you all have?" I asked.
He looked down. "She is Sandra's friend. Her name is Natasha," he said.
Wow. Why didn't I think of it?
"Wow," I said.
"Again, I am sorry. I also found out that the child Sandra is carrying is not mine. She lied and played me and I fell for it. I am sorry I took my anger out on you. You didn't deserve that," he said.
I just looked at him with pity.
"Please give us another chance so we can work on our marriage," Sean said.
"How can I know that you won't run to another skirt when I am not here again? How can I be sure that when we try again we can have children? We can work on our marriage, but know that my scars are deeper than you think," I told him.
"Just forgive me, Beauty, and we will work on the rest as time goes. I promise to be a good husband this time," he said. I've heard this line many times.
"You know what? I forgive you, Sean. I forgive you for everything that you have done, but you should know that I am tired of you. I am tired of this marriage too, and this is the last straw," I said.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
My cellphone rang before I could answer him. It was an unnamed number.
"Hello," I said.
"Mrs. Sean," the voice on the other end said.
It was Wayne's voice.