A short story.

by Oluwatoyin Magbagbeola.



An Alarm clock woke Jennifer up as early as 5;00 in the morning. She had it set in order to prepare for the next day. She has an interview to attend, and also she has to get her two sons ready for school. Being a mom is not easy, not to talk of doing all the work alone. Recently she became all alone as her husband left home, he had asked for a divorce, but it hasn't been finalized yet as Jennifer kept postponing the signing. He had had numerous affairs outside of marriage, and Jennifer had forgiven him, but this time she needs to make a strong decision on whether she really needs him, or the children need him. She has tried over the years to make her marriage work, but Chike had chosen to choose the lady outside over her and the children. At first, Jennifer tried punishing herself over the infidelity, but later she realized it's never her fault, or maybe that was what she thought.

The couple had never sat down to debate on what went wrong, infact, Chike had avoided any discussion to avoid being judged. His Parents had supported his infidelity since they never liked their daughter in-law. They never fully supported the relationship from the start. She appeared too crude and shallow to them, and this has always been the impression of her to them. She came from a poor background but has worked her way to the top, where she met her husband, yet Chike's parents don't like the idea of their son settling with a commoner. They are from a highly influenced family in Lagos. Blessed with money and wealth, and with their connection, they are unbeatable. They wished for their son to settle with a minister's daughter who happened to be his present girlfriend.

For Ten years now, Jennifer had been coping with the ridicule and abuse she received on a daily basis from her in-laws, but her husband had been there to come to her rescue, which made her not think much of it. But now that Chike had joined in the ridicule, she now hates the man she once loved.



"You're too snobbish for my liking, don't you see the way my brother's wife dressed for the event? This is how you should always appear, you're not the first woman to have children."
Chike had commented openly in the presence of his family, and they had all made fun of her appearance.


Jennifer used to be a very beautiful lady, although she is still as beautiful as ever. But marriage had made her lose her touch, and the will to make herself up. She has no time to herself when all she does all day is to take care of the home, care for the kids, and also care for her ingrate husband. This has made her really depressed for so long, and it has affected her sex life with her Husband. Chike still longs for the fun and crazy adventure in their relationship, but his wife had gone slack and relaxed with it. This must have made him look outside.


"You look ridiculous in this grandma's outfit you're wearing, why don't you just dress smart, I need people to admire the wife I married".

Chike commented rudely upon seeing his wife in a simple outfit.

"But what is wrong with what I'm wearing, I can't change, we are already late!"
Jennifer replied, wading off the embarrassment.

For every moment he lived in the house with her ever since the birth of second born, she had been receiving insults upon another from the man who claimed to love her.


to be continued...
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