Diary of the unmarried.

Anyone who knows her could see that her life was a charade. Always with a smile on her face mostly for the simple fact that it helps to hide the worry lines. But we knew her paradise was troubled.

It's no secret that Dan beats his wife. It was clear for all to see passed the ersatz smile and public display of affection, not to mention the poorly put together explanation for a bruised face or limp in her walk. she was a brushed woman physically, emotionally and mentally as well.
Its been barely six months since the lavish wedding and her happily ever after is already a living nightmare. It's arguable if there was ever a point in it she was ever happy even.

Me: Why do you put up with him?

Meena: You won't understand.

Me: Help me understand. Is it when you are dead that your ghost will see that you should have left him a lot  sooner?

Meena: My friend, I'm paying the price for the luxurious life I'm living I guess. Karma IS real. Stanley loved me but I hurt him when I married Dan. I married him for the life he could provide me, I should have known it would come at a price. This price. It's my punishment, let me endure it.

Me: I'm so mad right now, how can you subject yourself to this kind of life and even justify it? You don't deserve to be punished for being married whatever the reason may be! Look Meena, at least you don't have a child that forever ties you to this sorry excuse for a man, get a divorce!!

Meena: Hmm it's not that easy, what will people say? "You know that Meena? The one that married at 31 and divorced 3 months later Meena?"

Me: So?! Better than being "remember that Meena? The one that woke up dead after a tiny quarrel and a proper beating at the hands of the  the hubs?". Look madam, those people you are worried about will come and have refreshments at your wake all the while going "I no sabi why she stayed with that heinous man for so long". Please listen to me,leave this man while you still have time.

Meena: What will my mum say?

Me: Oh!! No vex. Your mom would rather see you beaten and bruised or at worst dead than divorced abi? Come to think of it, your mom got you into this mess in the first place, what with all that constant pressure she was putting on you, maybe she too will be satisfied when you are dead.

*Meena Burst into tears*
Me: Crying won't  solve this, you need to take the bull by its horns.

Meena: You mean I should fight him back?

Me: mba madam, that'd just get you dead faster. Danny go crush you. Not fight him physically, I know a good lawyer, she's into this domestic violence sort of thing, she'll help you. But come to think of it, do you just stand there when he's beating you?

Meena: It's not like he gets a cane to beat me, he just shoves me and slaps me around.

Me: Hmmm..na so he go dey grow until his slaps turn boxing grade punches.

Meena: Aren't you just happy you are not married?

Me: No Meena, I know eventually I'll get married and my husband has to respect me and I he. If I ever made the mistake of  marrying a man like yours, I'd do what any courageous woman would do, one day when him comot from house I go pack load run, I go even pack plus him car wey him love so much and small of him money. Which begs the question, why are you still here putting up with all this hell?

Meena: It sounds twisted o but I know deep down he loves me.

Me: Sure. I bet he remembers to say "love you babe" in between each slap he administers. Twisted indeed, don't you know wife beaters are the best at loving, sorry I meant pretend loving, they'll hit you and buy you the best gifts, telling you it will never happen again and you know how crazy he is about you...one day he's going to tell you he can't live without you while he's in the process of snuffing the life out of you. I'm sorry if you think I'm being too harsh but someone needs to make you open your eyes. Besides, there's nothing here that's worth your life. Please stand up for yourself.

 I left Meena's house that day with a tinge of guilt. Guilt brought on by the realization that aside from my words, there was little else I could do to make my friend see she needed a release from that hell of a marriage she was trapped in. Wishing I had forcefully removed her from the "awfully good" life she has, but what can I say and what do I know, I'm simply the one that can't find a man,"The unmarried one".".