"Chama!", I heard someone call out my name. Startled, I stood up, causing my skirt to go up.
"Yes sir", I replied as I shyly pulled down my skirt.
"You seem to be lost in thought", said my boss.

Well, at the age of 28, I seemed to have it all, at least that's what people thought. A job to my name, I worked as a secretary and part-time counselor at an NGO that fights against Gender-Based Violence(GBV). I was beautiful and intelligent, I had a handsome air commander for a husband. 
And our marriage  Something was lacking " Love". But I always used to hide my sorrows behind my broad smile and everyone envied me thinking I was living a happy life.
My boss and I knew one another on a personal level so when we were alone, we referred to each other by our first names.
"Oh Andrew, let me not bore you with my stress. If there's anything you would like me to do then go ahead and tell me so that I can get to work", I sighed and said.
"If you say so. I need you to cover for Idah. She had an appointment with a certain client but unfortunately, she's not doing too well so she didn't report for work today. Seeing that you are free, I would like you to take up the appointment", Andrew said with both his hands in his pockets. I couldn't help but think of him as cute. I loved my husband but his behavior was slowly starting to get to me and now here I was, drooling over my boss who was in his early thirties.

"Stop it Chama! You are married and shouldn't have such immoral thoughts", I scolded myself.
"Chama, you still haven't given me a response", irritated, Andrew said.
"Oh sorry. What time is the appointment?", I asked.
"The session will begin in 20 minutes", he replied.
"And please assist me with the client's file", I said.
"Will send someone to bring them", Andrew replied and left my desk.

"What's with you and the boss?", a female voice asked. I looked up from my computer and saw my gossip workmate, Patricia.
"Nothing", I sighed and replied.
"You know I have my eyes set on him right? Besides, you are married so you better respect yourself and act like a married woman", she rudely said.
"Patricia, not now, please. Some of us don't come from rich families you know, so we would like to earn our way to the top", I said as calmly as I could.
"What is that supposed to mean", she asked.
"Patricia or whatever you call yourself, am working so please leave my desk", I said.
"Am watching you", She replied and walked away.
I shook my head and wondered how some people could afford to be so unprofessional. Just because her dad was a prominent businessman, Patricia thought she could boss everyone around.
After my session with a woman who was being maltreated by her husband, I knocked off and went to the car park.
"Shit!", I cursed. Why did Patricia have to be so obvious, did she seriously have to puncture all my tires. I shook my head.
"Having a bad day?", I heard someone ask.
"Andrew, am glad you are here. All my tires are punctured, I wonder how though. And I need to get home in the next hour", I said as I browsed through my phone, searching for a mechanic's contact.
"I can give you a ride. Your car's safe here. I can call a mechanic to work on your car and you'll find it tomorrow", Andrew said.
"Thank you so much", I thanked him.
The drive home was fun as Andrew and I talked about random stuff.
"You can drop me off from here", I said.
"You sure?", asked Andrew.
"More than sure", I replied.
"Alright then, see you tomorrow", Andrew said and pecked my cheek.
I dropped off and did a catwalk to my house which was only two houses away from where Andrew had dropped me.
I sighed as I took off my heels.

"Madam you are home", said Mary, my house help.
"Yes dear. Did Dylan come for lunch?", I asked.
"No he didn't", she responded.
"Ok, I'll be in the bedroom", I said.
"Should I get you something to eat?", Mary asked.
"No dear, I don't feel like eating", I said and went to the bedroom.
The door flew open minutes later. It was Dylan.
"Hi honey", I said as I rushed to hug him. He pushed me off and locked the door.
"Chama. Chama. Chama", he called.
"Yes", I replied.
"So am not good enough for you that you've decided to start whoring around in broad daylight?", Dylan angrily asked. Dylan was cold when he's angry and he had a certain look that sent chills down my spine.
"What do you mean", I stammered.
"What's the meaning of this?", he asked as he handed me his iPhone. I was certain it was Patricia at work. On Dylan's phone was a picture of Andrew opening his car's door for me. I stared at Dylan and he was getting angrier.
"Answer me dammit!", he yelled.
I had to come up with a convincing excuse or the aftermath would be uncalled for. No one has to be in my shoes whatsoever, I prayed the ground should just open up and save me from Dylan's wrath. Why did I even go against my mother in the first place? Had I listened to her advice, I would have been somewhere else telling a different story......
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 MARRIED BUT SINGLE.
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.Episode 2
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If there was something I was afraid of, it's being hit by any man, especially Dylan. I would rather get myself involved in a hair-pulling match with a fellow woman rather than get hit by a man. Dylan wasn't fond of laying his hands on me but he had already done it twice so there was no telling what would happen next. The first time he hit me, I had gone partying with my colleagues and I came back home quiet tipsy so Dylan got so angry that he hit me with a hanging wire. I called the office and said I was sick so I managed to get bed rest the next day. And then the second time, Dylan's sister had called me names concerning the death of Dylan JR so I got so pissed that I slapped her hard across the face causing Dylan to pounce on me and beat me to a pulp and his sister was there cheering on.

"Dylan, please calm down and take a seat. Things aren't always as they seem", I said, finally finding my voice. Dylan gave me a death stare and sat on the bed.
"You better tell me something sensible", he hissed. I sighed and sat next to him. I told him about my car's flat tires and how Andrew had offered to give me a lift, living out the part where Patricia had confronted me cause Dylan too would think I was eyeing Andrew but that wasn't the case. Andrew was just a mere friend, nothing more nothing less. Well, despite my story, I managed to earn myself a hot slap and I found myself lying on the floor groaning in pain.
"What was that for?", I asked as I held my cheek in pain.
"Chama, what do you take me for? A kid that you can feed lies and I would just easily digest them? Would you care to tell me how all your tires got punctured at once? Next time you and your boss want to whore around, you better come up with a good plan with no loopholes cause this one sucks", Dylan snapped and kicked my stomach.
"You are hurting me Dylan", I moaned.
"This is to make sure that you think twice before deciding to open your legs for any other man apart from me", he said as he kicked my stomach for the second time. I let out a faint cry. Dylan grabbed me by the hair and slapped my face rapidly for a good thirty seconds before he dumped me on the floor, unlocked the door and left.
I was left on the floor crying faintly.
"God, what wrong did I ever do to unleash this monster? I miss my old Dylan God and am waiting on you to bring him back to me", I cried.
Just then, Mary came rushing in and she helped me up. She rushed to the kitchen and came back a minute later with a basin of warm water and my face cloth.
"Madam why do you let your husband treat you like common dirt?", Mary asked as she massaged my face. I groaned in pain.
"You know Mary, Dylan wasn't always like this. He only changed after the death of our first son, Dylan JR. My husband was so broken by our son's death that he was in a state of shock for a good three months but when he finally came out of the shock, he was a different man", I said in between sobs.
"But how did your son die?", asked Mary.
"Dear that's a tale I would like to forget. Talking about it opens up all the wounds and I already have physical wounds to nurse so would like to let the emotional ones be", I replied.
"If you say so. But do you think the boss does drugs", she asked?
"Not to be rude but I think you are forgetting your place and now crossing the line", irritated, I said.
Mary nodded and continued massaging my face and ribs.
"Am done", she announced.
"Thank you very much, dear. You truly are a blessing. I pray you to get married to a better husband than mine", I honestly said.
"Amen", she replied and left my bedroom with the stuff that she was using to massage my wounds. As soon as Mary was gone, I went into the bathroom and soaked myself in the bathtub. I was in the bathroom for an hour when I heard a knock on the door.
"Madam are you alright?", Mary asked.
"Yes dear, don't worry, am not suicidal", I replied. When I was done bathing I stood in front of my dressing mirror as warm tears ran down my cheeks.
"What is it that I lack? Where do I lag behind as a wife? I do everything possible to please Dylan but he doesn't seem to stop treating me like trash", I mumbled. I got dressed and took a nap.
"Madam am on my way home", Mary said.
I gave her money for transport and I went back to sleep. Dylan didn't turn up that night and I didn't bother calling him, for what? So that he could come and pick irrelevant fights with me? No way. I got my phone and put Alicia Key's Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart on replay. I sang along and cried myself to sleep.
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.Ponder Over This 

Mmmmh, what's up with Dylan's attitude? Does Chama deserve being treated the way Dylan treats her?
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