ONE MAN’S FOOD BY TREASURE EZURUIKE PT. 2

ONE MAN’S FOOD BY TREASURE EZURUIKE PT.2

I wept all through that day. I knew I had messed up. I had a promising future but threw it all away.

My parents still supported me. Dad insisted I return home because he would support me.

He told me I was still young and I could still make something with my life.

Matt told me I could leave but keep his children for him.

Dad told me in confidence to ensure I never left the children behind because he had no right to them until he married me.

Matt’s attitude got worse. The issue of marriage was no longer on the agenda.

Still, my friends asked me not to leave my home for another woman to take over.

What home were they talking about? Home where I had no say or respect?

You met me at 18 and I’ve stuck to you against my family’s will but that was not good enough for you.

I’ve come to my senses and I have decided to return home like the prodigal daughter.

Thank God I didn’t drop out of school as you suggested. I’m grateful I listened to my mum and not my friends.

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It was listening to their advice that left me where I was.

They were all legally married but didn’t want the same for me.

Matt called me one evening and said if you see a husband you can get married.

I don’t want to be accused of being a time-waster or destiny waster.

After making my life go to waste you suddenly believe I should marry someone else.

I can never marry you, he said. I don’t know what I was thinking, getting involved with you.

You no longer have what I saw years ago when I met you.

If you are tired you can return to your family, just leave my children behind.

What do you mean by leaving my children behind? I asked

When you came to my house you didn’t come with anyone.

Were they here before I came? I asked him.

He ignored me and walked away. I didn’t blame him but myself. It was me who didn’t give myself worth.

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One day Matt traveled without telling me where he went. I returned to my parents.

Before that, I sent most of my belongings and that of our children to my parents by waybill.

Matt had no idea I had left. I don’t know when he returned. He contacted me 3 months later to ask me where I was.

I have returned to my family like you said I should. With my children?

What children are you referring to? These children belong to my family until you do the needful.

What nonsense are you insinuating?

You may have fathered them but you have no right to them until you pay my bride price, I yelled.

How dare you, he shot back. I don’t have time for this. When you do the needful we would talk.

For now, I’ve nothing to say to you. You have mistreated me in the last 8 years.

You met me at 18 and I’ve stuck to you against my family’s will but that was not good enough for you.

I’ve come to my senses and I have decided to return home like the prodigal daughter.

Thank God I didn’t drop out of school as you suggested. I’m grateful I listened to my mum and not my friends.

I just enrolled for a master’s degree, I’m taking my life back, you can do whatever you want.

I can never marry you, I’m getting married to someone else, that’s why I traveled.

Very well then, enjoy your new home. Return my children to me, he said.

I’m so grateful no one would support you and my family is not a pushover.

You won’t get access to them until you do the needful, goodbye.

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The children were still under 5’s but I was determined to move on with my life.

I wept for weeks thinking about how I had belittled myself moving in with Matt when I wasn’t married to him.

I lived like an outcast yet he claimed to be my husband, demanding things a husband should demand from a wife.

Yet he hadn’t married me. I would refer to him as my husband, deceiving myself.

A few months later his family came to fight mine because of the children, threatening to go to court.

Dad wished them well but told them if they wanted the children they knew what to do.

To be continued.

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© Treasure Ezuruike