Darkest hour

Chapter one

             
                          ~Anita~

Oh God I'm so tired. Today was a very stressful day. Oh sorry pardon my manners for not introducing myself.

My name is Anita Badmus from lagos state. 30years old. I work with a clothing industry I'm also a business woman. I own a boutique. I'm the first of 3. My dad is late and I grew up with mum. Growing up wasn't an easy one after dad died. I lost my dad at the age of 10.

Mum saw me and my siblings through school. I'm a graduate of business administration. My immediate younger sister Janet is a graduate too,our baby of the house Caleb is in his final year.

Mum is a civil servant and also a business woman. She saved and did everything possible to see us through school. Immediately I finished my service I got a good job. Where I worked in the marketing unit.

I saved a lot of money. I decided to open a boutique since I've already made some connections. So,money to take care of myself and my family wasn't a problem.

So,I was very okay and comfortable. But yes, I have one problem. I was still SINGLE. Yes,and my mom reminds me of that everyday. Because of this I moved out of the house and stayed alone. 

My best friends Vivian and sofia just got married recently and that is another reason everyone thinks I should marry too.

One Saturday morning, I was still sleeping when my phone ringed. I checked the caller and it was mum" I picked.

Hello mum"

Hello my darling" how are you?

I'm fine mum..you?

I'm okay dear" hope you slept well???

Yes mum"just that you woke me up" I said grumpy.

Oh sorry my big baby" but wait o why are you still sleeping by this time??" Mum asked.

Mum its weekend" I need to rest. Besides its just 8 am" I said rolling my eyes.

Ehn ehn, If you agree to marry now,I'm sure you would have waken up to prepare breakfast for your husband since" she stated.

Mum please don't start with husband lecture this morning. Is too early" I grumbled.

OK o" was just checking up on you my dear. Always remember that I'm not pushing you to get married. I just want you to settle down. You have all that a lady needs already. Please my child.

OK mum" thank you. Take care of yourself and do have a lovely day..I love you.

Ok..Love you too my child. Bye.

After the call I thought about what mum said, she's right because in few months time I'll be 31. I'm still scared despite my friends told me that marriage is sweet. I see the way they post their husbands and shower them with praises.
I think is high time I give one of my suitors more attention.

I stood up from the bed to do some chores since  I couldn't sleep anymore.

        ~ Sofia~

Baby please I'm sorry" please forgive me" I said.

Don't you dare touch me" Charles spouted angrily and left the room.

Hot tears started to gush out of my eyes. God I'm tired of this kind of life. I have to go through this pain everyday. Charles treats me like a piece of rag..he wasn't like this when we were dating. Everything changed when we got married. I became his punching bag.

Oh excuse my manners, my name is Sofia Dennis. I'm a graduate of mass communication. 31years. I'm a TV presenter. I'm the only child of my family. I'm from a very comfortable home.

The pressure to settle down from my parents started when I clocked 27. I had lots of suitors coming my way. But I never bothered. But on my 29th birthday I taught I found love.

I met Charles. He was invited to my birthday party by my cousin. Immediately I saw him,I was attracted to him. He's cute,tall and presentable. I was carried away.

I guessed he noticed the way I was staring at him,he walked up to me and we exchanged pleasantries. We also exchanged contacts and that was how we became friends. From friends to lovers. We got married few months after courtship.

Charles was everything I prayed for in a man at first, but few months into our marriage, he became a monster.

He treats me like a slave even when I try everything to please him. I go out of my way sometimes just to make him happy but it all fails.

I pretend when I'm in the midst of my friends that everything is okay so that they won't have bad impression about my husband. I shower praises on him even on my social media platforms just to paint him white but the truth is, he is just the opposite of all I say.

God I'm tired" please bring back my Charles.

                         ~Vivian~

It was 11pm at night and my husband is still not back from work. I became very worried because he's not picking up his calls. He does this all the time,I guess I'm not still use to it.

My name is Vivian, I'm 30year old. A graduate of computer science. I work with pipeline and product marketing company in Lagos. I'm the last child of my parent. I have everything I need. I'm very comfortable. I met Jason on one of my business trip to Ghana. He's a Nigerian too.

We became friends and we took it off from there. He was my dream man. I became eager to settle down since my parent have been on my neck to settle down. We've been married for a year now.

The first three month of my marriage was heaven on earth. Very beautiful and pleasing. Jason changed all of a sudden. What ever I do displeases him. He gets violent when ever we argue. I became his punching bag.

I never told my family or friends any of this because my friend Sofia always say sweet things about her husband whenever we are together and Jason on the other hand,  pretends like I'm his world when any of my family members around. I decided to keep my problems secret in order not to make my marriage look like a failure.

But deep down I pray everyday to God to come to my rescue .

It was almost 12 am .still sitting waiting for him when I heard his car pull into the compound.

He entered the room...

Hey babe" welcome.

Thank you.

Babe,what kept you so late?? Did anything go wrong??

Nothing went wrong" he said walking into the bedroom.

OK..should I serve your food?

No woman" I'm okay. don't fucking stress me" he yelled.

Okay...I'm sorry" I said calmly.

I just left him alone and went back to bed.

TBC...

  Anikodu H✍️

What a world, hiding pain just because of what people will say.

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