Chapter Five

“Good night, mother and my husband.”

I left them there with their mouths hanging. I was done with pretense. I was going to bed to rest.

I went to Asante’s room and locked the door. Joseph was looking so hot and yummy but I was going to choose my dignity over my desire. I loved him but I would not be the last choice for someone who loved other people more than he loved me.

I heard a soft knock when I was drifting to sleep. I remembered where I was then I pulled my blanket over my head irritated. I was disturbed from my almost beautiful dream. I finally fell asleep and drifted into a beautiful dream.

I was glad when no one asked me about the previous night. Joseph had gone to work and my mother-in-law was in the kitchen humming.

“Good morning Nyamunyirenda. How are you? I made breakfast for you.”

It was the first time she was so polite to me since I was with her son. I smiled and greeted them back.

“I am afraid I will miss breakfast, as I have too much work to do. I was not working all these days, and it is catching up with me.”

“It is okay I will put it in the warmer when you are ready you will eat.”

I thanked her and left her to go to the bedroom. Even if I was hungry, I would not eat her food. I would rather wait for her son so that we could both die if she was trying to kill me.

I was truly behind with work it was so tiring. I didn’t even know where to begin. I had to send over a dozen emails some were overdue and I think the boss was lenient because of Asante. Before I knew it, lunchtime had approached and Joseph was home for lunch which was odd. I loved that when we first got married but things changed when his mother visited frequently. I never questioned that.

“I heard you skipped breakfast. You can take a few minutes and we can eat together I brought your favourite from the market.”

I smiled back and got relieved as I was going to eat the breakfast plate with him.

“Okay, I will make this thing sleep so that it cannot mess up my work. I am almost done, though.”

“Okay, I will dish up in the meantime.”

He smiled going to the kitchen. If there was no mother-in-law and the baby mama, our marriage was going to be perfect and a love story like no other. I would not fool myself because that was going to be the first of many episodes I was going to have to endure with that family.

We had breakfast and lunch talking about general things. He informed me that Asante was coming back home. I was over the moon and happy that I was ready for the next chapter of my life though it scared me.

“Will you come with me?”

“No, I want to finish work so that when she comes home everything will be ready for her. I will also change her bedding.”

“Thank you.”

He didn’t want to ask about the previous night too so I would not stress myself about it. I quickly cleared the dishes and didn’t bother to ask about his mother. When I was done with work, I cleaned Asante’s room.

When I got to our bedroom, I cleared the laundry. I was so happy that my work was still safe and that most emails were responded to. I cooked her favourite meal. My Mother-in-law came from church later that evening. I had forgotten it was a Thursday. She didn’t stay long as she walked to her friend’s house to give her information, seeing that she didn’t attend the church that particular day.

When they came back home Asante hugged me and smiled. It was a propitious time for the family. Her mother didn’t stay long as she was still ashamed of her actions. I was nottold going to crucify her since I knew I was never going to get an apology.

It was exactly five days after she came back home when I told them about my decision and my new chapter. I remember when I was young, my dad used to tell me stories that captured my mind. The one that stuck with me was about an axe and a tree.

“Long ago, before human beings came into the picture, the axe and the tree were good friends. They used to spend summers together planning their future and talking about their dreams. They used to plan about their kids on how they will stay together and let no one separate them. Then one day a human being came to stay in their village. The tree had grown so fast and had kids mushrooming on the side and the axe was still small and short. The human being told axe he can’t be friends with someone who is growing and leave him as short as ever.

The human being had a solution to grow the axe’s family, but it meant he was supposed to cut down the tree. Axe hesitated as he saw that tree can grow back again when the rain comes. He didn’t even think of their friendship or the summers they spent.

When the human had gotten what he wanted, he left the axe there to deal with the angry tree. Humans also took some of the tree’s body to warm selves. Axe had forgotten the cruel deed by him and human to his friend but the tree was still bleeding when the axe came to play. ‘You might be happy now and forget what you did to me but I will never forget as the pain was infected to me’. That is when the animosity came to be because axe was happy to inflict pain on the tree but he forgot that the tree had scars to show that their friendship was destroyed by a human.”

That was my situation at that time. They were happy that I was happy Asante was home. At that point in life, their actions hurt me beyond words can say. So when we were all at a happy place I announced my plans.

“I would like to tell you how happy I am that Asante is well and we are a happy family.”

I clear my throat and the look on Joseph’s face tells me he knows what is coming. Nevertheless, I bravely state my case.

“There are some of the hurtful things that happened which cannot be overlooked. I am grateful to have been part of this family but I think my time has ended. I have spoken to my family about this decision and they told me the decision is mine. I was told that the formalities will be done but the elders as it was done at the time I was brought to this family. I am not going with a heavy heart as I had some happy times and I do not regret marrying you, Joseph.

To me, you were my forever, and the fairytale is still with me as you will be the man I love till my last days. I love Asante with all my being and thought she was mine, but this accident taught me I will only be a caregiver no matter how hard I love her or how deeply I care for her.

“When I came to this family in my mind, I was going to die in this family and be buried in the ancestral home, but some things are better left in the dream as reality brings us a different version of the future we envisioned.”

No one moved Asante was looking at me as if I was abandoning her but it had to be done. Sometimes one needs to choose peace and happiness.

“My child I know living with me is not pleasant. I had planned on leaving once Asante was well and I was going to tell you that the day when she got out of the hospital. I know I have mingled in your life for so long.”

“Amayi, this is not your fault and it can’t be fixed, as it is a chain of events that we could have dealt with but were overlooked. For my peace, I will have to step back and let people live their lives as they please. Not in a bad way, but sometimes for people we love to be happy we need to make sure to watch them from a distance.”

I look at them as they didn’t say anything I had to excuse myself.

“I will go and start packing. I will need the car so that I can travel.”

I didn’t wait for them to respond I just left. I was packing when Joseph came in, I could see that he was angry but he didn’t want to say.

“My love, can we at least talk?”

I almost fainted at those words I last heard when we were dating.

“The problem is that you do not understand the position I am in. You can get another wife even if it's tomorrow but you will never get another mother or daughter. I love you and I will always do but I will never make you choose. Asante is not even a problem because she listens to adults and she listens to my teachings. I will never involve her in this, as I know she knows her wrongs, mostly.”

“So you are going to leave her just like that?”

“Do not even use her like that. You know I will choose her over my life. I do not want to fight with you. I need my rest and I will think properly maybe after that.”

“You are not taking the car.”

What was he on about? That was my car.

“I bought it with my money, I would not say that but you are pushing me.”

“I have said my peace.”

If he thought that was going to stop me, then he thought wrong. I called my dad, explaining that I needed his help. I was lucky, as my brother was around on business. His car was not that comfortable, but it was better than a bus. I was going to get my car one way or the other.

When I was still packing, Asante came crying.

“Hay, hay big girl what is happening?”

She had hiccups I had to hug and console her.

“I am so sorry that I caused trouble for you. It was not my intention. Even the doctor told them it was a good thing I had the accident now they can give me medication for my head injury.”

“Please do not blame yourself for this. You are my little girl and you will always be my girl no matter what.”

“You are leaving me. How will I survive without you? I know you will be far because I know Agogo stays far. We visited him remember?”

She was talking about her grandfather who was in Lilongwe where I partly grew up.

“You know it is not about the distance. You are here in my heart and I am here in your heart.”

I said, putting her small hand on my heart and placing mine on her.

“You can hear the heartbeat. This heart is beating for you only. You will always be my little girl. I will always welcome you with open arms in my life. When you are old enough to decide, you can come and stay with me in the big city.”

I saw a smile on her at least she was lightening up.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, once you have finished high school, I can stay with you we will go on vacations today and no boyfriends till you are a granny.”

She laughed, “Eeew boys have lice.”

I laughed as well. “Do not let your father hear that.”

I heard shuffling, and I knew that someone was spying on us.

“Will you answer my calls when I want to call you and if I ask my parents will I come and stay with you?”

“You know I will answer you any day, anytime. I love you and I will always do. Your parents will have to decide before you turn eighteen after that you can make your decisions and I will be there for you.”

“You promise.”

“Yes, I promise.

She took my pinky and linked it with mine. Kissed them and placed her other hand on my heart. I look my other hand and did that as well.

“I will always be here as much as you will always be here.”

I gave her a bone-crushing hug as I tried to stop the tears. They didn’t stop she also ran to her room, I bet to cry alone there.

I finished packing and then went to the kitchen to have some water.

“I will not lose her because I love her.” Joseph was angry.

“You can always marry Asante’s mother.”

Oh, so she was not even sorry. I was glad for my decision as it was going to help the people involved in this decision.

“I will never marry that woman. She almost killed my child and she cannot hold a home as my wife does.”

“Did is the proper word as she is leaving.”

“You will never…….”

I didn’t get the rest as I rushed to the bedroom. I was lucky because my brother called me the moment I got there.

It was time I started on a new leaf, although I didn’t even know where I was going to begin.”