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This is the concluding part to the series SEX and FASTING. Indeed a great lesson has been learnt as you guys has kept telling me to give the conclusion. Now the wait is over, enjoy. Be sure your comment your opinions now.

(Part 7)
 
My conversation with Kenny made me realize he didn’t value me as his wife and so I made a decision to give him space. I called my mum and told her I was coming home for a week.

I was able to convince her Kenny supported my decision and I packed my bags. I was going to go home for a week. The next morning I told Kenny about my trip,
”I listened to everything you said and I have decided we probably need to give each other some space. I am taking a break and travelling to my parent’s house”.

I said Kenny shook his head, ”you should be ashamed of yourself Lola. In fact when they call women to stand up, you should hide your face in shame. So you cannot take care of your home, you can’t satisfy your husband and now rather than deal with your problems you are running?

”Kenny, I refuse to be insulted. I sat quietly while you heaped insults on me yesterday but that doesn’t mean I will continue to take it. You said my presence is causing you sorrow and now I am giving you space. I will take the time apart to pray for us”

”I don’t freaking need your prayers madam. In fact, God will not answer that prayer because he has told you everything you need to do in the Bible. Stop praying for me and start satisfying me”.

”Ehen, so the other day, when I bought sexy lingerie and waited for you at home, did you not leave me hanging? You are confused and don’t know what you want”.

”You want to go? Fine! Get the hell out but you just might not meet this marriage when you come back”.

”Like I said, I will take the time apart to pray, God will sustain our home” I told him emphatically.

He just shook his head and closed his eyes on the bed, effectively ending the conversation. I packed my bags and headed straight to the airport.

Late in the night that day, while I sat in my parent’s sitting room, my mum was trying to get stories out of me.

”So why didn’t Kenny take a break with you madam?”
”Mum, he is busy with work, that’s the same thing I told dad before”.
”That doesn’t mean he should not spend a weekend with us. We have not seen him since the wedding.”

”Isn’t that why I am here? At least once you see one of us you have seen two of us. After all the two have become one.” I said laughing.

”Okay , no problem. I tried to call him earlier that we have seen his wife but he was not picking his call”.

”I am sure he will probably call you back tomorrow. He is probably resting early now that I am not home”.

”Okay, but Omolola how is marriage life? I hope you are being submissive and taking care of your husband well enough”.

”Mummy, did he complain to you? I am trying my best”.

”Why are you getting defensive? Is everything okay? I hope this delay in pregnancy isn’t putting you under pressure?”

”No, it’s not mum, we are fine with it. Everything is okay”.

”There is no cause for alarm yet. It’s not even up to a year yet. I waited 3 years before I was able to get pregnant with your elder brother and then you so everything will be fine.”

”I know mum…”

The hard knock on the door startled us.
”Mum are you expecting anyone so late? Its 11pm already and dad has gone to bed”.
”No I am not but it could be that our neighbours need something, go and open the door”.

As I got close to the door to open it, I was suddenly knocked off my feet by the force of it being jacked open. My eyes went wide open as I saw them, three in number with their weapons held up high. I closed my eyes shut and began to pray.

”Okay so pray very well beautiful girl, you just might need it” the voice said. My eyes was still squeezed shut so I could not identify which of them spoke. As soon as I felt a hand pull me by my hair, my eyes flipped open and I was dragged into the living room to meet my mum who was already in tears and shaking.

Five days later, I woke up once again with screams as has been the practice since that horrible night. My dad was immediately by my side soothing me as the tears rolled down my face.

”It’s okay Omolola. You’re fine and safe. Daddy is here”.

”Daddy, I am afraid. Kenny has not come”.

”I know he hasn’t. I will still call him again. Just try and get stronger first okay?”

”He hasn’t picked my calls dad. Since you told him, he has not picked my calls once”.
As my dad eventually left me alone in the bedroom with my thoughts, I recalled that evil night as clear as the day.

I remember my dad being dragged from the bedroom and asked to give them money. I remember the exhaustive search for money which proved abortive as my dad and mum only had a total of about N50,000 at home. I remember adding the N20,000 I had in my bag and the man telling me I was insulting him with change. As soon as I apologized, he looked at me and really looked at me and I knew what he was going to do before he even did it. I could see it vividly in his eyes.

I begged,
”Please, I am married. I beg you”
”So what are you doing in daddy’s house fine girl, your husband is not servicing you well abi? I will help his matter. He needs help”.

I begged, my dad and mum begged and his only response was because of their begging, he won’t make them watch. I fought as hard as I could and for every struggle there was a slap and a punch. He finally had to get the other man to hold me down while he pounced and went deep inside of me in one thrust.

I fought every step of the way. I was numb. The physical pain was welcome, I could deal with that. I couldn’t deal with the heaviness that crushed my heart. All through as he kept thrusting faster than I could ever imagine, I thought of Kenny and how much pain this was going to cause him.

I remember him warning me not to make this trip. He kept going on and on for about thirty minutes before he finally let go. Funny how he had the decency to use a condom. I had no strength left. I was broken. For the first time in my christian walk, I questioned God. I asked him questions. His silence was deafening.

It has been five days since my nightmare, five days since my dad informed Kenny, three days since I got back home from the hospital and he still hasn’t showed up. I have no more will left to even live another day

BATTLE (Part 8)
 
After a whole month of daily calls to Kenny with no response, I finally gave up. I knew my marriage was over. I had gone through the full cycle from tears to pain in my heart to anger to being just blank. I have finally resigned myself to fate.

Even the strength to pray had left me. I have tried interpreting Kenny’s silence in different ways but my conclusion was that he just didn’t love me enough to fight for us. I sent him different text messages and not once did he humour me and respond. I just could not understand why a man will be silent after hearing his wife was raped.

As always my mum walked into my bedroom that Friday afternoon once again to ask what happened between my husband and I. She had soon figured out something was wrong but I always refused to tell her.

”Lola, you know what? Your father and I have tried. You have stayed in our house for over a month and we have been caring. You can’t keep saying there is nothing wrong when I have been married for thirty five years and I know more than you”

”Mum, please I don’t have the strength to argue”.

”Okay then, your father and I have decided you can’t live here anymore. We will not harbour a married woman in our home. Since you and your husband don’t respect us enough to seek for advice. Please go back to him or wherever you want but you cannot stay under my roof”.

Still shocked at what she was saying, ”Mum?”
”Daughter!!! Yes?”

I finally relented. I didn’t even have a plan B.” Mum, Kenny and I have serious problems. Our marriage is not even up to a year and we don’t even know how to move forward”.

”Okay tell me everything”.

So I sat for over an hour and told my mum every single detail from my wedding night to the day I left Kenny’s house. Surprisingly, my mum did not interrupt or blow up at me. I expected her to start screaming but her calmness amazed me.

”Heeeeeeee Omolola, O ti ba ye je ( you have spoilt the world)” She said in Yoruba language when I was finally done.
”Mummy haba, what did I do wrong? How can Kenny just abandon me here? His love is fleeting mum, it can’t even stand the test of time”. I said with deep anger and disappointment.

”hmmmmm, first of all, you are changing your church. The kind of pastor’s wife that will give you such advise is not who you should be listening to. Why didn’t you call me? Why did you go to an outsider?”

”Mum, you are the one that said I should keep our matters private”.

”Not when it is crumbling my dear, we all need help once in a while”.
”Okay mum, what do we do now? Do you think there is any chance for Kenny and I”.
”Of course, your father and I have had greater battles that we have overcome.

Marriage is filled with battles, we fight, win, conquer and fight another day. We never give up. It only ends the day you stop fighting for it. Lola, you keep fighting till you conquer. There is no end. You made some terrible decisions and took some wrong steps”.

”Mum, what about Kenny? He took a lot of wrong steps too”.

”Yes, I will face Kenny but I need to talk to you first. I told you not to kill yourself over not having a child yet. It will come. You shouldn’t have fasted and deprived your husband without his full consent.

Moreso, you should have given him his marital rights between 6pm when you break your fast and midnight when the next day starts. You shouldn’t have run from your home without his consent and come hide here. To tell you the truth, it will take God for Kenny to be able to sleep with you again. Both of you, your actions have spoilt a lot of things.

This matter should not have generated to this level. First thing tomorrow morning, I am going back to Abuja with you, we are going to see your husband”

True to her word, by 11 am on Saturday, which was the next day, we had arrived my house. As soon as I saw Kenny’s car parked in the compound, my heart started beating fast. I wished he was not home even though mum had called earlier and told him she was coming to see him.

He opened the door as soon as we were approaching and I assumed he had seen us through the window and prostrated, greeting my mum in yoruba language. Kenny totally ignored me and my mum just smiled at us. I left them in the sitting room and went into the room.

Everything was just as I left it and my investigation as to whether somebody else had been living with him came up empty. I heard my mum call me from the living room and I quickly dropped my bag and went back to join them.

”Mummy, Lola does not want to be married. In less than a year of marriage she has shown blatant disregard and disrespect both for me and this home and I am sick of it. Does she think if it was another man, he won’t have started womanizing by now? I stayed faithful even when she refused to be faithful to our marriage vows”. Kenny said with so much anger.

”Please don’t threaten us with tales of unfaithfulness. So you want an award because you didn’t cheat? I said.

”Keep your mouth shut Lola, just shut up” my mum shouted while Kenny just shook his head. I instantly felt remorseful.
I listened as my mum and Kenny started talking. I truly listened to his hurts and pains as he opened up to my mum and for the first time I understood the gravity of where we were. By the time they started talking about the rape incident, Kenny shed tears. He just kept quiet while tears fell from his eyes and I was broken for both of us.

”Mummy, I warned Lola, I warned her not to go. I haven’t been able to get that image out of my head ever since Daddy told me. Where do we start from? She refused to sleep with me all in the name of prayers and freely gave it to a thief?”

”Kenny, don’t say she freely gave it. We all still feel the pains of that night most especially your wife. The pain she is still in as a result of that incident is great. She needs a lot of time to heal”. My mum said.

”I warned her, I warned her mummy” Kenny insisted.

My mum began to talk to Kenny about us communicating better, about understanding each other and being quick to forgive. She spoke and fear gripped my heart as I looked at Kenny’s face.

After so much advise from mum, Kenny began to calm down.

”Both of you need to pray, be patient and communicate” mum said again.

”Mummy, truth be told, I am not sure if this marriage still exists. I don’t even know where to start with Lola” Kenny said.

”You both start with forgiving each other and then take it one step at a time. You start with conversations, heart to heart ones, share your pains and fears and with time the intimacy will come and with time you will heal”.

”Okay mummy, thank you ma.” Kenny said.
About an hour later, mum left our home in a cab, headed to the airport for her flight back home. She refused to stay the night despite all our pleas. As soon as she left, I turned to Kenny to apologize.

”Baby, I am sorry”.I said to Kenny as he went back to sit on the sofa and I sat beside him.
He turned to me, ”Omololami, I am sorry too, I am sorry I wasn’t with you during this painful period. Truth is, I don’t even know if we can fix this”.

”We will babe”, I said with renewed confidence, ”we will, one day at a time ”

THE END!!!! What is your take on this?
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