The black soldier’s attire, made of leather, adorned with long strings tied over his broad chest, caught my attention. I noticed a drop of blood on the silver fasteners. It must have come from my forehead after he… did that.
I took a deep breath, looking down at my fidgeting fingers.
“He never considered me his wife,” I said.
“How long had you been married?”
I blinked momentarily. The weight was burdensome.“Eight years,”
“How old are you? You look so young,” he seemed shocked, inquiring.
“Twenty-three.”
He inhaled deeply.“You got married at sixteen,”
“Yes,” I nodded, ashamed.“And the irony is I was excited to get married.”
“Why?” he asked.
“Everyone told me I would have a new home after the wedding, someone to look after me, and all those dreamy things,” I whispered while biting into the apple again.
“What went wrong then?” he asked, chewing on his apple.
I gulped, taking a pause.
“Everything,”
He nodded.
My heart felt heavy under the weight of old memories. Those nights when I’d scream, and he wouldn’t stop. I used to search for hiding spots to avoid being grabbed by him. Memories of his drunken state, in which he would hit and mock me in front of his friends, allowing them to touch me inappropriately to prove how unattractive I was.
“Do you have any... children?” He asked, gazing at me.
I timidly lowered my gaze and shook my head.
“No,” I said, biting my lower lip.“Not my own.”
“Then who are these lent ones?” he asked, amused.
A smile dared to appear on my face.“Teenagers of my late husband and his late wives,”
He raised his eyebrows with a smile.“Wives?”
I nodded.“Three.”
“All dead?” he asked, and I nodded.
“Interesting man,” His smile broadened, adding after a brief pause,“I’m glad he’s dead.”
A soft chuckle escaped my lips.
“That’s why you didn’t like him?” he asked.
Shaking my head, I looked up at him and replied,“I didn’t have any issues with the past. But he spent only three months with me before leaving me for another woman, claiming that I wasn’t good… I mean, he said… there’s something wrong with me… that I’m not a… good… woman for a man.” The last few words came out hesitantly, and he exhaled heavily, looking away.
“Sorry…can’t relate. I was born a man,” he spoke, causing me to lower my gaze.
His words made me smile slightly.
