"move closer' I told Felicia. The evening was cold, probably the coldest in the four years Felicia and I have been married. The thick duvet wasn't enough to subdue the cold air that penetrated through my bone marrow. To the contrary, she drifted away and faced the other side. I tapped her shoulder softly in an attempt to turn her around , she pushed my hands away and let a good part of the blanket fall between us creating a wall between her warm body and my cold self. For a moment I couldn't believe what just happened, in the years we have been together, she had never resisted my touch.
"What's wrong?" I spoke shivering. I doubled up my knees almost touching my chin to keep warm but it didn't seem to help.
"Everything is wrong, it's being four years with no fruit to look at, Abigail who got married the same day as I did is pregnant again"
Her words sent a shiver down my spine. I took the blanket off my head and sat up. I was tempted to light up my phone and look at the face of the woman I married. We have spoken about this a countless time but it has always been a friendlier and always concluding subject, resting our hope on prayers. I had boasted about her countless times how she was the most understanding woman, had I been mistaken? I thought. I kept my phone down and lied back one more time. Just before I could speak she continued
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"I'm tired of the ridicule everyday". She began to weep just before I could blurt out my anger. I moved closer to her and held her arms. "Don't cry, Felicia". I said. I understood her problem. Myself have heard them. She was a strong woman, she had withstood the pressure for years- but then she was only human.
Amid sobs she started to narrate what had transpired during the day, "Jumai and Fatima's mother made a certain statement when an issue arose, knowing it was about me. They said, 'We can't talk about this in the presence of a child who has never given birth before" I felt pained. It was a pity even men seem to enjoy the pastime of talking about others, I had heard such proclamations muttered under their breath many times especially when I was around. I am a stronger character than my wife I think. I just couldn't break down. Not like we haven't gone places for solutions but none seem to work. While my thoughts still run, Felicia stopped weeping and said boldly with a loud voice" I want a child, and I want to be pregnant within three months from today"
My heart leapt. " Is that an ultimatum? ".
" Surely there can be a way to do that, my pride and honour as a human being, more so as a woman, have eroded away; I must have them restored quickly.
"And what is that? I asked curiously
" Have another man get me pregnant" she said without blinking.
" What?" I say, bolt upright as if I had been pricked by a needle. My sleep disappeared almost immediately. What devil has entered my wife's mind?"
