He enjoyed showing me off publicly, holding my waist proudly and introducing me as his beautiful, obedient wife.
At night, however, he sometimes woke around midnight and stood quietly beside the bed without speaking.
I would pretend to sleep, sensing him staring downward toward the floor for long, silent minutes before lying back down carefully.
When I once asked why he stood up at that hour, he said he was praying quietly over our marriage.
I accepted that explanation because I wanted to believe I had married a spiritual and protective man.
Eight months passed without conflict, and the strange rule slowly blended into the background of our daily routine.
Yesterday morning, everything changed because of something small and ordinary that should have meant nothing at all.
Obinna left early for what he called an urgent business trip to Abuja, promising to return the following evening.
I planned to attend a friend’s bridal shower later that day, so I stood before our bedroom mirror selecting jewelry carefully.
