[STORY] BEHIND CHURCH DOORS (Episode 51)

Episode 51.

“Those who cheat on their partners who are loyal to them; don’t deserve them. It is a trashy attitude to disrespect a person who is loyal in a relationship, by cheating on him or her.”
—Ellen J. Barrier

“Thank you for the ride,” I tell Zion before I step out of the car. She steps out too, “you don’t want me to come in?”
“No Zion, your mouth is loose. I don’t want you in my mouth, at least not today.”
She rolls her eyes, “I am your sister.”
“I know that, I just need some time to rest Zion. If you go in there and start a fight with Tia I might not get enough rest. I know what I must do and I will do it in due time. Please respect my decision.”
“Fine!” She raises her hand in surrender and gets back into her car. “I will see you later.”
“Don’t come here until I tell you too.”
“Fine,” she rolls her eyes and drives off.
I walk into the house to find Tia, sitting on the floor and leaning against the wall, she seems lost in thought.

Standing in the doorway, I stare at her for a moment wondering where we went wrong and what we could have done differently to make this marriage stable. The day I met Tia, I knew I wanted to be with her and when I said my vows that day, I meant everyone. There was never a point I ever thought we would come to this- I still love her but I can never walk past this betrayal. And what hurts the most is the issue of the baby. It kills me to know that the child in her womb might not be mine. She knew how excited I was about being a father, I was already picking names and buying stuff for the baby, the nursery too is almost done. I started painting it as soon as we moved to a bigger house.
“Zyair!” She says when she finally spots me and I force a smile as I walk towards her.
“Hey Tia. How are you?”
“I am okay. You didn’t tell me you were coming back. I would have picked you from town.”
“Zion picked me up. I didn’t want to stress you. You didn’t go to work?”
“No I didn’t. There’s chaos at the church and we just decided to close down for now.”
“I see.”
“You want something to eat?”
“I am good.”
“How’s Pacey holding up?”
“Just fine.”
“Okay.”
“I will be in the bedroom if you need me,” I say before I start to walk away.
“Zyair?”
“Yes?” I turn around and face her.
“Why are you acting like this?”
“How am I acting?”
“Are you telling me you didn’t watch the documentary?”
“I watched it.”
“And?”
“And what?”
“You know what I am talking about.”
I drop my bag to the floor,” is there something you want us to talk about?”
“Cut out the bullshit Zyair and just face me. Tell me what’s running through your mind. You can’t keep acting like everything’s okay. It’s almost a week and you haven’t brought it up. You are tormenting my mind. I can’t do this anymore, I can’t.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“I cheated on you Zyair. I broke our marriage vows and defiled our marriage bed. And this baby I am carrying might not even be yours,” She says. And I silently stare at her.
*

TIA

The silence is unbearable, so finally I ask him, “Why aren’t you reacting? Why does your face look like that, Zyair?” He says nothing. Just stares at me, his face devoid of emotion.

Determining the silence between us has gone on for a sufficient amount of time, I rise to my feet. “I hate these damn silent treatments, I hate being ignored. At least say something,” I plead.

The silence continues.
“So you are not going to say anything Zyair?” I ask.
“What’s there to say?” He finally asks.
“I don’t know, just say something. Anything? What are we going to do next?”
“You are the one who cheated. You are the one who defiled our marriage bed, you are the one who broke our marriage vows. You should know what to do next,” he says, staring at me with emotionless eyes.
“You want a divorce?” I ask.
“What do you want?”
“I don’t know Zyair. Yes I messed up but I don’t know how to fix us.”
“We are unfixable at this moment, Tia. You slept with another man and that child in your womb might be his. How are we supposed to fix that? You know you should have left if you were unhappy, you didn’t have to humiliate me like this.”
“I was happy…”
“But?”
“We were struggling financially. I needed more than you could offer, I needed to go to school, I needed a car of my own, I needed money and you couldn’t offer me that. What was I supposed to do?”
“Oh so it’s my fault? You cheated because I couldn’t provide for you financially? You cheated because you needed a car?” He laughs.
“I am sorry Zyair. I am sorry.”
“Sorry, can’t fix us. I am done, Tia. I am done.”

Tears begin to run down my face.
“You will call for a family meeting. You will tell them what you did, how you broke this marriage. You will be the one to also inform the family that we are getting a divorce. When the baby is born we will conduct a DNA test, if it is mine, I will take full responsibility if not, then the father will do the needful,” he stops talking and intently looks at me,” Can I ask you one question?”
“What?” I ask, wiping my face.
“That Bishop, did you love him?”
I keep quiet, I am not even sure I have an answer to that question. Bishop and I created a very strong bond, I don’t know if it was love or I was just attracted to the things he was able to offer me.
He shakes his head, ‘”You don’t even have to say anything. That silence is answer enough.”
“Zyair, listen.”
“I will be moving out today. I have already contacted a divorce lawyer and they will send the papers to you soon. You will let me know when you call on that family meeting so I can be in attendance.”
“You can’t do that, Zyair. You can’t move out.”

Ignoring me he heads towards the bedroom and I follow him. When he grabs a suitcase, I try to stop him from opening it but he jerks it away from me, opens it, and starts throwing his clothes in it.
“Please don’t leave.”
“I can’t live with you anymore. After what you have done? I might end up hurting you and the baby, I don’t want to be arrested.”
“Where will you go?”
“That’s none of your business.”
“You are going to her right?”
“Who’s her?”
“That Pacey girl? You are going to run right into her arms just because I messed up?”
He laughs,” And if I say I am going to her place what will you do? You have no right to stop me.”
“I knew it. I knew you were sleeping with her.”
He laughs louder.
“It’s funny?”
“Some of us are decent human beings, some of us respect the convent of marriage. I can’t say the same about you though.”
Silence
He finishes packing his clothes and when he is done, he removes his ring and places it on the table,” I won’t be needing this anymore.”
“So this is it?”
“Yes Tia. I wish you all the best in your life and future endeavors,” those are last words he says before he leaves.
To Be Continued…. . . . 

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