Emily
During our four years of marriage, most of the time, my husband treats me like a total stranger. I have always been a stranger to him, even tho we are a couple. The only exception is when he contacts me,and whenever he does, it's about getting me to the hospital to donate blood to Zara. That was my use in this marriage, always donating blood to her and get paid at the end of the month. It was what I agreed to hoping he would love me someday.
It's the third time this months and it's more than my body can take already . But who cares? That is what I am supposed to do whenever Zara needs blood transfusion.
I am sitting on the sofa and my eyes are getting little watery and blurry while still running a little temperature.
Yesterday was our fourth year anniversary so I thought of preparing something to celebrate with him. I waited for him to get home from work, and carefully prepared dinner for our anniversary, yet I stood in the rain for over an hour, waiting for him to come home, but he never showed up.
I even tried calling him on the phone but it wasn't connecting. Everything I made with love was turned to be waste. Silly me, what was I expecting?
Today, I feel sick and my head is spinning after standing in the rain. Ryan probably doesn't even know I have a fever. How would he? When he doesn't even give a damn about me. Zara comes first, I am just the woman he married and to use whenever Zara needs blood transfusion.
I endured the dizziness trying to reach out to my phone to call Ryan, but before I could hit the dial button, the text message I received crushed the last shred of hope and dignity I had.
"You ugly home wrecker, no matter how you disguise yourself, you will never be his wife. You know better than anyone that you blackmailed your way to be his wife! He spent last night with me" I read with my eyes wife open. I just stared at the phone flabbergasted.
"Home wrecker?" I repeat, still couldn't believe what I just read from my phone. How on earth did I become a home wrecker when I met Ryan single? He wasn't even dating at the time we met.
My heart was weighed down with a deep, suffocating sadness. I am Ryan's rightful wife, Emily. I gave up everything, my friends, my family, for this marriage and for four years, I have been trying to make this work. And now, I'm the "other woman in his life?" It felt as if someone had struck my chest and shattered the emotions I had carefully nurtured during those difficult days with him.
I was still in pains when a photo appeared on my phone, it was of Ryan, his expression serene in sleep. His handsome features perfectly chiseled, which were once drew me to him , igniting a passion I couldn't resist.
The photo seemed to validate everything I feared.
The woman resting against his shoulders was Zara. Though they both had their eyes closed, the subtle curve of Zara's lips betrayed her awareness, her satisfaction.
They looked every bit like a couple in love. Just then, my phone rang, checking the caller ID, it was a call from Ryan's family house, his mother to be precise.
My fingers moved on their own as I answered. The voice of his mother, came through, laced with command and expectation.
"Emily, you have forgotten what today is? The maid is off, so get over here and cook! She commanded, just like always, I would quickly get change and head over there but that won't happen today.
A cold laugh escaped my lips as I ended the call without saying a word. I am done being the house maid. I have spent all this Time treading around Ryan, desperately trying to keep our fragile marriage together.
At work, I am underestimated by everyone, yet I give in everything I have, playing the role of his secretary to perfection. At home, his mother, Samantha and sister look down on me like I am an outsider, even though I have tied a knot with their son.
They are always so condescending, nitpicking at every little thing, cooking, laundry, even cleaning, they made me do it all and I never nagged about it.
I have been nothing more than an obedient servant, never wanting to bother Ryan with the truth, never wanting to trouble him. But what do I get in return? A paycheck I do not even need.
I have becomed accustomed to enduring it. No matter how others scorn me, I have been willing to bear it all for Ryan's sake. This is how much I want him to love me back.
But for fiur years, Ryan has treated me as nothing more than a task, asking for my help at work or demanding for my blood when it was convenient for him. Never fit once did he see me as his legal wife.
And now I am just too tired I don't think I can take it any longer.
This wasn't the first time Zara has tried to undermine my position as Ryan's legal wife.
In the past I could brush off her cruel, cutting words with a smile but this photo, it shattered the little dignity I had left.
The sting of humiliation, the cold indifference, the crushing loneliness, it all overwhelmed me.
Four years of marriage and it had all been a cruel joke.
At that moment my resolve hardened and I made my decision.
"Fine this joke is over!" I opened my phone, scrolled to his contact and typed the words without hesitation.
" I want a divorce" even though my mind was clouded with exhaustion, I knew this was the right choice, I needed to leave this marriage and move on with life.
As soon as the text delivered, Ryan called immediately. I could almost feel the anger in his voice. His tone was cold, detached.
" Emily what has gotten into you?The doctor said Zara is in a critical condition. Head to the hospital now"
What was I expecting? That he would ask me to stay and not divorce him? I sent him a text of wanting a to divorce him instead he called back to tell me Zara needed blood. She has always been his priority, she comes first before me.
"I'm talking to you Emily! Come to the hospital now, Zara needs to be attended…" I fought against the haze in my head, cutting him off.
"Ryan sign the paper in an hour, or leave your sweetheart to die". I ended the call, before he could speak further. I have had enough, she can have him for all I care. There was never a moment of love in our marriage.