Burned by the Devil

RT

ter

feeling bitter,

he didn't know whether to be happy that he was back again or sad. Happy because, there would be no more lone

er husband. After the night they spent at the hospital together, he buried himself in work and continued to

h hopes for the baby. The priest from the miracle working church she'd been attending had assured her that if

treme happiness. The love, care and attention he'd showered on her, the plans she

gone now, she thought sadly and looked down at her wedding

't stand her, she was sure he regretted getting married to her. As a ma

him what he wanted from her. A child, Valentino wanted a

d to the full length mirror beside her dresser. She inspected h

ff his shoes. His luggage was beside the door an

ng in the living room unack

om, what's for dinner? " Val aske

l asked moving towards the door to

on her. He tried not to pay attention to the awful black dres

ke dinner?" he asked

idn't tell me, you never called" she didn't add that he'

sionally tweets on twitter and a few posts on Instagra

hing you know how to do Halal, anything?"

blame him for being so cold to her, it was her fault. She

taking off his clothes. "If you could just give me a few minutes Valentin

t like you can give me anything I want anyway"

ace. She wished she could give him children, she wished she could

love with her. From the moment she began to understand the concept of love, she decided it was that kind of love she wanted. A love like th

What good was her tears anyway? She took out a can of tomato s

one. It reminded her of what was missing in her life. So these days she f

efore travelling again. A week, two, three, if luck shined

bably get a snack ready for him when he gets out to ke

cucumbers from the fridge. 'This should do' she sighed tiredly afte

rite sofa. The love seat, it used to be their love seat but now she couldn't sit

eard his footsteps and decided to check on him. He was dr

inner already, give me a few minute

to have dinner ready before seven. I should starve because i

would have made dinner already. Why don't you have some cucumb

living room. Halal swallowed the huge bile that was threatening to choke h

s with me' she thought weakly. She picked up the tray

as usual he ignored her calls, she waited for him to return but he didn't. Whe

ldn't be so unhappy' she though

sensitive ears picked up the movements of his feet right outside the door.

e in the house but her body had a mind of its own because

ore leaving the room. Valentino was sitting on his love seat reading the guar

the minute he looked up

yet. What is so good about the morning?" Valent

t you never answered. I was worried, you should have at least texted to let me know

ou anything" V

no. Don't you think I'm entitled to know about your w

Valentino let out a sarcast

she asked him. Cold ey

ght years Halal! if you're going to claim the status as my wife then at least have something

that he threw their childless state in h

r tongue Mrs wife?

the chair. Words were powerful wea

this time you will stay for it" Halal s

Valentino left the house right

after all he'd made it clear that she had

he would continue to tolerate her

about her condition or s

nts shouted as he ran across the street trying to me

r SUV before turning to look at th

hat was for sure so how come he knew her last name? She sized him up the minute he got to her, h

e'd given up on them long time ago, some years back a few had come to her with some lies and she'd been gullible enough to believe them. When she eventually

e bullshït preaching about salvation and what have you? I suggest you hol

ause of her childless state. How could they be so heartless? d

moment you passed me, the Holy Spirit spoke to me. He

"Here we go again" she

ng things. He says all you want has he given to you, all you should pray for now is spiritual gui

's name and honestly I don't care. Get out of my si

wretched idiot was probably out to exploit her. How many people have tried and suc

t you're not supposed to be suffering, you should be jubilant, praise

cause the same holy spirit is ministering to me to give you a dirty slap. Get out of m

e it's too late. Listen to the voice of God and ask for his

ll upon you for trying to deceive me" H

sked, he has given' What a cruel thing to say. Two still births and a miscarria

have what she wanted, what she needed. An uncaring husband who offered her not

f her distress. She dipped her hand in the bla

far away in Benue. She was involved in a Non Governmental organi

ut weak and croaky. Not that Evangel

up She had been the reserved, gentle girl who wanted the simpler things in life, Eva on t

ave Lagos. Halal didn't know the full details of what went down but she knew it must have bee

passed away. It was during the event of the burial cerem

l Eva made no other contact with her, not even when she got married. She'd only called once right after Hala

presented the link between her and her late parents, and she

d away when she was nineteen, quite peacefully. There was a serene smile on her mother's face when she died. Her mother had died on a Friday and two weeks

een 25 and her mother 23 but Halal's mother had taken in when she turned forty, Halal was the miracle child because her parents had given up on

n't be like that, she wasn't even thirty

r face. A smile that was wiped off quickly by Eva's col

ared her throat a

rist watch. The Cartier he got ri

iquid bronze and drew attention to her. Her eyes were catlike, scintillating, calculating hazel eyes that never betrayed her emotions. Diamond shaped

even her walking pattern. She was the replica of her late father Austin. Halal's mother always said that her

aid it was his stubbornness that caused his death. His hard headed and hard hearted behavior that brought his untimely end. He cou

hose same traits from her father. Halal s

ould one be talking to close family and

y conversation w

ch was passed to you when

g her wedding band. She let out a brea

must have been delirious to give it to you, the watch w

chest, how could Eva talk ab

it to me because she wanted me t

It was like the calm before the storm, but there was no s

'll ask him to stop by your house and pick up the watch.

fore she spoke again. "I don'

the watch, didn't Patricia give

must have been special but...." Halal paused

t?" Eva

o sell the watch, I'm sorry it was a really tough time for me"

's watch?!" Eva yel

uy it. Please don't be mad, it was a really tough time

e you sell the watch that my father cherished. The night he was traveling, he gave i

sand dollars watch for three thousand

the watch to someone who doesn't know how to appre

n. She looked at the phone frozen for a few

today the guilt she felt weighed her down. If only she had n

with h