04

This time I did not digest. I refused to cry or even let go. The next day, I went to leave the children at Mom's and told her that I would pick them up on Sunday evening. Luckily Monday the children did not have class. It's a pedagogical day at their school. I made myself beautiful, complete hair removal Skinny jeans with a high strapless 8cm heel make up at the top and I went out with a longtime friend in the evening. We go to a restaurant in town and then to the opium. It's crowded but we work our way up to two free seats. The music is good the ice creams (alcoholic beverages) go down well suddenly I feel glued to my back. I turn around

- No thank you sir I don't need company tonight

- Come on ! Don't do your thing

- Tsiup

I change position but the guy does not budge

- Ekie! Is it obligatory?! I want to dance alone please?!

- So get out of here! Are you golden?

I turn back to my kind friend talking to my hand. Obviously he does not digest my gesture well and turns me violently

- Look at this one where you are until you skull?!

- Mash potatoes ! There's plenty of chicks in this room go make your interesting somewhere else!

- Man… The girl told you, she doesn't want to, what are you forcing?

- A bitch like that! Sa*le P****

The guy yes… he's my stallion from the last time. Oh dear dear no but what a sad coincidence every time! What was his name again?! Ah! Bruce, that's it! He managed to calm the other enraged guy there. I go back to my friend

- So that's why I don't like going out...

- Ah! Little incident like that you panic what was he going to do to you?

Brice comes back to us

- How are you ? Do you have anything Margaret?

- You recognized me….

- I would recognize you among a thousand! What are you doing here all alone?

- She's not alone, we're both here

- Oh! Sorry Mrs! I hadn't been paying attention;

- Nevermind.

- Margaret. This type of environment is strongly discouraged for women, especially when they are as pretty as you and go out alone. You better go home

- Tara! Maguie, who is the boss who gives us all this big French?!

- Looool! I am Mr. Brice BOGMIS and you?

- Josiane BASSOGOG

- Pleased Mrs.

- Noooo daddy I'm still looking for myself, it's Miss

- Pardon. Miss. This goes for both of you. You shouldn't find yourself alone in this type of atmosphere.

- We needed to decompress a little M BOGMIS

- Margaret you can call me Brice you know? Ok, so join us? I'm with friends on this table there

He points to a table where two men and a lady are seated.

- It won't be necessary, we'll leave

- Ekie! Maggie why? It's barely midnight!

- I know Josiane, but I'm not in the mood anymore. Please don't blame me but I prefer to go home.

- Well, if you want back ok. But I am still outside.

- Okay sweetie. So we call each other!

I give her kisses and leave the box

- Let me take you back.

- Mr BOGMIS….

-Brice…

- Brian…. I assure you that is not necessary. I'll take a taxi to depot. You have already saved me so many times from embarrassment that accepting another gesture from you is intolerable to me.

- Margaret, it's me who would sleep badly not knowing how you got home. Please come.

It was more of an order than anything. I followed him in silence and he dropped me off in front of my house.

- Thanks again Brice

- Really nothing… And… Margaret???

- Yes ?

- Could I have your number?

- To do what ?

- I don't know. But I confess that I would not like to lose sight of you any longer. We have already met 3 times. I don't think this is pure confidence.

- I…. I do not prefer. Listen I'm married

- I know

- You too….

- No

- Pardon ?

- I'm not married Margaret

- But the other day… at Jeanne's…

- She was my girlfriend but we are no longer together

- In short, this does not concern me. I'll go there Brice. thanks again

I storm out of the car without giving him time to place one. I enter through my little gate and go to bed. When I open my eyes at 9 a.m., I have 8 missed calls from Arthur. What does this one want from me? Tssiiiuuupppp. I wander around my house like a lost soul. Once I connect my mobile data the notifications rain down. Orders and photos from last night with Josiane. There's even a like from Arthur. I begin to understand the reason for all his calls. It is now he saw that I can also be beautiful? A zouave like that! The children come home tonight, so does he, so I get down to the kitchen. Since I recruited labor, I have more time for myself. So I don't have much to do today except cook. At 11 a.m. I finished. I go out to take care of my hair and my hands and my feet. It takes as long as it takes and I'm back home at 3 p.m. I go through my little gate and once inside I see Arthur standing up and pacing in his living room.

- Take ! You are already there ?

- Where are you from?

- Good evening darling. Welcome back

- MESSI I asked you a question

- I heard. I'm leaving the ZOGO hair salon and you?

- How ?

- You heard it, friend!

- You go out now at night without telling me?! It's not in your head there? Do you know what image you send back? You a married woman a mother of children! So that's why you insisted that the children go on leave with your mother, huh. To have more free time to do your stupid things! My children won't move from here! You will see

I take a deep breath and take my phone out of my bag.

- ZOGO when you finish shouting please explain this to me

I hand him my phone, the photo of him and his Maeva prominently displayed. He loses all countenance and puts his hand over his mouth.

- You will notice that the photo is sent to me from your phone to you. So you're not even hiding anymore. She now accompanies you everywhere. So don't come and lecture me here!

I cross it and put my purse in the bedroom. He follows me on my heels

- So now we're on the same footing? If I mess up, do you have to mess up too?

I always walk towards the bedroom without a look for him

- What do you call stupidity? A girl you give up your home for for two weeks? A girl that you now introduce to all those people who came to celebrate our union with us? Abeg excuse my life ZOGO go back to her and ration there everything you don't ration here! My children will not starve because they have a father who neglects them!

- Maguie, be careful what you say! Do not get on my nerves !

I turn around and we crash into each other

- Otherwise what ZOGO? Are you going to hit me? Otherwise what ?! It's you who works norrr me I'm nothing! I have nothing ! But you seem to ignore that just with this photo I can cause you enormous harm?

- What are you even saying since then?

- Why do you impose on yourself a relationship in which you no longer believe? You think I don't want to be hugged too? Get me out? Take me on my legs? Make love to me? Arthur you are no longer the one I knew. Stop pretending! From now on I will sleep with the children. At least you won't have to pretend anymore. Excuse me !

I go to the bedroom, I take some things and put them in the children's room.

- That's it, even clear the floor! Your presence bothered me in this room!

I answer him between my many comings and goings, under Arthur's simultaneously angry and helpless gaze.

- Just have the decency not to bring your whores here.

- I do what I want ! I am still at home!

- I see that your brain was eaten in ZOGO village!

I slammed the bedroom door while he was still yelling and sat very frustrated on Lloyd's bed. I've had it up to here ! This is not a life ! This is not marriage!

Since that Sunday, our relationship has become very cold. I don't even calculate it anymore and it makes me feel good. Now her Maeva is texting me directly on my phone, huh, she's no longer afraid. I do not erase anything and do not react either. I don't even talk about it to his dear and tender. How I loved him, that's how he indifferent to me today. Anger and resentment only imprison those who want to find their way around.

It's "our man makes love to me"

"It's a matter of time soon I will be his wife"

"He sleeps in my thighs abandoned wife"

And many more. At first, these text messages struck me as a stab at my heart, but over time they began to ignore me. I just confirmed that I will never love this man again. Arthur sleeps little at home, he doesn't even hide anymore. And of course every time he's not there, his mistress lets me know with supporting photos.

I haven't spoken to him for over a month. My business still saves me happy! The children are not blind, they have understood but do not ask questions. Hono is very 21st century woman and unfortunately we are very close. She promised to help me for the next school year if he doesn't and from what I see I'm going through, it's clear he won't. As for Arthur, she even finds me very slow to relax.

With all the evidence that Arthur's mistress sends me thinking to hurt me there I must have already brought him to justice. I dare not go that far. At least I didn't even dare to consider it until that famous day of the week when, returning home earlier and unexpectedly from my deliveries at the beginning of the afternoon, I discovered that I was not at the end of my troubles with this man. But I felt uncomfortable between feeling weak and dizzy earlier. I was even rescued by a passerby who helped me stop a taxi and go home. Once in front of the gate, I entered and went directly to the room that I now occupy with my children.

By the way I heard a noise in the kitchen. The girls are active. It will soon be time to pick up Lloyd and then Mai. I still have an hour of sleep possible. I feel all woozy, I better see a doctor. These children only have me if I leave now they won't be able to count on their father. I lie down for a moment, then I have a sudden urge to pee. The children's bathroom is adjacent to the bedroom. When I open the bedroom door to go there, our matrimonial bedroom opens on an Arthur dressed only in English boxer shorts who greedily kisses Evelyn on the mouth. I cross my arms over my chest and calmly stare at them. I feel no anger, no pain. I just watch them. Sensing the presence of a silhouette, the two turn on me and suddenly detach from each other like two culprits caught in the act….