The Porcelain Vase-Part 3

It was a bright Saturday morning. This day was going to be full of excitement as Master Etekamba Henry Ekpeno (Jnr.) would be celebrating his 2nd birthday. His parents Nyen-ime and Henry had planned a special birthday party for him since his first birthday was marked in the children’s wing of the hospital.

Planting a sweet tender kiss on his forehead, she strengthened his cute bow tie as she walked him out to meet the guests awaiting him to come out and cut his birthday cake. Etekamba was such an adorable boy. He looked so much like his father, Henry. But Nyen-ime prayed in the quietness of her heart that he would be nothing like his father. Throughout the party, Henry spent so much time with his friend and colleagues drinking and laughing at silly vulgar jokes. Once in a while, she would stop by to say hello to a visitor just joining the group, attend to their needs and then go back to attending to her son and the kids that came around.

Henry’s mother, of course, dotted over her grandson as if he was a motherless child. She ignored Nyen-ime as if she never existed. As Nyen-ime decided to supervise the caterers while Etekamba was playing with his grandmother, Emma arrived with her family. After presenting Etekamba with his birthday gift, she turned to her friend, “Ime love, how are you doing?”

“My dear sister, I dey o! thanks so much for the gift”

“I thought I would never set foot in this house again after the last time I saw what he did to you”

“Hmmm…my sister let’s leave that gist for another venue,” Nyen-ime said cautiously using her eyes to sound a warning that her mother-in-law could be eavesdropping.

“I have something to show you, can we go somewhere private?” Emma asked.

“Sure, why not. Let's go to the guest room” Nyen-ime led Emma to the guest room just beside the stairways.

As they shut the door behind them, Nyen-ime asked curiously but excited,” so what is it you want to show me?”

“Nothing jare…cool down. I just wanted us to get away from your mother-in-law’s prying ears”

“Haba! Emma, you sef!” They both laughed.

“But seriously, Ime, how have you managed these past two years with Henry? Does he still raise his hands on you?”

“Well, not as often as before the child was born, but even if he does, I lure him away from where my son is. I don’t want Etekamba growing up with a mentality of violence. As far as I am concerned, he will be nothing like Henry”

“Ime, I agree with you, but for how long will keep hiding this from your son? You need to stand up for yourself and your son before it gets worse”

“Where do I go to?”

“Look, there are NGOs that can help you. They have helped women in this type of situation that you are in too. You don’t need to be afraid of what Henry will do to you.”

Nyen-ime, standing up, walks to a dressing table and picks up the porcelain vase containing artificial flowers Henry brought to her as a peace offering after their last fight that landed her in the hospital.

“You see these flowers, Emma,” Nyen-ime said stroking the petals gently, “every time we have a fight, I run into this room to prevent Etekamba from seeing the monster his father really is. After his father is done and leaves, the poor child comes and sees me crying. He would pick a flower from this vase and give to me planting a kiss on my cheeks. I hold on to these flowers not because they were given to me as a peace offering from my abusive husband but because I see them as a symbol of consolation and strength from my child.”

“That is very touching Ime,” Emma said, “but still that doesn’t stop you from leaving this abusive marriage. In case you don’t know it, your marriage is best described as this porcelain vase that contains the flowers you hold so dear. Fragile. Any moment, any day, it could slip and break to pieces that can never be put together again. You have passed the stage of Humpty-dumpty marriage.” Emma then walks to Nyen-ime, gives her a hug and in what almost seemed like a whisper, she said, “I pray it wouldn’t be too late by the time you make up your mind to do what is needful,” and then walks out of the door, leaving Nyen-ime in her own tears of mixed emotions.

....Are you enjoying this story? Please join us tomorrow at the Short Story Cafe for the continuing part.