Yesterday, I went to a government maternity hospital to check my HIV status. It was part of the requirements for a job I’m applying for. Honestly, I thought I would go there, do the test, collect my result and leave. But what I saw there made me think deeply. The hospital was busy. Women everywhere. Married women. Young ladies. Pregnant women. Mothers carrying babies. People coming in and going out. Then I noticed something. Some women were there to take contraceptive injections to prevent pregnancy. That alone didn’t surprise me. What happened next did. I overheard a conversation between two women. One of them was talking about the injection she was taking. Then she said something quietly: “My husband doesn’t know.” I looked up. I honestly didn’t know what to think. Because somewhere else, that same husband might be sitting at home believing they were both trying to have another child. Maybe he is already telling his friends: “We are tryin...
She, But nobody knew that. All they saw was a woman who had stopped taking care of herself. She no longer dressed the way she used to. She stopped attending family gatherings. She rarely answered phone calls. Even when people visited, she would sit quietly and force a smile. Then the comments started. “She has changed.” “She used to be very hardworking.” “Marriage has made her lazy.” “Maybe she is proud now.” Nobody asked her what was happening at home. Her name was Nneka. Before marriage, Nneka was full of life. She had plans. She had friends. She laughed loudly. She had a small business that she was passionate about. Then she got married. At first, everything looked beautiful. Pictures. Congratulations. Family visits. New clothes. Everybody was happy for her. But after the wedding, things slowly changed. Her husband began controlling everything. Who she could visit. Who could call her. How she spent money. What she wore. ...