Shrieks
Echo through our home as I am pulled back to reality
Frigid air pierces through my skin the moment it meets tile
My limbs bend at their own will, starting to convulse
My feet inch my body
No
Not my body
His property
Backwards until the wall collides with my skull
I hear them again
The clanking of chains darting towards me
Searing punishment wraps itself around me
Each link going deeper into my skin
He says I will be ok
I believe him
-
Luminous, vibrantly stained mosaics greet me the next morn
My sweet girl wanders to the front pew to her father
The sun shows its face upon her
Thank the Lord
I take my place next to my husband
The priest strides to the forefront of the cathedral
My loving spouse sets his right hand on my lap
“Dearly beloved” the elder on his wooden pedestal booms
“What is a woman, if not a reflection of her husband?”
Her own person
The congregation remains still
“She must be pious; she should be soft spoken.”
Must she not have a voice?
No one cares to utter a word
“She will be enlightened with her role in society, as it is rewarding and fulfilling”
But there is no contentment in my heart from my duties
-
I place three light taps on the door of his study
I pause until the door creaks open
Apprehensive waves of emotion become visible in my hands and legs
My voice trembles when I confront him
I tell him he needs to let me go
The chains proclaim their hold on me once more
Every individual one screeches
Reminding me of the power they hold
But he doesn’t have authority over me
I shrug the metal off of my own body
My body
And withdraw from him once more
For the final time
I refuse to turn around to face the unknown man of whom I don’t have any relation to
Hostile affronts fall from his lips
“Unorthodox” he shrieks, since I stand up for what I believe is true.
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