Mary was a stunning and glamorous damsel. Caring and kind, she’d never trade her soul and spirit for happiness. She had absolute beauty, and the sweetest voice with bound absurdity. Her nose was sharp and she had a curvaceous body. She was kind-hearted, and so understanding. Her gait was one to die for, and when she ambles, it was like she floated, or so they said! Greg always wondered where Mary got such unique features!

Mary relied on her husband, who worked at the city mines. It was that era when men left the village to seek proper jobs at the city, and women weren’t allowed to work, except in farms and doing house-chores. Mary’s husband, Clarke, was one of those successful men staying at the city, living a luxurious life.

Clarke went home after months and that made Mary suspicious. She suspected that something was keeping him from going back home. Mary never knew that Clarke was a scoundrel and a cheat who was dating her best friend, Linda. She trusted Linda with her life. Through Clarke’s eyes, Mary was just a stupid wife, a nuisance holding him back from pursuing a life he dreamt of.

One day, Clarke decided to go home to fetch Mary. When he got off his classy German car, Mary’s aunts ululated. One of the women was about to usher him to the house, but he rushed ahead, heading to the kitchen where Mary was. Clarke was a mean, weird guy who used to be uncouth, but that day he was humble. He greeted the elders with that gracious smile that put gratitude in Mary’s heart. She came running towards him and jumped into his open arms shouting, and Clarke’s hands were waving in that air, just like a bird’s wings. Mary burst into tears of joy and Clarke gave her a shoulder to cry on.

After that day, Clarke stayed for about three weeks at home, nurturing his wife’s heart and treating her like a queen and trophy wife. Clarke took his wife out to the city and came back with one of the classiest cars ever. It was so shiny and it roared like one of those cars that the youth could only dream of. He was pleased by the stares that he got from the streets as he drove by. Mary was so pleased to see him back, but she knew there was gloom hidden behind his sweet smile.

Clarke glossed over Mary’s silence. After staying home for a while, he packed Mary’s bag in the boot, then got into the car and hit the road. When the couple arrived at the city, Mary was so surprised to see the boulevard, the bourgeoisie people walking across the streets, and bow-legged men pushing children around with prams. That put a storm of worries in her mind, and her imagination began running wild. In her daydreams, she could see Clarke pushing a pram with their child sleeping inside, pottering around the garden while pushing their daughter. Mary had already fallen in love with the city and they settled there for a year.

Tell us: How do you think Mary will find the city?