When Sipho was done doing what he was doing, he collapsed on top of me. I let him lie there because if I disturbed him, I would be rewarded with a punch. After few minutes, he stood up and disappeared into his room. I also went to my room, took a bath, and I didn’t forget to take the morning after pills. My body was very painful, especially my private part, so I lied down and eventually slept. I was woken up by that ugly wolf to do my chores, and I was really hungry because we didn’t eat the previous night. When I was done, I made breakfast, and when he was done eating, he walked to his office. I used the opportunity to eat.

“Why are you sitting?” Sipho asked when he came back later that day. “You’re supposed to cook because my girlfriend will be here today.”

I was happy when I heard the news because when Pearl visits, Sipho didn’t abuse me physically, only emotionally. But since Pearl had also changed, she also threw insults at me. The reason why I didn’t argue with him was because it was hard to run away. Where would I go? My family didn’t want me, I didn’t get the chance to further my studies, and my matric results were poor. So, I would just ignore what he did, but once a plan popped up, I knew I would walk away from him.

Like I was instructed, I cooked, and when I was done, I went to my room. It was sometimes hard to wake up because I always felt tired because of the pain in between my legs. That life was really hard for me.

“Nontethelelo, come and clean this mess,” Sipho said later that day. “We’re done with dinner, and don’t forget to lock the doors.”

I stood up with teary eyes and cleaned the table. They had broken a vase, but he would buy a new one because he had money. After cleaning, I locked the doors and walked to my room. I could hear them giggling in the other room, and I wanted to run away but I was scared. I couldn’t just wake up and walk away from that house because it was not safe for women and children out there. What if they killed me? No, I couldn’t. In the end, I decided to kneel down and pray.

“Dear God,” I began my prayer. “Who have I offended to deserve this pain? Am I a stone? Because it’s like all the bad things in this world have turned towards me. First of all, my parents decided to leave me in this cruel world with my uncle. They don’t like me at all, and that’s why they kicked me out. But still, you didn’t fight for me, and now the man that I thought was here to change my life has another woman. No one deserves this. But I pray for guidance and courage so I’ll be able to leave Sipho and start my new life. I’ve lost trust because of betrayal, and I just want to be able to support myself and go to school. So please God, I don’t want to be bitter all my life, so change me. Make me forgive those who have wronged me, and to those that I’ve wronged. Make them forgive me also. I have hope and I know that one day you will help me get to the top. I pray in Jesus name, amen.”

Tell us: Do you think Nontethelelo should run away, and if yes, where do you think she should go?