Yoked

A sister reached out to me

She said she had an apprentice who just got engaged and was being rushed into marriage by the mother of the groom

She said the young lady was 23 years old, a fresh graduate, and this woman on her street had used money and other incentives to convince her to marry her son

She said the son was a homosexual, and this was well known in their community

She said she didn't want to tell the girl the truth directly so that the woman wooing her for her son wouldn't take her for her enemy, but at the same time, she could not stand aside and watch the girl marry this woman's son.

She asked me if I could be of help

I said I could

She sent me the young lady's phone number, and I called her

I told her what I had been told and encouraged her to look very well before she leapt

She later called me back, asking for more details

She was more interested in where I got the information than in the information itself

I took that to mean she would be going on with the wedding, and I wished her luck

This was 2004.

I never heard from her or the lady who initially told me about her since then.

A few minutes ago, my phone rang.

It took me a few minutes to get who was on the line.

Pastor, said the lady...

My mother-in-law told me yesterday evening that we need to have children.

I told her that my husband has not had sex with me, even by mistake, since our wedding night.

She asked me what happened

I told her we tried all we could, but it just didn't work.

He even wanted to do it the other way, but he just slapped me away eventually, and since then has avoided our bed

His mother said she has talked to him, but he is not listening, so she wanted to share something with me.

She asked if I wouldn't mind that his younger brother would be doing his husband's duty for him, but the children would be accepted by the family as his children, and they would really take care of me

She said it must be between us and that she had spoken to the priest about it and was told that as long as I agree, it is okay.

I asked her, what do you want to do?

She said she wants to leave the marriage, but she has no money because since she got married into the family, she has not been allowed to do anything by herself

The driver goes everywhere with her, and she is not allowed to work

She was also not allowed to handle any money, as her mother-in-law controls everything from buying things in the market to all her personal needs.

"What about your parents or relatives? Can you call them and ask them to come and pick you up?" I asked

"No, sir, my parents must never hear I want to leave this place. My husband's family has been very good to us, and my parents will most likely just tell me to do what my mother-in-law wants."

Me: And I told you o...

She: Please, sir, help me