Chapter 1
Celine just managed escaping hits and slaps from her husband, Lancelot after both of them got involved in a heated argument together, she started running barefooted towards her neighbor Camilla's house and she kept knocking at her door
"Camilla! Please open the door. Camilla!. "Celine yelled knocking. She looked around and she definitely knew her husband would be on his way there. Camilla's house is the third house after theirs. She started knocking harder and panting heavily. Camilla who was hesitant to open the door finally drifted towards the door. She snorted as she swung the door open
"Hi. Celine" She said resting her body on the wall folding her arms
"Camilla please....I need to go in there. He is coming for me!"
"Celine, the last time I tried to hide you in my house, Your husband hit my brother. I can't let that happen again. "
"Come on Camilla, but Thomas isn't at home now is he?!" Celine said with desperation and fear
"Who knows who he is going to hit next? Me?! Or my five year old daughter?!" She raised her voice pointing inside the house. Celine sighed and continued pleading. She looked sideways and saw her husband coming towards them
"Oh. No! Camilla please", she begged crying.
"Goodness!" Camilla grunted as she finally pulled her in, entered and locked the door.
"You really need to leave that molester Celine. Aren't you even worried about yourself?" Camilla asked
Celine sniffed and did not say anything. She requested for a glass of water instead. Camilla was about to get the water from the dispenser when a loud knock was heard. The Knocks became persistent and obviously it was Lancelot
"Camilla... Camilla" Celine whispered and proceeded to ask her if she locked the door. Camilla nodded and handed over the water to her
"If he breaks into my house. I will call the police on him I swear" Camilla said angrily. "When exactly did he start hitting you Celine?"
"Six months ago" Celine said after drinking the water in a gulp
The Knocks became louder. Camilla got furious and went ahead to open the door amidst Celine' s whispers
"What is it?!" Camilla yelled "Are you trying to wake up my child?!"
"Bring out my wife now! Celine if you are in there come out now and let's go home, else, you will make thing worse between us" Lancelot yelled
"She isn't coming. You are going to kill her and I won't let that happen. I don't know why she has refused to call the cops on you each time you hit her. And a warning, the next time you touch my cousin Thomas, I am going to make you regret it" She said slamming the door at his face.
Lancelot grunted in anger:"You... Stupid...How dare you..." He walked out from her premises
After about fifteen minutes, Celine stood up and held tightly to the helm of her sweaters and told Camilla she has to go
"What? Now?!" Camilla asked unbelievably.
"Yes. Camilla. I appreciate your kindness. But he is my husband and I still love him. I am hoping things will get better between us"
"Really? Remember I am married too and this is not how my husband treats me. Besides what's the point that I try to save you and you go back in there immediately?"
"I.. I just...I have to make dinner. I am hungry."
"You are hungry or he is hungry?!" Camilla asked. But Celine told her she will be fine. She thanked her again and closed the door. Camilla watched her leave and shook her head ridiculously. Frustration and lack of needed affection is written all over Celine's face. She kept wondering how she managed to stay in such a toxic relationship.
Celine's marriage is one hell of a conjugal union. She and her husband have been married for three years, they have not been able to conceive and Lancelot would not stop blaming the situation on her. He calls her barren at any little misunderstanding talk more of the lack of care and support she faces. Most times she feels like a stranger to him and not a wife
Celine got back into the house and slammed the door nervously. Lancelot was in the kitchen getting himself a bottle of beer from the freezer. He opened it and drank so much at once that he almost emptied the bottle. Lancelot is a well built man with the perfect abs. He has the physical structure every woman would want. Even though he is married, he still has not stopped his 'dirty' affairs with other women, while he monitors his wife's every move and even checks her phone without her validation. Celine wouldn't dare complain anymore because the last time she did, she ended up with scars on her face. Celine is an elegant lady, quite plus sized with a light brown skin complexion and a brownish hair. She has beautiful set of eyes and her smile is always radiating
"I see Camilla has released you from her dungeon" Lancelot said dropping the bottle of beer
"I left on my own volition" Celine said calmly
"Oh... really? And that same Camilla you always run to whenever we have a fight, is she as barren as you?" Lancelot muttered bluntly
"What?!"
"You heard me! Is she as barren as you? Camilla is married and has a daughter and I am sure she would have had another one if her husband is always home and not based in another Country"
Tears quickly formed in Celine"s eyes :"Lance" She called. The usual way she calls him. "When are you going to stop blaming this issue of our childlessness on me? Am I the only one involved here?. I told you to let us do the broad test as the doctor advised. You didn't even listen to me"
"Why would I huh?! I don't have any problems with my body. You should check yourself! What are the nasty things you have done when you still lived with your mother at L.A? What dangerous things have you done to your organs, what have you inseminated?!" Lancelot yelled
Celine shook her head and looked at him unbelievably. She sniffed, picked her phone and dashed into her room furiously.
"Get here right now and cook me some dinner. I am starving" He said sitting down as he picked the remote to put on the TV.