It seems everyone is invited to this dinner party but me. All family members, friends, and even some folks from church, but not me. I am totally unaware of anything going on until people at home start getting dressed up. I am curious but decide not to say anything, I will be told what I need to know. My brother-in-law comes home with his girlfriend and a couple of friends, all dressed up to go somewhere fancy. My husband and sister-in-law come downstairs dressed to go out too. Still, no one says anything to me; sitting on the couch in sweats watching TV. Then one of my brother-in-law's friends asks why I am not getting ready, and I reply "Ready for what? I guess I was not invited." I end with a pretend laugh. He smiles and shrugs uncomfortably.
I sit quietly on the couch, my husband next to me, his eyes now fixed on the TV. A car pulls up not long after and my brother-in-law announces it's time to go. Everyone in the living room starts heading out. My husband turns to me and says "Oh Auntie Justine is visiting from Cameroon with her family and has put together some sort of dinner outing."
"That's nice." is all I manage to say in response. What can I possibly say to communicate the hurt and rejection that so overwhelms me? He gives me a kiss on the cheek and walks out, oblivious to my agony. I stare at the TV, but I am not watching what is on. A minute later I hear the front door creak open. I watch the doorway eagerly, my heart bursting with hope and anticipation. He has come back for me. He is not going anywhere without me. My husband speeds through the doorway and dashes up the stairs without so much as a glance at me. He comes back down a few seconds later, struggling into his boubou.
"Bye dear. Auntie Justine said the outfit does not work without the boubou." he says over his shoulder just before he shuts the door behind him.
I sit quietly on the couch, my husband next to me, his eyes now fixed on the TV. A car pulls up not long after and my brother-in-law announces it's time to go. Everyone in the living room starts heading out. My husband turns to me and says "Oh Auntie Justine is visiting from Cameroon with her family and has put together some sort of dinner outing."
"That's nice." is all I manage to say in response. What can I possibly say to communicate the hurt and rejection that so overwhelms me? He gives me a kiss on the cheek and walks out, oblivious to my agony. I stare at the TV, but I am not watching what is on. A minute later I hear the front door creak open. I watch the doorway eagerly, my heart bursting with hope and anticipation. He has come back for me. He is not going anywhere without me. My husband speeds through the doorway and dashes up the stairs without so much as a glance at me. He comes back down a few seconds later, struggling into his boubou.
"Bye dear. Auntie Justine said the outfit does not work without the boubou." he says over his shoulder just before he shuts the door behind him.
Comments
Post a Comment