Forgive him

All Words: 624



It was the neighbours who finally intervened and saved her life. They had been hearing the screams for days ... weeks .... months, and they knew she was pregnant. Their initial response, like everyone else's, was 'It's a domestic matter between husband and wife, we must not interfere.'

But when the screaming reached its crescendo at 1 AM, they couldn't bear it and they went across and demanded he unlock the door and let them see her. As soon as the door was open, she rushed past them in her torn nightie, without any footwear on, her hair falling all over her face. She ran out on to the road, her husband slammed the door, the neighbours, after a moment's hesitation, decided the best course of action was to follow her and see that she was safe.

It was a wonder there was a cab going by at that hour. She hailed it, told the cabbie she had no money but would pay when she reached her grandfather's house. The neighbours got on their scooter and followed without her knowledge, to keep an eye on her.

When she alighted at her grandfather's house, the neighbours paid the cabbie and stood with her as she rang the doorbell and waited. The old man himslef answered the summons, and stood in horror as he saw the blood-stained figure of his granddaughter crying before him.

Things moved quickly over the next few day. There was a police complaint, court proceedings -- and while he was absolved of any criminal charges, they were husband and wife no longer and he had given up all rights to the baby she was carrying.

It was months later that the word 'love' was used in connection with the episode.

"He loved you too much," her mother told her.

They were sitting on the sofa side by side, the thin mother and the daughter who was big with the life she was holding in her womb. The mother was massaging her daughter and future grandchild, and they were talking as only a mom-and-daughter could when alone together.

"He loved you too much," the mother repeated, rubbing her daughter's bulging belly.

"Perhaps," the daughter replied. "Perhaps."

"If he had loved you less, he wouldn't have got so jealous."

"Hmmmm. A little to the left, Ma. It feels good when you rub it like that."

"Have you forgiven him?"

The daughter leaned her head against her mother's shoulder. She had thought this over many times, and now the answer came readily.

"Yes," she replied. "yes, Ma, I have forgiven him."

The mother smiled. "That's my daughter," she said softly. "Now you can move on."

Both were silent for a while. The daughter was remembering, and letting go. How he had beat her with his belt. How he had held her by the shoulders and whacked her against the bare floor. She was remembering and letting go ... shuddering, and then lying quite still against her mother's shoulder. "I forgive him Ma. He loved me too much."

He didn't want her to talk to any man except her father and her brother. He didn't want her to go anyplace but her office. He didn't want her to do this, that and the other -- and if she did, it resulted in a beating. Sometimes he beat her on suspicion, sometimes when something had actually occurred.

She thought he would stop for the sake of his child, but he didn't. She was relieved now to be with her parents, be looked after and await the life that was to come.

"You have a baby girl," the nurse told her.

She looked at her daughter. She cuddled the small being to her breast. He had helped create this miracle. She forgave him.