My parents are deceased. So when I got married, my husband became my family. He was my everything. When I got pregnant, I didn’t have any family to turn to. I didn’t feel that void in my life though. My husband’s presence filled everything that was missing.

He continued being supportive until I had the baby through Caesarean section. The stitching wasn’t done well. I had to go back after two weeks for them to redo the stitches.

Throughout this period, my husband was my support. I didn’t have anyone else apart from him. He did the heavy lifting around the house while I took my time to heal and look after the baby.

Everything was going on smoothly until he started listening to his brother and other men around him. They told him that men are not supposed to do the things he was doing to ease my burden at home.

Before I knew it, this man stopped doing everything he was doing to support me. He started treating me as if he didn’t care about my welfare. Even when it came to money, he wouldn’t give freely. I would have to talk and talk, sometimes to the point of fighting with him before he would give me money for upkeep.

Recently, I complained about his behaviour. This man got angry and told me, “If you are tired then let’s quit the marriage.” I thought it was one of those things people say when they are upset but he was serious.

At my blind side, he packed a few of the baby’s stuff and left home. He didn’t carry baby food or breast milk. Just baby clothes and diapers.

Can you believe it took me six to seven hours to find them at his brother’s place? The baby cried until he turned pale. I remember asking my brother-in-law, “Why didn’t you send your brother home when you saw that the baby was hungry and crying?”

There and then, my husband’s brother started insulting me. “You are a helpless woman,” he said, “You gave birth but no one visited you to help you.”

I answered, “It’s not my fault that I lost my mum and dad but I take comfort in the knowledge that I have God in my corner.”

I then told him that if he was a good brother to my husband, he would have done something when he saw the baby crying nonstop. As I was talking I felt a sharp sting on my cheek, “Wham!”

My husband had slapped me. He wanted to do more but people around held him.

In the midst of the commotion, my husband’s brother took a cane and attempted to whip me with it. Luckily for me, one of the people around stood in his path, and he ended up hitting that person instead.

I was carrying the baby while all this was happening. That’s what surprised me the most, that my husband would raise his hand on me especially when I was carrying his child.

This is someone who knows my body hasn’t completely healed after childbirth. That’s why he was helping ease my burdens. But the moment they told him a man shouldn’t be doing those things, he has started acting as if he doesn’t care about me.

Just last Sunday, he had to travel. This man knows I haven’t returned to work since I had the baby but he refused to leave money for me. It turned into an argument. I seized his phone and insisted I would give it back if he gave me money.

So he struggled with me over the phone until I got tired and left it for him. I don’t know how we got here but this is not how we began. This man used to dote on me but now I have to beg him before he does anything for me.

I have tried my best to talk to him but he is not interested in listening to me. I don’t have anyone to come and speak on my behalf. What do you think I should do? At this point, I’m considering leaving the marriage. Is that too far-fetched?

– Nylah