{"time":1683662600929,"blocks":[{"id":"sT-wTSDf0h","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Adaugo sat by the stream contemplating her future and thinking about how much she hated her life. It angered her that decisions about her own life could not (and would not) be made by her.
She watched the water flow and wondered if she could go with it, far away from her miserable life. Maybe she would sink and never come up. Just like her hope of picking her own husband.
At that thought, she picked up a stone and threw it into the stream. At least she would have been fine if the man her family chose was worthy. But no! Uchenna was an excuse for a man. Short, frail, sickly even. His physical qualities were not his fault, but his stupidity was.
He blurted out words without thinking and was too weak to even defend himself against those he angered. He drank himself into the gutters on many occasions and slept with whatever woman was foolish enough to loosen her wrapper for him.But his father had the biggest yam barn in the village and was wealthy. So when they came for her hand, Adaugo's father and uncles did not say no.
How much she wanted to choke her Uncle Emeka with his own beads. The old fool told her to count herself lucky Uchenna even wanted her. She politely replied that he should marry Uchenna if he thought he was such a good match and stormed away before he could slap her on the mouth.
She was disgusted that Uchenna wanted her. He was not the one she wanted.
And she was scared. So scared of what she would suffer at the hands of Uchenna. The unfaithfulness, the heartbreak, the neglect. She was scared of being with a man she didn't love.
She gasped as strong arms surrounded her and lifted her up. Obiagu always had the habit of sneaking up on her. Also, it was hard to hear footsteps over the sound of the running stream.
Obiagu was a man's man. Strong, dependable, and wise. He never ran his mouth, and he always said the right things. After losing both parents, Obiagu fought for a better life for himself and his siblings. He became one of the most famous hunters in the village and surrounding villages as well. He had more than enough to take care of Adaugo.
Obiagu was not perfect but he was everything she ever wanted in a man.
\"Adaugo m\", he whispered in her ear. She loved it when he called her his. But this time, the butterflies died in her belly. By the next Nkwo market day, she won't be his anymore. She could not help the sob that left her.
Obiagu spun her around and lifted her face to his.
\"Adaugo m, what is the matter?\" Adaugo broke down in tears, her body shook with the force of her sobs.
\"It is alright. Whatever the matter is, o ga di nma. It will be alright,\" he said, as he hugged her and rubbed her back.
They sat side by side, with their thighs touching, while looking at the stream. \"My kinsmen are selling me to Uchenna, Maazi Okonkwo's son\", Adaugo said.
Obiagu was silent. She waited for him to speak but he said nothing. She turned her head to look at him, but his eyes were fixed on the water in front of them. She knew he was not talkative, but she expected more from him after hearing he was about to lose his love.
\"Obiagu, do you have nothing to say?\"
Silence.
\"Nothing at all?\"
Silence.
She began to get up, but he held her back.
\"Adaugo, go home\".
She didn't try to hide her disappointment. But Obiagu was not done.
\"Go home, and when you wake up, Uchenna will cease to exist\"."}}],"version":"2.26.5"}