JUSTICE AT LAST?
He dragged me into our bedroom, releasing my hand unceremoniously. His grip had left deep imprints on my wrist that were starting to swell. He locked the door behind him and turned to me. There was no way out. I saw his gaze turn dark, a muscle twitching in his jaw, and I knew what was to follow. It was the calm immediately before the storm. See, it had happened so many times before that I knew what to expect. The tension in the air was palpable. His hands balled into fists by his sides, his breath coming out in short, quick bursts, as his chest rose and fell. I saw as he suddenly became unable to rein in his rage, and I went to cover my head because that was always his first aim. What a miscalculation on my part, because today, he had other plans. His fist unexpectedly landed on my tummy, expelling all the air from my lungs. Everything went white. The pain sliced through me, and I went crashing back, hitting the wall behind me. The impact left me powerless, and I slid down, my knees unable to hold me.
The pain was excruciating. It came suddenly, making me contort my body to try and control it. It radiated from my back, spreading to my tummy. I doubled over in pain, clutching my sides, gasping for air. From my blurry line of vision, I saw him approach. I tried to crawl back, but there was nowhere to go. I couldn’t escape. My heart rate spiked. He crouched to my level, breathing his clean, minty breath in my direction, a smirk on that handsome, deceptive face. I averted my gaze, my breath coming out in short, painful gasps. There was no getting away from him this time. There never was.
He gripped my chin tightly, forcing me to look at him.
“Darling, this is your fault. See what you’ve made me do? I warned you against speaking at the company dinner. You are there to look pretty, not embarrass me. But what do you do? You decide to embarrass me by speaking to my male employees and laughing with them. Do you know what they are probably thinking about me right now? A man who cannot control his wife. I hate being embarrassed, lest of all by you, and you know it. Maybe this will remind you to obey me when I give you simple instructions.”
He let go of me, and I stupidly thought, ‘thank God its over.’
Might have thanked the heavens too soon, because the next thing I felt was a resounding slap to my face, whipping my face to the side. The sound echoed in the room, and for a moment, my world shifted on its axis, before my head started pounding.
‘Remember, if anyone asks, you fell in the bathroom.’
A shudder went through my body. I unconsciously started shaking and whimpering. Big mistake. His whole demeanor changed, that smirk slipping off in a nanosecond. His hand grabbed my neck, tightening, squeezing, cutting off my air supply.
‘Say a word of this to anyone, you’re dead. Understood?’
My response wasn’t fast enough, it seemed, and he tightened his hold further. His words came out deliberately, his voice cold.
‘I asked, understood?’
I nodded as I always did, getting lightheaded. Seemingly reassured, he smiled.
‘Don’t forget to clean up this mess, darling.’
He stood and, turning on his heel, strolled out. As soon as I was sure he was out of hearing range, I exhaled. I felt the pain spread, becoming a throbbing ache, especially around my abdomen. I felt a gush of something warm between my legs and I looked down. That’s when I noticed the blood spreading on my white dress. My body went cold. No! No! No! I clutched my tummy, tears streaming down my face. The cramping felt like knives twisting in my belly, relentless, increasing in intensity. My baby! My poor baby! The world fell away, the reality of what was happening hitting me, and all I could think of was, that my baby must live. Even if it was the last thing I’d do. I couldn’t lose my precious baby! No! Not like this! I crawled to the bedside table, leaving behind a trail of blood, and, hands trembling, picked up the phone. I dialed the forbidden number, 911, and waited.
I snapped out of my reverie. He sat across the courthouse, glaring daggers at me. I didn’t flinch. The case of the beloved government Minister who abused his wife, leading to the loss of their unborn baby, had attracted national interest. Maybe, just maybe, the law would prevail over his power and money this time.
The judge's final words echoed through the courtroom, and with that single "guilty," I felt years of agony melt away. A lifetime of hidden bruises and silenced cries had finally been seen, recognized, and condemned. Across the room, his face was a mask of disbelief, stripped of the power he had wielded to control and terrify. The case that had once been buried in secrecy was now a national symbol—a reminder that no status or wealth can excuse abuse. As I stood in the courtroom, a glimmer of hope bloomed within me, a resolve that my baby’s memory would live on through this victory, through change.
As we commemorate the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence themed, “Towards Beijing +30: UNiTE to End Violence Against Women and Girls” let my story be a call to action. No survivor should suffer in silence, and no perpetrator should hide in the shadows. Stand with us. Speak up, support survivors, push for stronger laws, and demand accountability. Together, we can end the cycle of violence and build a world where justice prevails, and safety is everyone’s right.
By Jackline Omongo
RHNK Youth Advocate.
