Behind Church Doors - S01 E12

Story 8 months ago

Behind Church Doors - S01 E12

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 12

Changing into a pair of pajamas, I slide under the covers next to Zyair and he pulls me to him

as he starts kissing my neck.

“Stop,” I whisper.

“I miss you.”

‘”Not tonight babe. I need to sleep, I have to go to church tomorrow.”

“When will this church bullshit end?”

“Excuse me?”

“Just because I have been quiet doesn’t mean I am okay with all this church drama. You said you would go there once and now you are there every Sunday.”

“I have been taking membership classes.”

He sits upright,” What is that supposed to mean?”

“I will be graduating tomorrow from my membership class which means I will officially become a member of the church.”

“Are you for real?”

“Yes.”

“You made such a decision and didn’t think I needed to know about it?”

“I know you would get mad about it so I went ahead and made the decision for us.”

“We are married, you can’t go around acting like you are a single woman. You will not go back to that church again.”

I get up from the bed upset and look at him, “that church has given me a job. And I am sure you know if not for that job we would be homeless by now. Have you forgotten I paid the house rent this month with money that came from that same church you are trashing,” I say with a loud tone.

“You think we would have been homeless? Tia I may not have enough money but I would never let things get that far. I try the best I can to find money for rent and our basic essentials and you know that.”

“Maybe your best is not good enough.”

‘I don’t like this version of you, I want my wife back.”

“I am the same woman you married. I just have different priorities now.I want to ensure that we don’t have to live hand to mouth.”

“You need to leave that church. I don’t think it’s yielding a positive impact on our marriage.”

“I have been offered a full scholarship by the church. I get to go back to school next year and complete my studies so I can get a decent job and have a better future. Now tell me why I would want to leave the church that is offering me my dream on a silver plate.”

“Does that future even have me in it?”

“Of course you are my husband.”

“Because all this is about you.”

“It’s about us. You should come to the church and see what the man of God has to say..”

“I am never coming there…,” he cuts me off.

“Your loss.”

“Can I ask you one question and you promise to be completely honest?”

“Shoot.”

“Do you regret marrying me?” he asks.

“I love you Zyair and ….,”

“Do you?”

I shrug, “I think we should have waited a bit before getting married.”

“And so that’s a yes?”

“We have been struggling for some time now and…,” I pause. He is looking at me with a pained expression on his face.

“Babe you know I love you.”

“At this point I don’t know if that love is even enough to save this marriage because we don’t seem to be on the same page.”

“Oh now you want to divorce me?”

‘”I didn’t mention anything about a divorce.”

I am about to respond when my phone chooses that exact minute to ring so I pull it out of my bag and stare at the screen for the caller ID-

Bishop K’s name flashes.

I look up at Zyair and he is giving me a look I can’t quite put in words, if I excuse myself to pick this call he will be suspicious. Zyair and I have always picked calls in each other’s presence, until now I have never had a reason to walk away from him to answer a phone call.

“Hello.”

“Tia! Are you home now?”

“Yes I am sir.”

“I am sorry for the way I acted earlier. There’s an urgent matter that God needed to communicate with me.”

“Concerning me?”

“Yes.”

“What is it?”

“It’s not something I can tell you about on the phone. I will find time for us to talk about it within the course of the week.”

“Okay sir.”

“What’s with the sir? Did I call at a bad time?”

“Yes, I was having a discussion with my husband.”

“Is everything alright?”

“Yes.”

“Okay I will see you in church tomorrow.”

“Sure.”

“You are very beautiful. I hope you don’t forget that.”

‘”Thank you.”

“Good night.”

“Good night.”

“And who was that?” Zyair asks when I place the phone on the table.

“The pastor from church.”

“Why is he calling you this time? Does he know you are married?”

I laugh,” I am not doing this with you now.”

“I just asked a simple question.”

“You heard me talk about you to him.”

“I don’t want him calling you this late. Make it clear to him or I will visit him.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

‘”Watch me.”

“I am going to bed. I don’t want to say something I will regret in the morning and neither do you.”

“I will sleep on the couch,” he grabs his pillow and phone.

“Well, suit yourself.”

“Goodnight,” he responds, exiting the room.

I don’t bother to reply. Instead I turn off the light and slide under the covers.