Chapter Five:
WHEN THE BLESSINGS LEFT
For the first few weeks after Miriam left, Fatuma felt as though she had finally won a battle that had lasted for years.
She walked around the compound with a confidence she had never had before. The second house no longer felt like a place she had to share emotionally with another woman. Miriam was gone. Sarah was gone with her. There was no longer another wife watching her movements, no longer a woman whose presence reminded her that she had entered a marriage that had already existed.
Omar was now spending most of his nights with her.
Fatuma enjoyed every moment of it.
She bought clothes she had previously considered too expensive. She spent Omar's money without worrying about whether Miriam needed anything. When Omar brought home food, she no longer wondered whether he would divide it between two homes. When relatives visited, Fatuma welcomed them proudly because she believed she had finally become the woman of the house.
She did not realize that happiness built on another person's pain rarely remains untouched by consequences.
For a while, Omar seemed happy too.
He had convinced himself that the divorce had brought peace.
There were no more arguments between Miriam and Fatuma. No more complaints. No more accusations.
But there was one thing Omar could not silence.
His memories.
Sometimes he would wake up in the middle of the night and remember Miriam kneeling beside the bed, praying.
She had always prayed for him.
When money was scarce, she prayed.
When work was difficult, she prayed.
When his family spoke against her, she prayed.
When they had no child, she prayed.
Omar had once laughed gently whenever he found her awake before dawn.
"You pray too much," he would tell her.
And Miriam would smile.
"One day you will understand."
He never had.
Not then.
But life was about to teach him.
Omar continued working at Ali's home.
His job was not glamorous, but it provided him with a reliable income. He cleaned, helped with household duties and took care of whatever work Ali's family needed done. He had worked there for years, and although Amina, Ali's wife, had never liked him, he had endured her behavior because he needed the job.
Amina had always considered Omar slow and careless.
She often complained about the way he did his work.
Sometimes she would criticize him in front of other workers.
Omar usually kept quiet.
He had learned that there was little value in fighting with someone who controlled his livelihood.
But one afternoon, something happened that changed everything.
Omar had been ironing clothes for the family.
Amina had a dress she loved very much.
While Omar was ironing it, his attention shifted for only a moment.
The iron stayed in one place too long.
When he lifted it, he saw the damage.
The fabric had burned.
His heart sank.
Amina entered the room moments later.
"What happened to my dress?"
Omar swallowed.
"I am sorry, madam."
She picked it up and looked at the burnt section.
Her face changed.
"You burned it?"
"I am sorry. It was an accident."
Amina exploded.
She shouted at him in front of the family members and other workers.
Then, in anger, she slapped him.
Omar stood still.
He did not raise his hand.
He did not insult her.
He simply lowered his head.
"I am sorry."
Amina walked away furious.
Omar remained where he was.
He felt humiliated, but he needed his job.
The next day, he went back to work as usual.
He had no idea that before the day ended, his life would change forever....