I buried him before his death

Marriage is often described as a union of two souls, but in some homes, it becomes a battlefield of expectations, cultural obligations, and silent suffering.

I, Natty, walked into my marriage full of hope and love, only to be dragged through pain and disappointment, all in the name of "family."

I married Liam, the firstborn in a family of seven. A responsible, charming man who loved his people dearly. Maybe too dearly.

His siblings were all grown, two working in other towns, two in college, and two still in high school. I, on the other hand,is a primary school teacher. My siblings were also adults. Our father had passed, and our peasant mother could barely support herself, let alone anyone else. My elder sister would occasionally help, and I knew I had to stand strong, for my children, for my family, for myself.

Shortly after we got married, Liam’s family insisted that his two college-going siblings, Joy and Brian, move in with us. “They need a stable home,” I was told. I agreed, after all, marriage is about compromise, right?

But things went downhill from there.

Since the kids were in college with flexible schedules and my...