In our case, they seemed to build something,
When I intervened, my world was shattered
not just a mirror but a wall against us. My
when my husband harshly uttered to me that I
husband and his mother selfishly took away
was really nothing of value to him, and I should
my dearest Gracia from me. I wanted to
leave their house immediately. My heart bled. I
cuddle her, feed her, sing a lullaby and play
was awakened from my deepest sleep and finally
with her along with KC who was literally
realized that what I was dealing with, right then,
ignored by them as they focused on Gracia.
was not an illusion. It was never an illusion. It
They never gave me the chance to fulfill my
was real. I cuddled my little KC who
mothering tasks to Gracia too. I tried to bear
unexpectedly encountered the ferocity from her
the hardship, the pain in dealing with them
father. I tried to get Gracia, awakened by the
who totally changed from bad to worst. All I
loud voice of her father, out of her wooden crib.
could do was to pray, to pray harder night
Too bad, my husband quickly snatched Gracia
and day, with tears running on my cheeks.
and stood in front of me saying those
unbelievable words I never expected to hear
But everything was meant to come to an end,
from him—my husband of less than three years—
and I thanked God for answering my prayers.
that I was only good in bed. And with finality, he
God used KC to wake me up from my worst
blurted out for all their neighbors to hear, for in
nightmare. KC, when she was still young, was
that place where we had been living, the houses
a cry baby. On that fateful day, when KC, who
were built not far from each other: “You may
was then a frail nineteen-month-old child,
leave and never come back anymore!”
was crying again, my husband beat her with
his bare hands with so much ferocity that the
Leaving Gracia in the arms of her father didn’t
little child cringed with pain and cried louder.
mean the battle was done. I was aware that
We were then in front of my mother-in-law
another Goliath lay ahead in our way, but no
who should have readily asked her son not to
matter what, I would risk everything for my
be that cruel to his daughter. What I saw sent
Gracia. I had sworn to God and myself to fight
shivers to my spine: her eyes, to me, were
and to take her away from that hell, from the
sparkling with pleasure.
wretchedness brought by her father, my husband
—my ex-husband— because the moment KC and I
had left their place, I had made up my mind to
end our relationship knowing it was best to part
ways.
Faith Heart Magazine l 24