Hopelessly Bound: Book 2 in the Bound series

Chapter 10

I’m writing my story so that others might see fragments of themselves. -- Lena Waithe

                    

Dear Journal,

It's been one month since I have been living as Mrs Zainab Yakubu. How dreadful it feels to wake up with no sense of direction. I find myself wandering down the halls of the house looking for something to fill my idle hours. 

On the bright side,  I finished the book of rules given to me by Mrs Binta. 

But how am I supposed to strictly adhere to a hundred rules of decorum? 

The Lord will have to help me with that.  

Zainab's eyes drifted to the gleaming ring nestled on her left ring finger and she resumed writing. 

I got a surprise last week when Mrs. Binta summoned me and Danladi to the study room to exchange rings. 

According to her, it won't look good in the eyes of society if we are without a wedding ring.  

Of course, just like me, Danladi wasn't pleased with the new arrangement. 

An image of a scowling Danladi popped up in Zainab's mind and she suddenly had the urge to write about him.  

It comforts me to know that I am not the only one uncomfortable being married to a stranger. 

In the last month,  Danladi and I have only said a handful of words to each other. We remain solely roommates.  

I can't help but wonder if we would ever be more.

Is there a little hope that we could be more? 

Do I want us to be more?

 I'm burdened with so many unanswered questions. 

I believe I will stop here.  

Zainab dropped her pen and heaved a sigh. Journaling always made her feel better but this time her heart still felt heavy.  She put a key into the keyhole of the journal  and turned the lock. 

The last thing she wanted was for someone to be privy to her thoughts and the secrets of her heart.  

She slid her journal into the drawer and rose to her feet.  

What next? 

It was a few hours to lunchtime so she didn't have to rush downstairs. 

Her eyes roamed around the room looking for something to occupy her time but alas she found nothing.  

A glimpse of her life, before she became Mrs Yakubu flashed before her and she choked out a sob. 

Her days used to be filled with classes and assignments, tests and social activities. But now, she couldn't even call her friends from school. 

How would she explain to them that she became a married woman in less than forty-eight hours?  

Her leg suddenly couldn't carry her weight and she slumped onto the edge of the bed.  

Tears blinded her vision as more images of her past filled her memory. 

If she was still in school, she would have been working on her final year project and preparing for her final exams.  In fact,  she had picked out the dress for her convocation. 

Her body quaked as silent tears ran down her face. 

All her dreams and aspirations were dashed to pieces. Anguish mingled with anger for her parents pulsed through her.