I deserve better

        Michael stood at the door. He had a belt in his hand. He looked calm, but all his emotions were visible in the hollow of his inquisitive eyes. You could see the rage in them. 

Rachelle was sitting on the floor with her knees bent. She was leaning against the bed and facing her husband. Huge drops of tears were streaming down her cheeks. They flowed freely as if begging for mercy from this man who had no compassion whatsoever. They were the manifestation of great helplessness. Her whole body was shaking and her heart was pounding as she stared at the belt hanging in her captor's hand. It was so innocent, but the mere sight of it petrified the poor woman. Wretched belt, you have witnessed so many atrocities against your will! 

• Michael, I beg you, stop, she whispered, imploring him with her eyes. For heaven's sake, let me explain. You get angry over nothing, I can explain everything to you. These words clashed with the icy silence of her interlocutor. 

With the ferocity of a wild beast, he approached his prey, who had, by reflex, placed his arms on his head. In a flurry of blows, he let all the rage in his heart flow out. The belt fell, rose, and then fell again about twenty times. Each blow even more painful and brutal than the last. Rachelle rolled on the ground, bruised, begging for mercy from Michael. Despite her cries and pleas, Michael did not let go. The belt was being torn to pieces by his wrath. His agony was lost in the awful cathedral silence of the night. 

He threw away the remaining skeleton of his weapon and lifted his wife by her hair. He slammed her against the wall and slapped her hard. Then he threw her to the floor, she hit the bedside. This inflicted terrible pain on her, and she was unable to get up, on the verge of fainting. Out of breath, Michael sat down on the bed, admired his prowess, and congratulated himself. His inflated ego made him feel like Muhammad Ali, except that, Ali was not a coward and fought with his equals

 Rachelle came to her senses in the early hours of the morning, lying on the ground with her dress in tatters. Her face was swollen and she could still feel the burns from the belt that had left marks all over her body. Someone was knocking at the door. Before she had even run through all the scenarios that were running through her mind, the door opened. The room was pitch black, but in the light of the new day, she could see a shadowy figure crossing the threshold. Immediately she recognized the being who was now entering the room, took a few steps to press the light switch. The light exposed a scene worthy of a burglary. 

• Mummy! said a small teenage voice, overwhelmed by the spectacle before her. 
• Get out, my dear, get out of the room, Rachelle whispered. 

She didn't want the girl to see her in this sorry state. But it was too late because the girl came towards her and helped her to sit down, leaning against the wall. 

• I asked you to leave... 
•  What happened to you, Mum? Look, you have a butter eye! And all these wounds are awful to see. 
• Nothing darling, I'm fine. 
• Shall I call Auntie Aurora or the emergency room? 
• No, you're not calling anyone, I'm fine. I just fell when I got out of the shower. 
• Don't lie, Mum, did Dad do it? Why did he do this to you? He's a monster, I hate him! 
• Don't you dare say anything to anyone? I told you I'm fine, it's just an accident. Forget about it, go and get ready for school. I'll be down in a few minutes to take you. 
• I don't understand why you won't leave him when he's doing these monstrosities to you, the teenager said tearfully. 
• Please leave now," ordered her mother, who felt that she too would soon burst into tears.

Gaille got up, devastated, and left her mother, who was trying to stand. 

• I'll bring you some hot water for your wounds. 

Five hours had passed and Rachelle was in her office. She tried to work, but it was hopeless, she couldn't. A terrible headache came over her. When she came out of the office, she almost bumped into her friend Aurora. In fact, Aurora was not just a friend to Rachelle. She was her best friend and confidante. Rachelle and Aurora had met about fifteen years ago when they were in their final year of high school. Rachelle and her parents had just moved to the capital in the middle of the school year. They had no choice but to quickly enroll their daughter in the nearest high school, especially as she was in exam classes. As a newcomer, Rachelle did not know anyone. However, she did not have time to feel like an intruder because from the first day, Aurora, who was the head of the class, took on the role of being her guide. 

• I'm not going to let you out of my sight, she had told her, smiling. 

Aurora was a strong, jovial, and taciturn teenager. Her father, a wealthy businessman in the real estate business, gave her everything she asked for. Divorced from his Finish wife when his daughter was seven years old, he devoted himself solely to his business and to her, of whom he had custody. The two girls became friends. They had the same taste in clothes and the same professional aspirations. Physically, Aurora resembled a model, with slender legs, and a Pocahontas-like head of hair. As for Rachelle, she had the build of sportive and the character of a jaguar. Together, the two were an explosive cocktail! After obtaining their high school diploma and brilliant law studies, they had opened their own law firm. The firm was very successful and was named among the best in the world. 

• Hey, Ms. Morey, where are you running at this pace? You almost ran me over, said Aurora in a false tone of reproach. 
• A thousand apologies to my dear, I'm feeling a bit grumpy today.
• You look terrible, what's wrong? 
• Just a little headache, it's nothing, it will pass. 
• Are you sure? And since when do you wear make-up like a mural?
• Oh, I was late and I didn't have time to put on my make-up properly.  
• You can't even lie, Rachelle. What's wrong with you? Why won't you speak to me? You can tell me anything, you know that, so please don't bullshit me. 

Rachelle knew that her friend was not fooled and that she suspected something. 

• Don't worry, I told you. It's not much, just an argument with Michael, she answered quickly. 
• Well, I thought we weren't hiding anything. Apparently, you don't trust me, she said, turning away. 
• Aurora... 

She was obviously on edge and Rachelle felt bad for lying. But she didn't have the courage to tell him what she was going through. It was too hard, she herself was powerless against what was happening in her married life, she wouldn't understand. 

After taking some pills, Rachelle felt better, her headache was gone. Accompanied by Aurora, she went to speak at a conference on gender-based violence, invited by a university. She was calling on women not to be stigmatized by any misogyny, she, the woman lawyer, was unable to face her husband and put into practice the advice she was so confidently giving. What a paradox! 

• Your intervention was enriching. I admire your involvement in this battle for women's welfare, said a student, shaking her hand. 
• Thank you, thank you, Rachelle replied, moving to catch up with Aurora. 
• Aurora, please wait. The latter turned around. 
• It's already noon. Do you want to have lunch together before going back to the office? I'd like that. 
• I know you're trying to make up for it, come on, you coward! 

Rachelle couldn't hold back a smile. She was glad that Aurora wasn't giving her a hard time. They chose a restaurant where they used to eat. They especially liked this place because it was so quiet. The food was good, and the price was affordable. When they entered the restaurant, a waitress greeted them with a broad smile and led them to the table where they usually sat. Rachelle ordered a steak with potatoes, Aurora, rice in seed sauce with lamb meat. Both chose mango juice and plain yogurt as their drinks. 

• I'm starving today, said Aurora. 
• You're a glutton, it's normal, you're always hungry. 
• But you eat a lot more than I do, you just hide it well. They burst out laughing. 
• So, are you going to tell me what you have now? I know when you're not well. We've known each other for ages. A few months ago I noticed a change in you, you're not the same, you're always in your head. I'm really worried.

Rachelle could see from her friend's expression that she had no interest in lying. So, driven by a strange need to free herself, she opened up to her. She told her the cause of her change in behaviour over the last few months. She spoke tearfully, sobbing, as her friend looked on in daze and fear. 

• Oh my God, my darling! said Aurora, taking her in her arms. How could you keep all this to yourself? It's horrible! 
• I didn't have the courage to talk about it, Rachelle replied, spasms running through her. The waitress brought the food but they were too upset to think about eating. Aurora paid the bill and then took Rachelle to a park to talk. 
• Calm down, honey, don't cry anymore. That man doesn't deserve it, we'll work it out. 

She remembered that it was through her that Michael and Rachelle had met. It was she who had arranged a meeting between them. The latter was a distant cousin of hers who had studied in the United States. He was a successful businessman. He was a rather handsome, quiet, and single young man. He was also humble and discreet, which Rachelle liked very much. After their first meeting, they fell in love. A year later, they said "I do" at a lavish wedding in Dubai. Michael had always proved to be a caring and loving husband. He loved his wife dearly and took good care of their little family, following the arrival of their daughter, Gaïlle. Michael always showered his wife with tenderness. Aurora did not understand why he had been able to beat her. She looked at Rachelle in tears and despair, indignant. 

• You will not go back to him. A man who beats you will one day kill you. You will come to my house with the child until we find a solution. 
• Are you asking me to abandon my husband? 
• Do you call that a husband? A husband who hits his wife is not a husband. He has no right to beat you. 
• I love him, I can't live without him. No, I can't leave him. 
• What kind of love are you talking about? In this marriage, you are the only one who is in love. If Michael loved you, he wouldn't hit you. You've forgotten everything you just said at the conference? You were giving advice to these women and girls. They take you as an example. You can't even honour your own advice? 
• Advice is easy to give. Putting it into practice is a different story. I think it's just a rough patch, and Michael will mellow out very quickly. 
• You can't force yourself to believe all this. You are a strong, committed woman, you defend abused women in court every week. Why are you doing this to yourself? You've changed completely, don't go on living this ordeal. I beg you! Don't let this marriage destroy you, leave it and file a complaint about violence. I can't, I don't have the courage. We have a daughter and I don't want her to grow up without her father or her mother. And, everything can be sorted out. All couples go through dark moments. 

Aurora understood that Rachelle was resigning herself to silence, something that she tenaciously condemned. She wondered why her friend was so helpless in this situation. What she did not know was that her friend was afraid. She was afraid of being alone. 

The room was frozen in a huge silence. No one dared to move or even breathe. The story Professor Khans had just told had probably had an effect. He looked around the auditorium to gauge the mood of the students. 

• How do you think this story ended? he said. About twenty hands went up. 
• I think she probably left when she realized that this situation was not normal. And she was able to start a new life, said a student. 
•  I'm sure that wasn't the case. Women like to suffer. Even though the guy was punching her, she stayed on, supposedly out of "love". Her husband probably cracked her skull one day, women are really very stupid! said another student in the front row with a touch of black humor. 

There was sarcastic laughter and indignation from the girls' side. 

• Do you think women are stupid? I am not surprised to hear this from an ignorant and macho man like you. Women can appear moderately intelligent when they love, but this is not the case. This shows the purity and sincerity of women's love. They truly love and often remain blind to the actions of their beloved. Unlike you men, who only think about your sex and are good at using violence when you feel belittled or diminished by a woman, a girl in the room shouted virulently. 

A heated debate started between girls and boys. They were so excited that it took Professor Khans minutes to calm them down. Sitting down in front of these young people who were waiting impatiently for his opinion. 

• Hobbes was right when he said: "Man is a wolf to man". Indeed, it is permissible to note to what extent the other can represent a threat to us. In the daily life of every human being, it is almost impossible to do without the presence of a party. They add to our existence and help us to exist. What I mean is that even if the other person is a threat to my person, he or she also contributes to my fulfillment as a human being, and is therefore indispensable to me. Thus, in all religions, it is recognized that human beings will live as a couple. A woman and a man are destined to unite and perpetuate the cycle of humanity. If we are unanimous on the fact that God created the woman from one side of the man, nothing tells us that the latter was not important. I am going to speak to you young men today. You are not involved in matters concerning the struggle for equality or at least respect for women. Usually, these kinds of audiences or conferences are exclusively for women. They are indeed the main ones concerned, but the role of men is part figuring. And this is what many feminists omit in their struggle. It is all very well to build a shell for women, talk to them about their rights, and include in their minds that they have value and rights in the same way as men. However, by not doing anything about men, this fight will be of little interest by making them assimilate a certain number of things. Young men, know that, although it is true that women can appear to be unwise most of the time and resigned. They stagnate totally in the principle of inferiority imposed by our societies. Note that, since the creation of human beings, men have been considered as the king, the strong, the leader, the imperturbable. The woman is reduced to a simple companion, a procreator, a weak and unstable being. Girl grows up with the memory that she must respect and submit to men. The boy, that he is superior to her, that he can do whatever he wants to her. This is where the major concern in this story comes from. Gentlemen, you must know that if God has created women for us, it is because we are not as strong as we think. We are supposed to find comfort, strength, support, and a shoulder in her. It's about how and how much this creature is complementary to us and not our slave. Society tends to blame a battered woman for staying with her abuser despite the abuse. But this same misogynistic society seems to ignore the stronghold it has on her through stereotypes and prejudices. A woman who decides to leave her violent husband will be labeled as insubordinate. If she decides to stay, she will either be seen as a fool or by incongruous ideologies, seen as a fighting, submissive woman who fights for her marriage, an example. We, men, have our share of responsibility in this struggle. Let us stop seeing women as things, our property, but as our companions, our halves. In the future, educate your sons. Teach them respect for women. Let's act in both directions. To conclude my intervention, Rachelle, fortunately, did not die under the blows of Michael. On her way home this evening, after her discussion with Aurora, she said to herself: << I can't eat, I can't sleep, I can't stop my hands from shaking. As soon as the sun rises, I will leave this place. I deserve better >>.

 She divorced, and a year later she became my wife.