WOMB ON TRIAL EPISODE 2 I could barely sleep that night. My mind replayed the meeting over and over like a nightmare on repeat. The looks on their faces, the venom in their voices—bãrren women, other options. Emeka lay beside me, his back turned, his breathing steady. How could he sleep so peacefully after what happened today? I turned to him, staring at his motionless form in the dim light of our bedroom. "Emeka," I whispered. He didn't respond. I placed a hand on his shoulder and shook him gently. "Emeka, are you awake?" A sigh escaped his lips before he turned slightly. "What is it, Nkechi?" His voice was tired, irritated. "What happened today… why didn't you defend me?" My voice cracked, but I fought to keep my emotions in check. His silence was deafening. "Emeka," I pushed further, my pulse quickening. "Do you agree with them?" He sat up abruptly, running a hand over his face. "Nkechi, this is how things are done in my family. You knew this." My breath caught. "Knew what? That my womb would be a topic for discussion? That my worth would be measured by a male child I haven’t even had yet?" He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "You're overreacting." I stared at him in disbelief. "Overreacting? Your mother practically told me that if I don’t give birth to a boy, I have no place here!" He didn’t deny it. He just lay back down, turning his back to me again. The lump in my throat burned. I wanted to scream, to shake him, to make him understand the weight of what was happening. But I did nothing. I just lay there, eyes wide open, feeling more alone than I had ever felt in my life. Then, just as sleep threatened to pull me under, I heard something. Emeka's voice. It was faint, almost a whisper. I turned slightly, realizing he was on the phone. "Yes, Mama," he murmured. "I understand… I'm on your side. But I can’t rush her… No, no, she won’t suspect anything. She thinks I’m neutral." The room began to spin. My heart pounded so loudly I feared he would hear it. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to steady my breathing. I was married to a man who was pretending to be my ally while plotting against me with his family. My hands clenched into fists beneath the covers. I had to get out of here. But first, I needed to know exactly what they were planning. TO BE CONTINUED.... ✍️✍️✍️✍️ #catalystboost #Storytelling #virals #story #storytime

WOMB ON TRIAL EPISODE 1: I think I made a mistake choosing Emeka. Or maybe the mistake was marrying into this family. If only I had seen the signs earlier… if only I had listened to my instincts. But love has a way of blinding you, making you believe that all will be well. I should have known something was wrong when my mother-in-law smiled too much at our wedding. That was not the smile of a mother welcoming a daughter—it was the smile of a queen who had just acquired a servant. Now, here I sit in the middle of a family meeting, feeling like a criminal on trial. I glance at Emeka, silently begging him to say something, anything. But he stares at the floor like a child being scolded. “Nkechi,” my mother-in-law’s voice is sharp, dragging my attention back to her. “It has been two years, yet we see no sign of a child. What exactly is the problem?” I swallow hard. I had heard the rumors—how women in this family are expected to bear a son within the first two years of marriage. But I never imagined they would actually summon me like this, like a disobedient child. “I—I believe God’s time is the best,” I stammer. My sisters-in-law scoff. One of them, Ifeoma, leans forward. “That’s what barren women say.” A cold chill runs through my spine. Barren? The word stings like acid. I look at Emeka again, hoping, praying for him to say something. But he remains silent. His mother smirks, as if enjoying my humiliation. “Listen carefully, Nkechi,” she continues. “In this family, a woman secures her place by giving birth to a male child. If you cannot do that, then we must consider… other options.” A suffocating silence fills the room. I feel my heartbeat in my throat. Other options? What does she mean? “Let’s give her a little more time,” Emeka finally speaks. For a second, relief washes over me—until I realize his voice lacks conviction. He is not defending me. He is only delaying their judgment. As I sit there, my mind screams at me. Run, Nkechi. Run while you still can. But where will I go? TO BE CONTINUED...✍️✍️✍️✍️ #storytelling #virals #trendingpost #catalystboost #story #storytime