Get out of my house! I remember saying those very words to my mother-in-law, the day she insulted me yet again.
Out of all the things I ever feared, the wrath of my mother-in-law haunted me most. Id been married once before, but perhaps I was fortunate in that respect. My first husband, Thomas, grew up in an orphanageno parents at all. That marriage didnt last; we were together barely five years before I filed for divorce. When we married, I was still at university. A year into it, Thomas took to drinking, amassed debts, and as his wife, his burdens became my own. I had to abandon my studies to work and pay off what he owed.
That marriage brought nothing but trouble. When I finally shut the door on it, I breathed a sigh of relief. At last, no more problems, I thought.
For two long years I lived alone, mending myself and picking up the pieces. Thats when I met Edward. Hed never been married, nor even in a serious relationship. Everything seemed to move quickly. He proposed, I accepted, and soon we set off to visit his mother.
From the moment I crossed her threshold, I sensed her disapproval; she barely muttered a greeting before vanishing into another room. I wondered, was something wrong with me, or perhaps my attire? But my clothes were modest enough. At the table, she simply stared in stony silencea look that made my skin prickle with discomfort. When at last I blushed, she spoke sharply.
So, she said, no proper education? Her words oozed scorn and were paired with a cold little smirk. I hesitated, then calmly replied, sipping my tea: Yes, my education is unfinished. Life forced my hand, but I hope to complete my degree one day.
My mother-in-law hummed derisively. Plans to finish your studies, is it? And what about when youre a wife, hmm? When youre raising children, cooking for Edward, and managing a home? These are just fairy tales for you, arent they? She let out a sneering laugh, set her cup back down, and said, Youre not the sort of woman my son needs.
Looking me up and down, she continued, Very average, I must saylooks, figure, and apparently not much sense, either. I felt an immediate sting of humiliation. I stood from the table and retreated to the bathroom, where tears spilled over. A strangerherinsulted me for no reason, and my fiancé said nothing. At least, we quickly left her home that day.
I had no desire to ever visit her again. But she came to ours repeatedly, each time offering another jab, another slight at my expense.
I even sought help from a counsellor to learn how to handle it. A few sessions taught me she was a classic manipulator, and Id played the victim by enduring her torment. So, when she next insulted me in my own home, I didnt hesitateI asked her to leave at once.
Weve not seen each other since, and Im not remotely bothered by that. As for my husband, Edward has nothing to say about it. And life, for once, is peaceful.
