ALL THAT GLITTERS...

*Congratulations. This email serves to inform you that your entry in the poetry category of the Gender-based Violence Poetry and Essay Competition, has been awarded third place by the judges. Email received on Thursday, December 10, 2020, 3:54 AM from Children First Project GYAL (Guiding Young Ambitious Ladies).

I am very proud of this piece, it's the first piece that has ever been entered into a national competition, enjoy.

“Gender-based violence… full time it fi stop"

His kisses in the crowd are sweet and his caresses sensual

But behind the shadows the lips that tell the world how much he adores me

Speaks my name in disgust and his caresses become stings

Our dance at the governor's ball was so sweet; we twirled and the crowd oohed and ahhed

I remember the nights at home when we danced too...

He twisted my arm so badly I had to drop out of my audition and pretended that I had hurt it during a tennis match

He flung me across the room one night and I crashed against the wall... he was disappointed when I got up

Why can't I be kidnapped by some murderous menace? ... Why can't he just turn me out of the house? ... Why don't my friends ever ask me why my face is bruised?

Why won't my family ask me why I haven't visited in 8 months? ... Why won't I leave? ... Why has God forgotten me?

My life it's all a charade ...everything is a charade ... I sleep on imported silk sheets with a demon every night, I drive a Maybach and an Aston Martin that tells my every move, I'm being followed by guards ...even in my own home.

I wear Givenchy sweaters to hide my swollen limbs... Prada glasses to hide my bloodshot eyes... I cake my face with Laura Mercier to hide my broken nose

I remember dreaming about him, I remember the days I wished he would call. I remember the days I envied his 4th wife, I prayed that he would divorce her and take me in his arms ... eventually, he did and he told me 5 was his lucky number and it was.

5 days after we started dating he got upset because I hugged a male friend

5 weeks after our engagement he threw a pebble at my head and called me stupid and then said it was a joke

5 months into our marriage he slapped me in the face so hard because I embarrassed him in front of his friends

And this year on our 5th marriage anniversary when I texted him "Happy Anniversary Honey" he replied "I won’t be seeing the bitch tonight meet me at LILLIAN'S wear something sexy" obviously he thought he replied to his consort.

I didn't see him for 5 whole days... thank God my body got to heal.

Tonight as I get ready to go out to his awards ceremony I wish I was in the hospital ... I wish I took an overdose... but I was a puppet and the show had to go on...

As the cameras clicked and I answered every compliment and kissed the air of the cheek of every dignitary and pledged money to some charity... I prayed for the curtain call to come quickly for my aching soul to hide

As every lip softly said how great we looked together and their eyes shone brightly in admiration

My lips trembled behind the smile and my eyes said one thing which no one seemed to hear ... "HELP ME"