Being forced into marriage with her younger sister’s husband-to-be was the least thing she expected to happen on their wedding day!
How did she survive the pain, shame and despair she had to face abruptly? Find out in this amazing series, “Weak Eyes”.
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UNMARRIED
She looked into the well, beholding her reflection. The kohl on her eyelids made them more beautiful; but not as beautiful as her younger sister’s. Her sister had taken all their mother’s allure, while she had her father’s rigidity. But for her eyes, she would not even be looked upon. She sighed deeply. She was of marriageable age but she wondered if any man noticed this at all. How could they? Heads turned whenever they went with their father’s flock to the fields. But not for her.
Not her.
Never her.
It was always for Rachael. Despite the shawl, men could not but be charmed by her pulchritude. She had stopped going with her to the fields. She hated it whenever Rachael flirted with the shepherds. She knew her charm and wielded it whenever she had the chance.
Jealousy crept into her soul seductively. Dreadful thoughts tormented her. No man would come for her hand in marriage. Then, she would grow very old and shriveled and die in her father’s house. Worse still, Rachael would want to get married and then she would be forced on an old man who would want her for his tenth wife. She shuddered at the thought. “Oh, do not be silly Leah!” She tapped her head.
“Leah! Leeaaah!!”
Startled, she turned her head as she saw her sister racing toward her excitedly.
“I have news for you!”
Leah looked at her sister oddly. Rachael always had news. And they were about men.
“You are always full of news whenever you go to the fields. What man wants your hand in marriage this time?”
“Oh sister! Do not say that. You know by tradition that I cannot get married until you do or have you found a suitor already?”
She fluttered her eyes naughtily as she held her arms closely. Her eyes were so beautiful. Even Leah was charmed. Was it not the same kohl? She pressed her hands to her cheek. Looking into Rachael’s eyes made her feel like the ugly duckling. Would she ever evolve a beautiful swan?
“…Are you listening to me, Leah? I found my future husband!”
Leah felt a sword pierce through her heart.
“Wh-what do you mean?”
Her palms grew cold as she trembled on her inside. Are my nightmares begun already? Am I really going to die an unmarried woman in my father’s house?
“…and he kissed me happily! Oh, Leah! I have never met a man so handsome!”
She sighed dreamily. She kept on talking on how they were going to have a tremendous wedding feast, have many children and grow old together.
Leah wanted to die.
“…but father would not let you marry a man he has not met before, would he?”
“No, he wouldn’t”. Rachael fluttered those dangerously lovely eyes gracefully again. “Not unless, he is our relative… And he is! He is Jacob, son of Aunt Rabekah.”
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What do you think happened next? Anticipate Chapter 2.
Jemimah Amonahini
Jemimah Oluwapelumi Amonahini is a Visionary Life Enthusiast, Educator, Entrepreneur and Writer. She is also the initiator of The WinTeen Faculty; A hub where she passionately commits to raising winning teenagers and youths. A graduate of Biological Sciences, Kogi State University, Anyigba, she has a strong flair for writing and publishing and was functional in the departmental/faculty editorial crew whilst at college. Additionally, she is a regular participant in debates, symposia and content creation.