Next Time, You'll Be Fruitful

Elena's Point Of View “You evil child!” I winced, holding the phone away for a beat before bringing it back. “Mama…” I muttered. “Don’t mama me! What is all this nonsense I’m hearing about you and that man? You’ve finally lost your mind, haven’t you? Is this how we raised you? To throw your marriage away like trash?” I exhaled, gripping the phone tighter, fighting the urge to scream. Then she continued, “You want to disgrace yourself and the entire family? Do you think a man like Graham grows on trees? You better hold that man with your soul before someone else grabs him from you!” “You don’t know what’s happening, Mama.” “I don’t want to know!” she spat. “That man married you! He feeds you! Do you want to return to the mud and beg for scraps? You better behave yourself, Elena, before he casts you out and you end up barren and useless!” Her words were knives. Each syllable slicing deeper than the last. “Mama…” I whispered, my voice trembling, “he cheated on me… with his cousin. He brou