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Chapter 9: In the Quiet of the Night
The mansion was silent.
Not the usual kind of silence that followed a long day — this was deeper, heavier. As if the house itself was holding its breath.
Esi lay on the edge of the bed, fully dressed in a long cotton robe, staring at the ceiling. The sketch she'd drawn earlier was folded neatly on the desk. Her mind wasn't on art now.
She heard the footsteps before she saw him.
Slow. Deliberate.
Kwabena pushed the door open gently, holding something in his hand — a small glass of water. "You didn't eat dinner," he said, his voice calm, unreadable.
"I wasn't hungry," Esi replied, not looking at him.
He walked closer, placed the glass on her nightstand. "You've been quiet. I wanted to check on you."
Esi sat up slowly. "Are you here to answer questions… or are you expecting something from me?"
Kwabena blinked. "I'm not here for that."
The air between them thickened. She pulled her robe tighter around herself, waiting. Watching him.
"I just wanted to talk," he said. "That's all. I realize… I don't really know you."
"You've had weeks," she said, her voice sharp. "You could have asked me anything. But you didn't."
He sighed, leaning against the wall near the door. "I know. And that's on me. I've been taught to lead with duty, not emotion. But I see that's not going to work with you."
That startled her. She tilted her head. "And what do you think will?"
"I don't know," he admitted. "But I'd like to find out."
Esi swallowed hard. "You say that now. But when I start asking questions you don't like—"
"Ask."
She looked at him for a long moment. "Why did you marry me, Kwabena? And don't say duty. That's not enough. I need to know what kind of man I've been forced to trust." And what about Ama
He walked over slowly and sat in the chair across from the bed.
"I married you because my family said it was wise. Strategic. But the more I look at you… the more I think they underestimated you. Maybe I did too."
Esi looked away, her fingers curling in her lap.
"You were drawing today," he continued. "You looked free. Like it made sense to you in a way this house doesn't."
She was quiet for a moment.
"It's the only thing I've ever done for myself," she finally said. "Drawing saved me when I couldn't speak. When I was hurting. I guess I've always been good at hiding."
Kwabena didn't interrupt.
"I didn't choose this marriage," she whispered. "But I'm choosing how I survive it."
He nodded slowly. "Fair enough."
There was a pause. Then he stood up.
"I meant what I said. I'm not here to demand anything from you, Esi. Just to understand you… if you'll let me."
And with that, he turned and walked toward the door.
Before he left, she spoke again. "Kwabena."
He stopped.
"I didn't choose you. But if I'm going to survive here… I need honesty. No more secrets. No more locked doors."
His eyes met hers. "Then we start there."
He left, gently closing the door behind him.
Esi exhaled, slow and shaky. That night, she didn't cry. She didn't draw. She just sat in the quiet, listening to her heartbeat, wondering what came next.
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