Dear MIMster: How My Life Has Been a Hell Since My Husband Got Out of Prison?

I’m 32 years old been married since 2008, have two kids and my life has been worse off since my husband got out of prison. My husband is a stock broker and my marriage hasn’t been a walk in the park. Though they say marriage isn’t a bed of roses, I believe in a union, there must at least be a thing or two to be grateful for but my hubby doesn’t see any good in me, from my cooking to my dressing even my looks. He keeps telling ugly I am and if he didn’t marry me, nobody would. I swear it hurts. He even goes to the extent of abusing me in front of my kids, 9 and 5 years old.

Last night, he told them in his entire life, he has never seen a stupid woman like me. I feel I have endured enough.

In 2012, one month after I had a baby via C-section , he had a court case and was sentenced to two years in prison and all his accounts were frozen, so I had to go live with my MIL in the village. It was another nightmare but I hung on until he came back and my miseries continued.

He was HIV positive when he returned, but thank God he didn’t hide it from me. Life got back to normal as the abuse continued. I stayed despite his condition. He didn’t allow me work. Even when I started a small business, he made sure to shut it down.

I don’t even have friends because he doesn’t like me going to church or anywhere else. Even when I go to the market, I get endless phone calls and when I get back to cook, he wouldn’t touch the food. When I’m and he takes me to the hospital, he’ll rub it in my face and tel me how he’s my saviour. If he sends money to my parents, he won’t let a day go without mentioning how he feeds my family. When he paid bride price, the whole world knew about it and he says these things in a downgrading and insulting way.

Dear Mimsters, I’ve been praying but I don’t know if I’m weak. How do I put this? I’ve given this marriage my all as there isn’t a day I spend without tears. Now, things are worse. I thought maybe two years behind bars would change him, but no. At some point, I thought his condition would make him a better person but he’s worse.

How should I handle this?