The Living Hell Of The Patriarchy

After college I married my high school crush and had three children. Being the Bible belt church has been the long term common denominator of our social circle. We live in a comfortable home on one acre with a wooded backdrop.

In college I had a friend, Emily, who came out to me. I did not 'reject' her, if I recall I told her I wasn't comfortable with that. She left college for the West Coast, living in Oakland. We have remained 'friends' from a distance. She's been in and out of several 'disastrous' relationships and is currently single.

She came to visit, and accused me of being a 'house slave' and 'breeding stock'. My husband 'owns' me, forcing me to display his ownership by wearing the symbols of 'male' ownership, my wedding bands. I was his legal property and he renamed me. Church is where he takes me to be 'reindoctrinated'.

For me that was the end of any latent feelings of a college friendship. It's no wonder to me she's lonely. I kept my mouth shut, as my husband says 'don't throw gasoline on a fire', I really, really wanted to tell her she was jealous because no man could ever want her.