Woman from Saudi Arabia

FOR OUR SISTERS FORBIDDEN TO BE THEMSELVES.

Acrylics and marker pen on canvas. 24 x 30 ins.

Their families arranged the marriage. She accepted this, as was her duty. She wasn’t allowed to dream beyond the role of a wife and mother. In her family, women were educated but not allowed to work. In their wealthy circles, career women would not be respectable.

Under the watchful eye of her male relatives, they were allowed to meet before the engagement. She fell for him instantly. Intoxicated by the heroic love stories of her favorite songs, she yearned for an enthralling romance. And he was her young, handsome prince. A flutter of hope for a happy future ignited within her into a blaze that day. Their engagement was joyous. The betrothed texted constantly, and shortly after, leaped into forever happy chatting on the phone. Her prince was a gentleman, infatuated with her, who thought her purity, youthful naïveté, and optimism charming.

Her presence was not required – or allowed – at their official wedding ceremony. Her father and brothers managed that at the mosque. As was customary, they wouldn’t begin their life together until the wedding party, still some weeks away. To wait patiently felt excruciating as his phone voice turned increasingly baritone. He was seducing her. She was officially his wife, he pleaded over and over. She gave in. A secret rendezvous. She offered all of herself to him. A true gift to consummate their life ahead. She felt so happy and safe to be herself with him.

The ending can only be whispered. He felt she enjoyed herself too much. She was no longer saintly or pure. “Whore,” his word sliced like a sword. Without her presence required, he annulled their marriage. Shattering her heart into infinity. Cutting the happy out of her future. All blamed her for bringing shame and dishonor to the family’s name. No one thought to hear her truth. In her country she has no such choice, for in her country she has no voice. Being a woman is her sin.