Dear GhanaWeb,

I got married just three weeks ago, but instead of enjoying what should be the happiest season of my life, I feel like I am living in a nightmare.

I met my husband in July last year. We dated for about seven months, went through marriage counseling, and by the grace of God, we married in June. I am now two months pregnant with our first child.

During our courtship, he was everything I prayed for in a man: patient, affectionate, gentle, and committed to building a peaceful home. He often reminded me that anger destroys relationships and insisted we should never let it control us.

But the man I live with today is nothing like the man I dated. He beats me over the smallest mistakes, shouts constantly, throws things at me, and uses whatever he can grab as a weapon.

The most painful part is that he has burnt me with a hot iron three different times.

The first incident occurred while he was ironing and watching television. I changed the channel, unaware he was following the program. In anger, he pressed the hot iron against my arm.

The burns were so severe I had to go to the hospital, but I lied and told everyone it was an accident to protect my marriage.

I wanted to believe it would never happen again, but I was wrong. The blister from that burn has not even healed, and last night he did it again because I took too long to bring him a dress he wanted to iron.

Today, I could not even go to church because every part of my body hurts. My body is covered with scars, though I have only been married for three weeks.

What frightens me most is his unpredictable behavior. After beating me, he sometimes becomes loving for a short while, only to return to violence later. It feels like living with two completely different people.

I have not told my family or involved anyone yet because I kept hoping prayer would change him.

I keep asking myself where the caring, gentle man I fell in love with disappeared to. Was he pretending all along, or did something change after marriage?

I am scared for myself, and even more for my unborn baby. What do I do now?

FG/EB

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