My parents wouldn’t let me forget that I was unmarried and thirty-four years old. They matched me with every decent-looking person they knew to get me married and beginning a family. Still, that was only one aspect of it. They finally informed me that unless I married by the time I turned thirty-five, I would not get any of their money. I was going to lose it since they just had few months left to reach their target.

Following a fresh argument with my folks, one day I went for a walk to cool off. I was so furious that I paid little thought to my destination until I came upon a woman seated on the pavement. Her hair and clothing were disorganized, and a wooden sign over her shoulder said “Need help.” But her stare caught me and made me stop and pay attention; it was sweet, compassionate, and curiously soothing. I had an idea at that same moment that nearly seemed like a need. I approached her and formulated a proposal without giving it enough thought.

If she married me, I promised her food, a safe place to live, and some basic luxuries as well as peace from my parents would stop harassing me. Apart from posing as my wife, she wouldn’t have to do anything while she lived with me. I was stunned when she answered yes. Jessica, a female, accomplished it.

After getting her hair cut and ready, I accompanied Jessica shopping. She changed a lot in few days, and I informed her parents she was my fiancée. They were practically delighted, really joyful. They felt that the future they had in mind for me was at last materializing. We were formally married following a little service.

We then developed a routine. I didn’t really notice Jessica hanging about at home in the days. We had both agreed that this arrangement was purely for pragmatic purposes, thus all I wanted to do was keep appearances for the benefit of my folks.

I returned home one month following the wedding and had the most shocking experience of my life.

That night as I came in the door, I assumed Jessica would be doing nothing. Still, what I saw stunned me. The house looked better than I had ever seen it. The air smelt like freshly made food, the furniture was dust-free, and the flooring were spotless. There was floral arrangement even in the midst of the supper table.

When I entered the living room Jessica was there. She was grinning and laying down a meal tray. “I thought you might be hungry, so I made your favourite,” she said. Her voice was harsh and worn when I first met her, but now it was gentle and polite.