Just Three Months After My Wedding, My Face Was in a Horrible Condition. My Husband No Longer Kissed Me, and My Mother-in-Law Changed My Pillowcase Every Day, Saying, “With a Face Like That, You Won’t Stay by My Son’s Side for Long.” One Night, I Accidentally Overheard Her Telling My Husband, “If You Can’t Get Rid of Her, I’ll Do It Myself.”

Women’s Health and Support Center.

I waited about half an hour before going inside.

I asked the woman at reception whether someone named Martha was there.

She explained that she couldn’t provide information about visitors.

I was about to leave when a door opened at the end of the hallway.

Martha stepped out.

She stopped when she saw me.

For several seconds, we stared at each other in silence.

“Emily? What are you doing here?”

“I was about to ask you the same question.”

She slowly sat down on a chair in the hallway.

“Come here. We need to talk.”

That day, I learned a story Martha had barely spoken about to anyone for twenty-five years.

When she was thirty-five, a serious skin condition had left visible marks on her face. Her husband began avoiding being seen with her in public.

At first, Martha blamed herself.

Later, her husband began making cruel remarks about her appearance. And because they had two children, Martha endured his treatment in silence for years.