The first is to confess. She must write a ten-thousand-word apology and then be taken to the public square to end her own life in front of everyone. Most women choose this path because it allows them to hold onto a shred of dignity, and after their death, they’re praised as "loyal and virtuous."
The second option is to refuse to admit guilt. These women cling to the hope of survival, refusing to accept death so easily. If they’re lucky, their family will help them escape to start a new life elsewhere. If they’re not, they might be beaten to death by their own kin, their body left outside to be spat on by passersby.
According to the law, anyone who tries to bury her will be thrown in jail.
*****
I woke up in my room, weak and unable to move.
My maid, Wendy, was crying beside me. “Miss, you’re awake! I thought I’d lost you.”
I was shocked. Where is everyone? I asked, “Wendy, where’s my father and the others?”
“Mr. Andrew and Mr. Ronald went to the palace. Don’t worry, they’ll figure something out,” she said.
I forced a bitter smile. How could they possibly change laws and traditions that have been in place for over two hundred years?