I met Kojo at the event with Martha. I’m the one Kojo talked to throughout the night. I’m the one whose number he collected. When it was time to leave, he shook hands with Martha and left.

FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP CHANNEL TO RECEIVE ALL STORIES IN YOUR INBOX

I was hoping something would build between us, but when I later learned he didn’t live in Ghana, I brought my hopes down because I’m not built for a long-distance relationship. I’m touchy. I’m clingy. I want to surround the one I love. I want him pinned down in my forever embrace.

Kojo kept the friendship between us alive. I didn’t know what he wanted because today he’d be all lovey-dovey, and tomorrow he’d go cold. When I told Martha about it, she took her phone and said, “Let’s search him up on social media—maybe he’s married.”

We did. We found his account, but didn’t see anything that suggested he was married. When he travelled back abroad, he told me point-blank what he wanted. He said, “I want to be honest. I don’t want any committed relationship. I’ll be sending money if you’ll be sending me naughty photos. Snap and send. I’ll also do the transfer.”

I laughed at his honesty. I thanked him very much for being upfront and told him I couldn’t do it. We both agreed we would keep the friendship going to see how things would turn out in the future.

I told Martha about it, and she helped me hurl insults at Kojo. We called him all the unprintable words. Martha led the way.

Barely a week later, Kojo called. He was laughing. He said, “What did you tell your friend? Did you tell her what we discussed?”

Embarrassed, I told the truth. “She’s a friend. We talk about everything.” I asked him, “Are you guys talking?” He said, “She reached out to me on Facebook, and the next thing I knew, she was sending me the kind of photos I told you about.”

I was stunned. I argued with him. “No, it can’t be Martha. The way we insulted you that day—it can never be her.” He said, “You know her better. I’ll send you one of the photos she sent.”

Right after the conversation, I called Martha: “Tell me it’s not true. You and Kojo are talking? You sent him kpekus in a lace panty?”

She confessed, “I needed the money, but the photos I sent are fake—trust me.”

You Broke Me Into Pieces: A Daughter’s Emotional Conversation With Her Father

As if I were a prophet. When Kojo sent the photo, she was wearing the lace panty I had bought as a gift for her. What was there to argue? She has apologised. She has told me she meant no harm. She said she could do it only because I didn’t want to.

Honestly, Martha has been the best one yet, but I had to let her go. I’m not sure what else she will take from me if I continue to keep her close.

—Adelaide

This story you just read was sent to us by someone just like you. We know you have a story too. Email it to us at submissions@silentbeads.com. You can also drop your number and we will call you so you tell us your story.

******