I met Paul at the place I did my national service. One day while at lunch he told me, “The way you work around here if you knew the right people, you would be retained here after service.” I asked him, “Who are the right people?” He said, “I did my national service here last year and after that, they gave me permanent employment. The woman who helped out had gone on retirement. I can speak to her and see if she could help.

I was desperate for employment so I kept closer to him so he could help me get an offer. Indeed, he spoke with the woman. We went to see the woman one evening after work. She was ready to help me.

Paul became a good friend. We did a lot of things together while at work and when work closed, we went home together. One day he proposed. I saw it coming so I didn’t act surprised. Days later, I accepted his proposal. We dated for about six months before my service period came to an end. He was an awesome guy and had a great perception of the future. I loved his presence because of his insight into topics of interest.

When my service period came to an end, the woman asked me not to leave. She said, “Hang around for some time while I try to work on something.” I stayed and worked for free for several months but nothing happened. Later, new service personnel came in and one took over from me. I had no reason to go to the place again because there was nothing there for me to do. Weeks later, the woman told me, “I couldn’t get them to keep you. The competition was very tight this year.”

There was nothing I could do. I only had to stay home, apply for jobs and pray for a miracle. The love between me and Paul grew each day. After work, I will meet him at his place and we will talk about everything that came to mind. On weekends, I will visit him, help him wash, and also cook for him. It became a routine. So much so that his co-tenants asked of me when they didn’t see me around.

It got to a time where I wasn’t seeing him like I used to. He came home from work very late and when I tried going to see him, he told me he was going to church because they had a program for the whole month. Once in a while, he would pass by my place and see me.

One day, I had a call for a job interview. I was so excited and needed someone to share the news with. I’d been home for close to a year and haven’t had a single call for an interview so that call meant everything to me. I called Paul around 6pm and he didn’t pick. Around 8pm I called again. He didn’t pick and he didn’t return my calls. I sent him a text. “What’s wrong with your phone? Are you in church? Is it an all-night service today? (It was a Friday night. Any time I wanted to see him on Friday nights, the excuse was that he would be going to church.) When I woke up on Saturday around 8am and didn’t see his call, I picked a car and went to his place.

I knocked and he came out. I said, “What’s wrong with you? You got me worried. I’ve been calling since last night. What happened to your phone?” He ran his palm over his face like four times. He said, “I was in church when you were calling. I thought you knew.” I said, “It’s morning already and you haven’t cared to return my calls.” All this while, we were still standing outside. When I tried to go in, he stopped me. He said, “I came home with one of our executives and his girlfriend. They wouldn’t feel comfortable seeing you. Go home, I will come over when they are gone.”

It didn’t make sense. I said, “If an executive can bring his girlfriend to your room right after service, then your girlfriend too can visit you right the next morning so what’s the problem?” I tried going in and he stopped me. While we were there talking, one of his co-tenants passed by and gave me a wink. It meant something was going on so I forced my way through the door and tadaaa, there she was. A girl, sleeping quietly in his bed. She was wearing a nightie. That means she went there very prepared.

When she heard my voice, she jerked off the bed. That was when I saw her face. It was that service personnel who came to replace me at the office. All I said was, “So this is the reason why you’ve not been picking my calls?” The girl looked at me and I looked back at her. I left quietly without making a scene.

He didn’t call until two days later when he came to my place. I thought he was coming to apologize. I thought he was coming to tell me more lies and, in the end, ask me to forgive him. I thought he was remorseful about everything that happened that day. He asked, “Now that you’ve found out the truth, what next?” I was shocked. I said, “Nothing next. I guess she’s the one you like so go ahead with her.” He sat there for a while and said, “I’m leaving.” I said, “Thanks for the visit.” When he left, I cried like a baby. I couldn’t eat and I couldn’t tell my story to anyone. I had the most important interview of my life the next three days and I was wondering how I was going to do it.”

I pulled myself together and attended the interview. A week later, I was called. I went for another round of interviews. Days later, they called to offer me the job. It was the job offer that helped me through the heartbreak. I woke up each morning, knowing there was a place to go and that helped. I didn’t hear from him again. I blocked him on Facebook and blocked him on WhatsApp. I moved on completely as though nothing happened between us.

Two years down the line, God has been good to me. My career took a sharp turn along the line and brought some unexpected favors my way. In early June, I was stuck in traffic when I saw a number calling me. When I picked, the voice screamed, “Turn your head to your left, I’m looking at you.” I turned and he stuck his head out of the trotro and waved at me. I waved back and screamed, “Hey Paul! Loong time. He shouted, “I will call you. We’ll talk.”

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That night he called. We talked. He said, “I can see you’re really doing you well.” I said, “It’s God’s favor.” He asked, “Do you still live where you used to live?” I said, “I’d moved. I needed a place closer to my workplace so I got a new place.” He said, “I need to come and visit you one of these days.” I said, “Why not?”

One weekend he passed by. I cooked for him and made sure he was feeling ok. There was a moment of silence. He said, “The man in your life is very lucky oo.” I smiled. I said, “No man except God.” When it was time for him to leave, I drove him to the station, waited until he got a car, and then drove off. He didn’t stop coming. Recently he told me, “You said there’s no man in your life. There’s no woman in my life too. Can we pick it up from where we left off?”

I should have been very angry but I laughed. I asked, “So where should we start from? Should we start from you telling me why you cheated? And go to where you apologize for cheating on me and then move to where I cried until I nearly passed out? Damn is a long way off. I’m beyond that. I’m chasing different sunshine. I can’t drop my gaze.”

He started giving me the apology he didn’t give me two years ago. He started giving me the explanation he refused to give me two years ago but because mama no born no fool and papa raised no stupid piking, I told him to stay off me and never bring that discussion again. The thing is, he has no shame so he kept pestering me for forgiveness until I blocked his line. Obiaa ndi ne lane mu.

–Karen

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