Runaway Lover

She learned her lesson about men and their 
wicked ways too late! 
She had seen many broken lives which could 
be traced to the wickedness of men while 
growing up, but the “This can never happen 
to me” thing kept her from taking heed! 
She kept believing that love will come for her
Love came for her when she was in SS3 
Love came wearing NYSC uniform 
The guy was tall and handsome 
The guy was also very knowledgeable 
The guy was someone all her friends also 
wanted to be with 
The guy liked her 
The guy started touching her 
He was the first guy to dare do that
She didn’t even have the strength to 
tell him no! 
Every time she saw him, she became a jelly 
She would make food for him and smuggle 
the food to his room so that he can have 
the energy and motivation to sleep with her! 
She was in love and it felt so right! 
She had even started praying that he would 
ask to know her parents so that what they 
were cooking in secret could become official! 
She didn’t know that the same wind that 
brought him to her would take him away 
when his service year was over! 
One morning, she cooked something delicious,
 she got to his room 
The whole place was empty! 
She couldn’t believe it! 
They were still together the previous evening 
She brought him food, they had sex and for 
the first time in three months, she asked 
him to take a stroll with her in their community 
He was her love 
She wanted people to see
He didn’t hesitate 
They talked as they walked 
The village was a quiet place in the evening 
and there was only one place to hang out 
She would have loved to go there with him 
but only ladies of a certain reputation hang 
around men at the place so she opted to 
take him to her house
He followed her 
They met her uncle on the street 
Her uncle greeted them and said to him 
“Take care of our daughter” 
He smiled and said “Yes sir” 
She walked him back to his room, hand in hand, 
after that 
They kissed under one of the trees in the 
school compound 
She was so happy!
And now he is gone! 
What did she do? 
He didn’t even wait to say goodbye! 
He denied her the benefit of mopping and 
being emotional It was as if they were animals 
and feelings have no place in their realities! 
She was badly hurt! 
For several weeks, she locked herself in her 
room
And cried like a baby! Her mother noticed 
that she was depressed! 
A family meeting was held that Christmas 
It was decided that she should go to the 
city with her aunty so that she can learn a 
skill and pursue her education! 
She moved from Benue to Abuja! 
Her aunty was a teacher!
Her aunty was single and very strict! 
Within a year she was writing GCE and 
learning to bake! She gained admission 
into the University the following year! 
She put her head down, faced her studies! 
She was determined to make something of 
her life! 
She graduated and was posted to
Ibadan for her NYSC! 
She went to the PG school in the University 
of Ibadan to make some enquiries and was 
walking towards the school’s second gate 
when she saw him Her runaway lover! 
He was walking towards the PG school 
She didn’t know what came over her 
She screamed his name
He stopped in his tracks and turned towards 
her 
It’s been six years 
She had really changed 
She should be angry and scowling 
She didn’t know why she was smiling and 
cheerful 
He was her first love 
The one she gets to forgive everything 
He recognized her 
He walked up to her, hugged
Her and screamed her name! 
That was when she became angry! 
He saw it in her face 
He said “I am very sorry, can we talk?” 
They talked! 
He was very candid 
He said “I never had the intention of 
having any long term relationship with 
anybody! 
I was Twenty-one years old and trying to
Figure out my own life! 
I know you were trying to figure out your 
own life too! 
But that evening when your uncle said 
“Take care of our daughter”
 I got very scared! 
I couldn’t sleep all night 
I didn’t know if it was something I said or
 did that made you inform your family that
I am your husband to be or something 
like that! 
I didn’t know how to undo that! 
Marriage was the last thing on my mind! 
My assignment at the school had been 
over for almost a week by that time 
I stayed back because I wanted to be 
with you 
I had to tell myself the truth!
 I was selfish and things wouldn’t have 
worked out between us the way you were 
seeing them! 
So I decided to pack my bag and leave! 
It was callous and inconsiderate 
I must confess that it felt to me like ripping 
out the bandaid! 
It had to be done! 
I am very sorry! 
She understood him!
They exchanged numbers 
He started calling her again 
They started seeing each other again 
He was working with an NGO 
She got a job with The Polytechnic, Ibadan 
One year after she met him again 
He proposed! 
She said yes! 
They got married in September 2018 in Ibadan 
They have a son!

Ps: There is no general rule to love and 
relationships 
Don’t teach others to be toxic 
Each of us must work out what is best for us in 
love and relationships I have a right to forgive 
It is my business 
You have a right to not forgive 
It is your business 
Stop spreading bitterness
I am no fool for forgiving 
You are not a fool for not forgiving 
The consequences of forgiving are 
mine to enjoy 
The consequences of not forgiving 
are yours to bear 
To each his or her own! 
We will make mistakes 
Love keeps no record of wrongs 
Love always sees faith and hope!