The Octopus

The reason she gave for leaving him was somehow
She said she couldn't cope with coming to his house while he was still living with his parents
"What if I wanted to spend some time alone,
other lades have the extra key to their 
boyfriend's rooms or flats
They can go there and chill and spend some time
But I cannot do that with you
i can only come when you are at home
I cannot move freely as I desire to
I cannot be the woman of the house
If you love me you will move out of your
parnt's house and rent an apartment
Somewhere in town
Somewhere we can be together
Somewhere where we can escape to and be 
real with each other"
He got the point!
They became lovers when they were in the
University
She was staying in the school's hostel while
he rented an apartment not too far away 
from campus
After they became an item, she was always
with him in his apartment
SHe felt freer there than the hostel and 
they practically became live in lovers towards 
the end of their final academic session
But times changed!
They graduated, they finished their NYSC
He started hunting for a job just like her
Things didn't pan out as planned
He was still job hunting two years after graduation
Their relationship suffered because of this
They hardly had time together because he was still
staying at home with his parents
They had kindled Solomon's fire prematurely
The heat was setting her body on fire and his loins ablaze
It was all about intimacy!
What she really wanted was sex, a cuddle, some savage 
and spontaneous intimate time
He understood that this was what she wanted
He wanted the same thing too
He wanted to get married to her and make 
something of his life
He wanted to give her what she wanted
He just couldn't and piling pressure on him was not helping
One day he had to tell as much
He had caved in to her pressure for intimacy
He told a friend his predicament
His friend was already working and had an 
apartment of his own
One weekend, as his friend was travelling 
for an occasion in his village
His friend gave him the key to the apartment
His friend was going to be gone for one week!
He told his parents he was going to stay with a friend 
for some time to hunt for a job
His babe met him at a designated location
They went to the apartment
It had been so long since they had such a great time
After they made love right on the rug in his friend's sitting room,
His babe started crying!
She had missed him! Missed them! 
Missed the sex most of all
She had been holding herself for almost three months
The last time they made love was on a Saturday 
His parents went to a wedding 
His younger ones had a youth/teenager's programme 
in the church
She came to visit and suddenly they were both alone
They had about two hours alone
The tension was diffused and the vision sharpened 
on his bed
It is a frustrating thing to be in a relationship that 
was only moving forward in theory
Within a week after that Saturday, the relationship was
under pressure again!
SHe sent him a message asking all sorts of questions
"Is this how we will continue?
I am 29 years old and I am in love with a 31 years old man
and I have to be sneaking around to make love
to my own boyfriend?
I am in my room right now, itching for you 
but hugging my pillow
For how much longer shall I have to bear with this?
I am weary, very very weary!"
The message made him cry his heart out
Why has God been so deliberately deaf to his cry?
He wanted to get married
He wanted to make something of his life
He wanted to make an honest woman of his girlfriend
He wanted to be able to enjoy his lover while they 
were both still young
He wanted to have his children when he was 
still young and agile
And yet!
He was stuck in one spot!
The one week they spent together was his last resort
He didn't want to lose her
He wanted her to see that there is a tomorrow
He wanted her to see what they would be like 
when things eventually come together for their good
It was like a pre-honeymoon
His friend has stocked the apartment with food and drinks
They talk, watch movies, eat, drink, make love and sleep
They take a stroll in the evenings
She gave him her all and he knew it!
On the day the "week" was over
He told her to give him a year!
He was sure God would come through for him 
She hugged him and prayed for him
The following day, he called her phone
There was no response!
He called her intermittently all day
There was no response!
He left messages on all her social media handles
Still no response!
He waited and worried for three days
Then he summoned the courage to go and check her at home
She was living with her aunt 
He met her aunt at home
He had met her aunt on several occasions before then
Her aunt said "Didn't she inform you she would be going
to Australia? She went to see a friend for a week, came 
back on Sunday and travelled on Monday!
He almost fainted!
She gave him no indication whatsoever
Not even a hint!
He was barely able to walk back home
The pain in his head, his heart, his cheat and
 his joints were just too much
The one person that he believed in and who believed 
in him had lost faith
When he got home, he decided he must die
There was no reason to live anymore!
She was his drive, his purpose!
He wrote his suicide note with tears
He dropped it on the table in his room
He walked out of his room, he wanted to spend 
a few minutes with his family
Give them a good memory of himself or 
take a good memory of them all with him
The doorbell rang!
It was a courier service with a letter addressed to him
He had been offered employment by a German company
As a project manager for one of their branches
He was to resume with immediate effect!
It was just too good to be true!
The next day, he resumed and discovered the job to be real
Then he broke the news to his family and celebrated
He sent her messages on Facebook and even wrote 
several long emails
Eventually, she responded and told him she simply couldn't 
continue with such a life!
One year! Two years!
He met other ladies but he still pined for her
That was supposed to be their season, the season they 
dreamt of and planned together!
Many people counselled him to move on
He planned to do so but he was yet to meet the right lady
At 2 am one morning, she called him
She was back in the country for her transcript
 and other relevant records
She had been working but she got an opportunity
to further her studies in Australia
She would like them to meet before she returned
He sent her his address (He needed her to see)
He wanted to convince her to stay with him
But he wanted to do so with everything he has
He bought a ring, he was going to marry her
He practised his proposal all night in front of
a mirror
She came! 
She arrived on a Saturday morning
They hugged and cried and talked
He told her all that has happened
she apologised!
He wanted to ask her to stay, tell her he still
loved her, bare his heart
But he suddenly realised he doesn't love her 
that much anymore
It was the idea of her or the inability to care for her
That instinct and other things that made his love for her
Seem unflinching and undiminished 
He really didn't love her that much again!
She stayed all day!
They kissed, cuddled and talked but he couldn't
bring himself to make love to her
She wanted him to, she really wanted him to
But he knew her!
He knew she couldn't have done without sex for three years
He knew there was probably somebody waiting for
her in Australia
He knew she didn't give him a second thought when she 
left the first time
Just as she wasn't giving the person she left in Australia 
a second thought as she laid in his sofa rubbing him
in delicate places
How could he ever marry such a woman?
He asked her "What will happen to your boyfriend,
the one you left behind in Australia?
"You're funny, do I know what he is doing right
now behind my back? There is only one entity that matters
The only number one! 
I have learnt to only take care of "me" in this world!
Later in the evening, as she was preparing to leave
She went to use the restroom, as she was returning, 
she saw the ring and his written proposal on the
dressing table beside his bed
She walked up to him with a smile!
She said "Wow! When were you going to 
pop the question? 
I saw the written proposal and the ring in your room?
He smiled and said "I practised all night
only to discover one very salient truth
There is only one entity that matters
The only number one! 
I have to learn to only take care of 
"me" in this world!"
She stopped in her tracks, she wanted to'
speak but words failed her!
He stood up and carried her handbag
He shepherded her out and told his driver
to drop her at home!
She got into the car, looked at him
He saw the tears, she shook her head 
and bit her lips
The car drove off!
As he watched the car driving her away
He suddenly felt the lump that has been in his
chest for many years dissolving!