Independent
Eric was startled when he saw his picture with his name written on it and a prayer request saying, “You must marry me this year”. They had been dating since their youth service year, and Eric who had lost interest in her for a long time was just keeping her for his pleasures. He had no intention of making her his wife. He probably didn’t know how to end the relationship; one part of him didn’t want her but the other part of him wanted her. After what he saw, he had stopped talking to her – he was contemplating confronting her or just letting it slide.
“We had been dating for five years. I met her during our youth service year. I thought we would marry that same year because of how much I loved her, and I was not ready to lose her. We served in Enugu, and both of us were from the South-West but different states. We became friends when we were at the orientation camp. She was so adorable in those her white short-knickers and canvas. We acted as if we knew each other before. After the camp, fate still took us to the same village. It was because of her I didn’t request redeployment, because I had in mind to relocate to Abuja where I reside.
“Before the end of our service, the love I had for her was diminishing. I came to know her better and discovered that she had some characteristics I felt I won’t be able to tolerate in marriage. She had this mindset that she didn’t need to work and that her man would provide all her needs. In addition, she loved sex too much. The worst part was that she was too dirty. She could stay for days without taking her bath and brushing her teeth, especially when she was at home. Any time I paid her a visit, I would hold my breath till I left. The dishes would stay for days unwashed.
“I got tired of her but didn’t know how to end the relationship. After the camp, I still helped her to relocate to Abuja so that she would be close to me. I couldn’t explain why I did that. I no longer loved her but I still wanted her around me. We continued the relationship but I had already made up my mind that I won’t marry, and I ensured I didn’t get her pregnant. I couldn’t tell her it was over, but my actions and attitude toward her was loud enough to chase her away. Then, one day, I went to her house, and she left me at home to go to the market. Out of curiosity, I went through her stuff, then I saw my picture, a hard copy. I never remembered giving her any of my pictures. At the back of the picture she wrote my name and something like I must marry her this year. I was shocked. I didn’t know what she could have been doing with my picture. I left with my picture before she came back. From then I stopped talking to her. She has been sending messages, asking why I stopped talking to her, what she had done bla bla…. Should I confront her or let it end? But, if you ask me, I am done with the relationship…
