If you were the man in this story, what will you do?

I was tired of the relationship but I didn't know how to call it off. 

Isaac had been the one who helped fund my education because my parents couldn’t afford the exorbitant fees. Things became financially difficult at home when dad lost his job at the bank. 

Then came Isaac. He stepped in and took over the responsibility of my education right from my JSS 1 much to my parents' relief and mine. 

I entered into the University and my eyes opened. I met men of class,  more polished and richer than Isaac. Isaac was a school dropout who became successful in the spare parts business at Nkwo Nnewi. 

I started comparing every man I meet with Isaac and the result I got made whatever I had felt for him dissipate. I loathed the days he would come to see me in school. I was ashamed hanging out with him but somehow I managed to cover up. I thought he wouldn't notice... 

In my final year,  I met and fell in love with a final year medical student. But what do I do with Isaac? I felt miserable. How would I ever repay him? He had made his intentions clear from the beginning that he wanted me for wife.  My parents consented sharply despite  the 16 years age difference. He called me 'my wife'. 

One day, while at home after my final year exam,  Isaac brought up what I had always dreaded to hear. I had always  avoided the marriage topic and this particular day he raised it. You should have seen him smiling like a child. 

My stomach churned just looking at his 'stupid' face. His 'igbotic' accent irritated me. 

"So now you are done with school we should start off our marriage proceedings, "

"Urrr...I don't know. Can't we wait for me to finish my service first?" I implored. 

The poor man would do anything to make me happy so he agreed sheepishly. That was how we waited for another year before the topic came up again and this  time I knew there was no going back. 

When it inevitably came up again, I agreed much to his joy. 

"But you know we have to check our genotype and HIV status first before we go ahead," I interrupted his joy-flow. 

To this he quickly consented and we immediately made plans to go to the lab I suggested for those tests in few days. That was me succumbing to my fate or was it? 

The test came out and Isaac got the shock of his life. We were both AS and thus have a very high probability of having a Sickler. He was literally heartbroken. After all he invested in me and yes, he genuinely loved me. Every family member who heard about the result advised us to quit going ahead with the marriage. It was so difficult for Isaac but he had to let me go. 

I shed a few crocodile tears and that was it. It was good riddance to bad rubbish. 

2 months and 3 days later,  I got married to my doctor boyfriend. I made sure I kept Isaac in the dark. I was able to convince my parents not to let him know I was getting married. 

Yes, everyone was shocked I was able to move on so fast after Isaac. They really thought I was in love with him. *Yinmu*

It wasn't long when Isaac got wind of my marriage when my marriage was barely a week old. He came all the way from Nnewi to see me in Lagos where I now reside with my husband. 

I didn't know how he got my address. As for his phone number,  I had blocked him so he couldn’t have access to me. 

The door bell rang and I opened the door to face my worst nightmare. We stared at each other for a little less than a minute. 

"Why didn't you tell me?" Isaac asked, his eyes sad. 

I hesitated,  grappling for what to say. What explanation will I give him to put his mind at ease. Hubby went to work so it was just me at home. 

 

"I..I...I'm sorry Isaac. I just felt it was best this way. I didn't want to hurt you but am not getting any younger so I had to move on,"

He chuckled sadly. I could see he was emotionally pained. 

"Why am I not surprised you moved on so quickly? This was your plan all along,  abi? "

"I don't understand..., " I  put on a mock- surprised look. 

"Why didn't you just tell me you were no more interested. People warned me but I didn't listen to them because I loved you."

"What are you talking about Isaac?" I had raised my voice a pitch higher in defence. 

"A friend advised me to go and re-do the tests and I did,  thrice in 3 different places to be sure and I  came out a solid AA. I tried to reach you over the phone but it didn't go through. It wasn't long when I heard you just did your wedding. It didn't take me long to put two and two together to know that you had it all planned out to kick me out of your life. You must think  I am so daft not to notice you were always ashamed whenever you were with me.."

I shivered at this revelation. I had taken him for a fool; an unintelligent illiterate. I was so shocked I couldn’t say a word. 

"But your deception is the height of it. If you could do this to me, then thank God I never got married to you. A woman like you will do anything. I just came to see things for myself and now that I have confirmed it, have a happy life."

Before I knew it,  he left. I died a thousand times and woke up. Hubby met me in that state. I let him in on what happened and he threatened fire and brimstone on Isaac. 

I watched him and suddenly became repulsed by what we both concocted months ago. We tampered with the lab result cos the lab owner was his friend. And here we are, married. We had got this far by lying to everyone I loved and respected - my parents,  Isaac, my friends. But was it worth it? I was yet to find out. 

I had a difficult pregnancy. My first  child came 11 months later. And to my chagrin,  he had sickle cell anaemia. How?! Even my doctor husband was shocked. 

That was how our problems started and hubby thought I was bad luck. I  had series of miscarriages until finally God gave me another boy. He was healthy. Crisis after crisis hit us. Even my dear hubby stopped coming home most nights. 

One black Saturday,  he told me he was done and threw me out of his house. That was how our marriage ended. We've been married for just 2 years. 

Our divorce was finally formalized and I was given custody of our sons. My now ex-husband was to pay the sum of 50,000 naira every month for the upkeep of his sons. 

I was on my way to the market one day when I saw Isaac. He didn't see me. He was standing by a car outside a building and appeared to be waiting for someone. 

"What was he doing in Lagos?" I haven't heard anything about him ever since he walked out of my house and out of my life. 

My heart fluttered in hope. Maybe if he still had a thing for me we could hook back up. You never know, this maybe God trying to bring us together again. 

Just as I was crossing the road to greet him,  a very beautiful woman decked in gold jewelries walked up to him and kissed him full on the lips. The woman looked so elegant and she spoke to him with an American accent.

"Sorry we kept you waiting, baby," the woman apologized to Isaac who beamed at her in return.  She was carrying a baby whilst dragging another 2 year old girl.  

I stopped on my tracks. In fact, my joints grew numb. It was a miracle that I wasn't run down by on-coming vehicles and commuters. 

'This must be his family. How stupid could I be to think that Isaac will still be waiting for me till now?' My thoughts pounded in my headed releasing throbs headache at the same time. 

My heart shrank. But before I could turn around to leave without being noticed, Isaac saw me. The sound of car honks and people shouting at me to get out of the way attracted his attention and gave me away. 

He smiled and rushed to help me over. That 'stupid'  smile became the most beautiful smile I had ever seen. He looked so dapper and handsome in his suit. 

We exchanged pleasantries and he introduced his family to me. They were on their way to the airport to catch their night flight to the US where they reside and they were a bit in a hurry. We didn't even exchange numbers, he just left.  

I felt so inferior. This man I had actually insulted and looked down on is now married to this gorgeous woman! 

That's life teaching me never to look down on anyone. I have learnt my lesson the hard way. I hope you don't too.

 

Quote me: "Deception is like a road that leads to nowhere"