After Felicia got married, I was the last man standing,
We are six in a row, six pretty friends,
But I’m the only one standing now,
Should I keep waiting for Afam?
Maybe I should give up,
Celestine Odogwu has renovated father’s shop,
He had paid for mother’s new kiosk at Orie Market,
He had paid for Nwafor’s entrance exams too,
He had done so much for us,
I’m not getting younger either,
He had promised me a better life once I say yes to him,
What should I do?
Afam, why did you put me in such a tight situation?
Five years you left without any information,
Before leaving, you promised to come back for me,
Why taking so long?
I’m gradually turning into a laughing stock,
Mother won’t allow me touch her things until I accept Celestine Odogwu’s proposal,
Father hardly respond to my greetings,
I’m the only one standing,
I’m giving up.
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So much sacrifice for love!
Afam, you promised to return in three years time but we are in the sixth year already,
Should I keep waiting forever?
I keep on praying and hoping you will come back to me someday,
It seems you are gone forever,
Probably for good,
I better retrace my steps before it’s too late.
One sunny afternoon, I was at the backward preparing lunch for the family.
Nwafor rush to me, shouting…
“Afam is back!, your Afam is back!!
I quickly rush out with him.
I was shocked with what I saw.
My Afam was standing in front of me,
Handsome as ever,
He drips affluence, glory and honour,
He had come in a big car,
The type government men drive,
I stood in awe, too shocked to move.
Six years ago, Afam was hungry, tattered and jobless,
Until he applied for a scholarship to study abroad,
Life is indeed full of twists and turns.
Afam rushed towards me and carried me up,
Tears of joy was flowing down my cheeks.
I almost gave in to Celestine Odogwu’s desires,
But he intervened,
My love Afam, intervened at the right time,
I knew we were soulmates. My soul called him back home,
This was so good to be true.
Just like a flash, Afam was on his knee,
With a diamond ring in front of me,
The dream of yesteryears turning into a reality,
“Yes! Yes!!, thank you,”, I echoed.
He chuckled while wiping my tears. The ring fit perfectly.
He kissed me right in front of Nwafor, my younger brother.
Nwafor was clapping and drumming for us, naughty boy!
I was glad, Father and his wife were not around at the moment,
I embraced my husband tightly,
I don’t mind now,
Though I can see the angry face of Celestine Odogwu pepping from the gate,
I was not bothered, I clung tightly to my husband,
Can someone tell Celestine Odogwu,
That this is REALITY.
