Amaka

Six days before Amaka left the country, she came to stay with my family and me. It was an unusual arrangement that went against my family's doctrine, as they believe intending couples should avoid sleeping together or getting too close to anything that could lead to sex. But due to the complexity of the situation, they allowed it. My dad remained silent, his thoughts unreadable, while my mom’s uneasiness made it clear she wasn’t entirely comfortable with the plan.Amaka arrived late on Sunday evening with little luggage.

She came because she wanted to spend as much time with me as possible before her departure. Our relationship would be two years old in three months, but, of course, I would be celebrating alone since she would be out of the country.It all began in that room at a news house when I went for an interview at the publication house. When I saw Amaka, she carried herself like a princess, calm and humble. She greeted everyone in the room before sitting beside me.The way she smelled, I imagined she must have used at least three different body sprays that day. I waited a little before striking up a conversation. I asked about her qualifications, and she told me she studied mass communication. The movement of her lips drew me in, and I found myself hoping for some mass communication with her as well.When she asked about my qualifications, I realized she also wanted to keep the conversation going.

We drifted into a discussion, forgetting the other applicants around us. In that moment, we created our own world, talking about everything—family, school, NYSC, and whatever else came to mind.At the end of the interview, we exchanged contacts and left.Three weeks later, I received an email from the publication house confirming my employment as a news outfield gatherer. I was excited, but then I thought of Amaka, had she also gotten the job? I texted her immediately, but she wasn’t online. I’m not the type to call, but this time, I did. In no time, her sonorous voice came through the line.After the usual greetings and lighthearted banter, I asked if she had received her mail. She told me she hadn’t checked yet and would do so after our call. A few minutes later, she texted to say she got the job.Working in the same establishment with Amaka made things easier for me.

Although we didn’t see each other often, since she worked behind a desk while I was always out gathering news. we made it a habit to stroll together after work at 4 p.m. Sometimes, I would rest at Amaka’s place before heading home.During the first three months, something unexplainable began growing between us. I often found myself thinking about her, and I couldn’t help but notice how relaxed she always was around me. She would go out of her way to cook the best meals for me whenever I visited after work.Once, she even suggested adding my meals to the food she brought to work every morning, but I declined. I didn’t want to start what I couldn’t finish.As the days passed, our bond deepened, and I finally asked her to be my girlfriend. We became inseparable, and our relationship became known to both family and friends.But one thing stood out, while I enjoyed my work in the city, Amaka wasn’t satisfied with her job. Every evening, she would open up to me about wanting more. About maybe going back to school for another degree. It weighed on me sometimes, but as her man, I tried to be her emotional pillar.Eventually, Amaka began processing her travel plans to further her studies in the U.S. And so, here we were.During her six days with my family and me, we visited restaurants, ate, and took a lot of pictures. They looked nice, like the closing chapter of something good.On the day of her departure, I went to her family’s house, and together, we took her to the airport. It was a strange mix of emotions for me, silly and deeply personal. Since her family was there, I couldn’t express my full feelings. I would have preferred our last moment to be private, but I knew I wasn’t the only person in her life, and I respected that.When Amaka arrived in the U.S., she texted me, and I was happy. My significant other was on a quest to fulfill her dreams. I loved that for her, but I also missed her here. I wondered if I should have tried to persuade her to stay, but I knew I didn’t want to be selfish.The first few weeks were great. She wasn’t here, but we called, chatted, video-called, and left each other sweet messages.Going to work alone felt different. I didn’t get to see her, and after work, I often took long walks to clear my mind.Then, when Amaka got a job over there, things changed. The time difference made communication difficult. I stayed up late at night just to talk to her, but most times, I would fall asleep, only to wake up to her rants and messages. Other times, we simply didn’t have enough time, and little by little, our communication became erratic and inconsistent.It felt like I was losing someone who had once been within my grasp.Sometimes, I felt like I didn’t understand what she was going through over there and just wanted to be there for her. Other times, I wondered if my insecurities were getting in the way. But the truth was, our relationship wasn’t what it used to be.I started reading American novels and keeping up with international news, hoping to form a stronger bond with her. But the more I did, the more it felt like I was doing something wrong.One day, we were chatting on WhatsApp. I saw the typing… notification appear on my screen, but then it disappeared. I waited. Nothing. An hour passed. Then two. Eventually, I went to bed.That was the moment I knew we wouldn’t survive this.I don’t know who to blame. Maybe I had high hopes. Maybe it was just her chasing personal fulfillment, putting our relationship in jeopardy. I can’t blame her though, I don’t know what I would have done if I were in her shoes.Or maybe it’s this country we live in, the way it makes dreaming so hard for young people.But in the end, I lost a good one. And I really hope I heal.

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