#IntheSpiritofLove: Giving love a second chance (Short story)

by Funmi Onakoya

Losing a spouse isn’t what anyone dreams of. Most people would even ‘’reject’’ the mere thought of it. For Rele, it had happened and no amount of rejecting could bring him back. She remembered how she had to convince Papa that Dilim was just right for her. After a really long talk, both families agreed and she married the love of her life amidst great fanfare. Papa wouldn’t have anything less for his only daughter.

They had settled down to ”happily ever after” enjoying the bliss of marriage, when 3 months into it, Dilim was taken from her, dreams of a happy forever after shattered by the actions of a drunk cab driver. He is in jail now. It was hard but she forgave them both; the driver who sent her husband to an early grave and her Dilim who left her without a piece of himself.

She had wanted a child immediately but they agreed to wait; she because of her demanding job at the bank, he as a doctor rising through the ranks. If only she could turn back the hands of time….

Her phone rang, jolting her out of her reverie.”Yes? “ Rele dear. How are you? I’ve been expecting your message but I decided to call you. So…do you have an answer for me?” “Bayo, I will call you myself. I need some more time, she answered.” “Okay, I understand. Take care” he said as he hung up. She sighed. Bayo…her friend, a very good one at that… she also liked to think of him as her rescuer.

At a time when she was losing it, he seemed to waltz in and take control. A widower, he seemed to be one person who really understood how she felt. He was a shoulder to lean on, a true friend in every sense of the word. At first she was skeptical thinking him to be one of those who saw her as a prey simply because she was widowed. He proved himself to be different though and for that she was glad. What he asked her now though…

Mom had spoken to her just last Friday, asking if she had any plans, and to which she’d replied no. Mom meant well she knew. 18months after Dilim, but it was just so hard to move on. She felt she was betraying Dilim. Lord knows she’s tried but her heart wasn’t in it. The only person she’d felt comfortable around was Bayo…who’d asked her two weeks ago if she was interested in trying again at love…in a relationship with him.

At first she was shocked but then she realised he’d come to mean a lot to her too…she just wasn’t sure if she was ready. She sighed deeply.

Bayo hung up the phone. Rele…if only she knew just how deeply he’d fallen for her. He sighed. He wondered if she was ever going to be ready to love again. He understood that she had loved him (her late husband) deeply. He had also loved Ronke so much he didn’t think he could breathe without her. When he’d lost her to ovarian cancer, he had sworn not to love another. He hated how she slipped from him gradually till she left him alone. It had killed him inside.

However ,her last wish was that he moves on regardless, to try and enjoy life ”living it to the fullest” she’d said. His Ronke, even while on her deathbed, he was still a priority. He laughed bitterly. He’d tried but no woman could compare to her. They didn’t understand. Until he saw her. Rele. She was different. She was pretty but what drew him to her was the grief in her eyes.

No matter how much she tried to hide it, it was visible albeit only to the experienced eye. She’d come to attend the charity gala held in honour of people who passed on as a result of cancer. It had been something Dilim was passionate about.

He was able to glean from the talkative nurse beside him that she was the widow of amiable late doctor, Dilim Okoye who died in an unfortunate accident. He continued to look at her. It wasn’t until she smiled at him that he took his eyes off her, embarrassed. He noticed that the smile did not reach her eyes. After the event, he walked up to her and they talked, he doing most of the talking.

They became friends subsequently and now…he wanted more. He told himself it was because she reminded him of Ronke but he knew he wasn’t being honest with himself. Friends for 8months and counting, he realized it had nothing to do with it. Finally, someone who made his heart skip the way Ronke did then. If she wasn’t interested he would still remain her friend. Better that than nothing at all. He was ready, was she? The phone rang interrupting his thoughts. It was Rele.

He picked it, apprehensive, forcing a calm he did not feel into his tone, said, ’’Hello”?

“YES. I’M READY”, she said. She hung up, a smile on her lips, at peace, knowing Dilim would want this. For her to be happy. It was time to love again.

“LOVE WITH YOUR WHOLE HEART, BECAUSE NO BREATH BEYOND THE CURRENT IS PROMISED”.-Anonymous.

Celebrating love and second chances.

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Funmi Onakoya is a student at the University of Lagos. She enjoys reading and writing. She tweets from @onakchic.

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