One fateful evening, Peter was helping his mother wash the dishes after a bumper sale.
Lifting his head, he beheld this beautiful, black-skinned girl passing on the street close to his mother's shop.
He fixed his gaze on her, suspending the plate in his hand for some moment. Unfortunately, she didn't even look in his direction.
“I won't let this girl pass," he said to himself, and dropped the plate inside the basin and ran after her.
"Hello! Excuse me,” he stopped the lady, breathing heavily.
“Me?” She touched her chest, looking at him, confused like someone being accused of a crime they didn't commit.
“Yes! You,” Peter retorted.
“My name is Peter. I saw you passing, and I couldn't take my eyes off you," he confessed bluntly.
She smiled loudly, "Okay! I am Joy.”
“Nice to meet you, Joy. Do you live around here?” He asked.
“Yes, the house facing the Redeemed Church of God on Monday's Street is our house.”
“If that is all, I will be leaving, " she added.
“Emm, yeah, but before you do, I would like to have your phone number," he requested.
“Oh, I don't mind,” she beamed, and quickly called it out.
“I will add some love emojis to your name; you have won a special spot in my heart already," he teased her.
She laughed, "Okay, do as you wish.”
“By the way, that is my mother's restaurant; I am always there helping her. You can stop by anytime, you know?” He pointed at a local hut some distance away.
“Sure, I will, whenever I am able,” Joy responded.
Peter and Joy became close and eventually got into a relationship. They loved each other immensely and had no difference from a couple.
Along the way, Peter felt the need to let Joy know about his intentions to settle down with her.
“Babe, we have been in this for almost a year now. What are your plans for us?" he threw the ball at her.
Joy sat up and faced him on the bed. "I didn't see that coming.”
He smiled and remained mute.
Joy sighed, “Well, I want to spend the rest of my life with you; however, you are a northerner, and I am from the east. My family doesn't accept any union with anyone who is not my tribe and, worse, a northerner.”
Peter felt a sharp pain in his chest, but held his peace still.
She continued, “But we will find a way. I want to be with you. I don't know what life will be for me with you.”
Holding her hands tight, Peter let out a deep breath and said, “It is well.”
“For real?" she replied.
He just smiled and nodded, but something in him had been wounded.
Through the night, he thought about the matter; he didn't want to let go of the relationship, and he didn't want to waste his time building a relationship that wouldn't amount to anything.
A week later, he drafted a breakup text and sent it to her and made his reasons clear: "this relationship wouldn't lead anywhere, and I don't want to waste my time.”
Joy came to his house the next day after getting his message. There was something off about the way he hugged her, but she didn't mind.
“Welcome,” he offered her a seat and a glass of cold water.
" Thank you, babe,” she said, appreciating the gesture.
“So, I got your text yesterday. What is wrong?” She asked, looking into his eyes.
“I have made my decisions. I don't want this anymore. It won't work out in the end. I am sorry if this hurts you; I am quite hurt too, but this is best for both of us. Peter responded
Joy got angry and left without saying goodbye, but the following day, she called him and apologized, still demanding that they keep the relationship.
However, Peter’s mind wouldn't change; eventually they parted ways, but Peter couldn't move on.
Each night, her memories kept coming back fresh. He avoided anything that had to do with relationships just to heal, but he could only be free whenever he was around people; the moment he was alone, the terror visited again.
Three months into the torment, he decided to reach out to Joy and apologize. Unfortunately, she has moved on already; she already gave another man a chance.
Peter has to accept his fate and let her go finally, but he can not deny the fact that he has lost something very precious.
