Before 40 Part3

.....Before 40 continues
Part3
Whaattt! Franklyn was  in bed with another lady. For almost a minute of standing at the doorpost, pale with shock, they were so engrossed in the heat of the moment they didn’t know they had company. It was as though I was a ghost. Then it dawned on me that while Franklin had me, his virgin girlfriend in place as his wife-to-be, he met his sexual urges with other girls. I pulled his worthless seal off my finger, tossed it at him with so much force it would have broken his head if it could, signifying an end to the relationship. I left the scene of the drama, leaving Franklin with almost 5years of my life. Straight off, I made my way to the church. That evening at Rev. Father Jeff’s office, I couldn’t hold back tears that flowed like loosed tap. I was shaking all over as if I just escaped an explosion. Rev. Father Jeff administered the only tranquilizer he had and at that moment, these ancient scriptures of all times did calm my nerves. “Be patient,” he admonished and crowned his words with the same expression as the other time, “You two were not meant to be, the right man will come at the right time”.
After the breakup, a good number of men came asking me out. They approached in turns of one per week, at a time two, as though I was recruiting. I was almost wondering if I was the only girl around. Perhaps it was that good-for-nothing Franklin’s ring that kept them at bay. Now that it was off, indicating I was available, potential suitors showed up, all of whom I turned down flatly. Though single, I wasn’t ready to mingle, not after the last relationship that left my heart mangled, whose broken pieces I doubted could ever get cobbled.
At a time, after a long while of staying away from men as though they were a plague, a female colleague invited me to a monthly singles programme at her church. After much persuasion, I attended. Ohhh! Late Pastor Mabel  Lawson (God bless her soul) spoke words of hope that cut across every fibre of my shattered heart, fitting it back to shape. I was open to love again. There I met Bro.Kenneth. As we got conversing, I got to know we sailed the same boat. We both had been disappointed with love a couple of times. I also got to know we hailed from the same hometown; Aba in Abia state. That alone endeared my father to him even though he had only heard of him. I also loved to have a decent, principled man of integrity like my father for a husband. Little did I know tribe does not necessarily define character.
Sometimes later, Bro.Kenneth proposed relationship as expected. Already I was on my way to clocking 30.I gave him a positive answer as I felt I had passed the age of raising standard and looking for certain qualities in men. I had always wanted a tall, dark and handsome man, Bro.Kenneth was the exact opposite. He was short and stout, light like the sun and far from being good-looking. But he sure had a good sense of humour going for him. And that, I loved about him. No matter how sad or gloomy you may feel, a minute with Bro.Kenneth and the 32+or- white stony structures in your mouth would be out on display as though you are advertising toothpaste. He was certainly gifted in putting smiles on faces.
Zipping up seemed to be one spiritual malady most young men of nowadays are suffering. Barely two months into our relationship and Bro.Kenneth was already eyeing my skirt. I told him I was a virgin and would like to remain like that till my wedding night. He said whether now or then, it made no difference. That after all, he was going to be my husband. I didn’t want what happened with Franklin to repeat itself. I didn’t want to lose him to another girl. When he wouldn’t cease pestering, I gave in to his demand. Sometimes later, I was confirmed pregnant. “Ewoooo!” my inner being yelled in fear of the future on realising I now had an entity growing inside of me. I was shocked when Bro.Kenneth asked me to go for an abortion. “No!” I declined sternly. I thought I was showing that I loved him by going back on my decision to keep sealed till the wedding, abortion was going too far, too far away from God. I was bent on not giving him the pleasure of that. Bro.Kenneth started giving me attitude; he wouldn’t call nor pick calls, no more dates or outings together. In the long run, I capitulated. After that, we both agreed to wait till we were married. Hmmnnn! better not to start than start and think you can hold back or control yourself. Not too long after, Bro.Kenneth came around with his lures again. Even while I refused it, deep down within, I longed for it as I had not gotten over my first experience. One thing led to the other and we were at it again. From then, on and on we copulated even though we were yet to be a couple. Gradually, I couldn’t bear keeping away from Bro.Kenneth for long. The self-contain I rented could as well be let out as I spent most days at Bro.Kenneth’s apartment: cooking his food, washing and ironing his clothes, keeping the house clean and of course; sharing his bed although we were yet to be officially married. I aborted a couple of pregnancies for him. Each of those times, “I need to be well grounded in my electronic business before we can consider raising a family,” was the same excuse he gave always for not taking responsibility.
One cool Saturday afternoon at his house, the cloud suddenly gathered in a rush, bolts of lightening crossed the atmosphere in succession, kraaahhggg! I could hear the rumblings of thunder from a distance, I knew it was about to rain but I didn’t know it would be a heavy downpour of humiliation on me.
TO BE CONTINUE......