2. Now I Know

“All relationships have one law. Never make the one you love feel alone, especially when you’re there.”

Unknown

As the days grew shorter and the air turned crisp, Ama experienced autumn for the first time. Kofi’s strict rules left her with little to do but watch the changing leaves outside their home and yearn for the warmth of her family back home. Alone in the quiet house, she filled her days with sleep and television, longing for any form of connection to the outside world. Her once-neat hair grew longer and tangled, but Kofi refused to take her to a salon. Left with no other choice, she clumsily braided her own hair, the strands slipping through her fingers as she tried to tame them into submission.

Ama’s only respite from Kofi’s insistent demands was during her monthly cycle, which typically lasted three to seven days. However, Kofi would often insist on having his way earlier, on the fourth day, despite Ama’s objections. To ease the boredom and frustration, Ama sometimes used an unripe banana brought home by Kofi to please herself. The curved and sizable fruit always provided her with a satisfying climax, something that Kofi consistently failed to provide for her.

The loud chiming of the doorbell pierced through the quiet apartment—a sound foreign to Ama’s ears. Jolted out of her thoughts, she watched as Kofi, dozing on the couch, jumped up to answer the door. Her heart raced as she wondered who could be at their door. Kofi ushered in a woman whom he introduced Ama to as his cousin, who had recently arrived from Ghana. Ama’s confusion deepened when Kofi failed to introduce the visitor to her. Feeling invisible and devalued, she politely excused herself and retreated to the bedroom. It was painfully clear now that Kofi only saw her as a casual sex mate, and it left a bitter taste in her mouth.

The situation continued to deteriorate. Ama’s demand for answers only fueled the fire, and she pressed Kofi relentlessly to reveal the identity of the lady he had introduced her to as his cousin from Ghana. His response was unconvincing. He claimed she was merely a colleague at work, with no deeper connection between them. Despite his explanations, Ama couldn’t shake off the feeling that there was more to their relationship than he was letting on. But she tried to keep her composure, determined not to let her suspicions consume her. The tension between them hung thick in the air as they both struggled to maintain a facade of normalcy. But beneath the surface, doubts and mistrust simmered, threatening to boil over at any moment.

Weeks passed, and the tension between Ama and Kofi only grew. There were days when they did not utter a word to each other, their interactions reduced to silent glares and cold shoulders. Kofi would wait until Ama dozed off on the couch, then he would pounce on her, his hands roaming all over her body as she lay there numb and unresponsive. She couldn’t endure it any longer.

One day, after another unsatisfying encounter with Kofi, Ama finally mustered up the courage to confront him about their relationship. She demanded to know where she stood with him and why he continued to treat her like a disposable object. But Kofi’s response was dismissive. He shrugged off her questions and told her not to worry about things that didn’t concern her.

Ama was heartbroken and frustrated. She had given everything to this man. She had given him her time, her body, and even her self-respect, but all she received in return was indifference and disrespect. With no options available, she was resigned to her fate.

But despite trying to convince herself that she could continue living this way, Ama’s spirit was slowly breaking under the weight of Kofi’s mistreatment. Her once-vibrant personality gave way to a dull apathy towards life, and she started to lose weight. Kofi, on the other hand, seemed to be thriving.