3. The Shadowed Complex

Although the flat’s walls had once been Serwaa’s safe haven, they now felt oppressive. The smell of Kwame’s cologne lingered in the hallway, and the sound of his laughter reverberated in the stairwell. Every space brought back memories of Kwame. Regardless of how hard she tried to divert her attention away from the thoughts, they kept coming back to her whenever she was holding something in her hands.
 
Judith’s name, which Serwaa had never heard before, caused her to feel a tingling sensation. For Kwame, the woman he was going to marry, Judith, who lived in the same apartment complex just down the street, served as a constant reminder of Kwame’s betrayal. Every chance encounter, every glance at Judith’s smug grin, was a fresh wound, a painful reminder of Kwame’s treachery throughout the entire relationship.
 
And all of a sudden, she started to establish connections. Rumours circulated that Kwame was seeing another woman in their apartment complex. Even a neighbour claimed to have seen another woman in Kwame’s truck on multiple occasions. But Serwaa dismissed it. She was under the impression that the neighbour’s sole intention was to try to cause problems in her relationship.
 
As she drove past Judith’s door on her way from the flat to work, Serwaa cast a quick glance in her direction. She imagined what it would be like to confront her and demand an explanation and a resolution to the situation. However, she was aware that this was a waste of time. Serwaa had to accept her heart’s brokenness once Kwame made his decision.

The finality of it all hit her like a gut punch. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for the journey ahead, knowing that she would have to face the world alone now. But she also knew that she was strong enough to do it—to move on and find her own happiness—away from the painful memories of this apartment and the man who had once promised her forever.