Flowers, often celebrated for their transient beauty, mirror the ephemerality of our love story. Just like the petals that wither with time, our love had a beginning and, as we soon discovered, an end. Our narrative started with echoes of our parents’ own romantic journey, and we naively believed that what we shared was an unbreakable bond, an epic love story destined to stand the test of time.
However, like any couple in love, we faced a rollercoaster of highs and lows. Challenges and trials greeted us along the way, but we faced them together with unwavering determination. Destiny seemed intent on retracing the path of our parents, raising unsettling questions about whether love was a generational curse, bound to follow a predetermined pattern. We found ourselves pondering where we might have gone astray and what we could have done differently.
You, my love, were my last hope in the realm of romance. I harbored lofty aspirations that our connection would culminate in the sanctity of marriage. Yet, as time unveiled, it became painfully evident that you had been sharing my bed at night while playing a heartless game by day. Your pretense was agonizing, for you lavished me with affection even when it was all a charade. You harbored resentment from my past, concealing it beneath the veneer of love. I had been a trusting fool all along, led to believe that it would be just us forever.
Why, I wonder, did you maintain this charade, even when you insist I had wronged you? Why didn’t you release me from the emotional shackles of this deceitful union earlier? You pushed away anyone who showed genuine interest in me, only to now conjure excuses for a transgression that took place a year into our relationship. Three precious years of my youth were squandered. The pain cuts deep, yes, but are you content with the way you treated our love? If so, then I wish you all the success and the flawless love you seek.
Certainly, I uttered hurtful words when the truth about your deception became evident. I humbled myself, pleading for God’s forgiveness, not just for your actions but for my own as well. I implored divine intervention to overlook our imperfections and bless our lives. Love, as we’ve discovered, can be a labyrinth of heartache. I can’t entirely cast blame upon you, for now, I grasp the capricious nature of life and the necessity to shoulder some responsibility for our own tribulations. Perhaps my own destiny played a role in influencing your actions.
The conclusion I’ve reluctantly arrived at is that I may not be destined to find an easy path to love. It seems that especially with the kind-hearted, complications abound. I refuse to dwell on these misfortunes. Through your pretense, I’ve emerged with newfound wisdom. I’ve come to understand that love and trust are not for the faint-hearted or the feeble. Love is a mysterious enigma, often misleading and deceitful.
Regardless of the pain you’ve inflicted upon me, I’m determined to love you once more. I won’t allow you to cast a shadow over my existence. I will open my heart to the next person who enters my life, even though it appears that, when it comes to love, I’m fated to be born of water and fire, a destiny fraught with challenges. This is my relationship with love—a difficult and uncertain journey. It’s unfortunate, but I extend my forgiveness, even to love itself. Despite the intimidation it may pose, it remains a cauldron from which I am willing to extract whatever treasures it may hold, even if it means enduring a little burn. The pain may be temporary, but what emerges from that pot is everlasting. I love you, love, in all your complex and confounding ways.
So, what is love, indeed? It’s a complex, ever-evolving, and often perplexing facet of human existence that tests us, shapes us, and ultimately defines us. It’s an emotional odyssey filled with joys, sorrows, and lessons that stay with us for a lifetime.
The Writer: Stella Aku Amevi
Twitter @Amevistella
Facebook: Stella Aku Amevi
Instagram: stella_amevi
