A happy couple. It's the picture they always portrayed, wearing smiles that never faded and never jaded. It's the blessings, and the  grace of God. That's what they believed. They held onto it even when they had doubts. Doubts about their love for each other. Doubts about many things.

They've come a long way. From those days when her family opposed the marriage to today when the same family members feel ashamed, looking back on all they did and said to her husband. But the trials she and he have been through, it seems, are not enough to guarantee a secure bond between them. Strange, this life.

He travels a lot. And she, she has to be a father and a mother to their kids. If he travelled once a while, it certainly wouldn't be a big deal. But almost every now and then he's in New York, Texas, Dakar, London, in new hotels and in big meetings. She is sometimes proud to showcase to people her once poor husband who has become a big man. But deep down, she wished he stayed at home more. She doesn't want to complain because she sees it isn't his fault that he travels a lot.

He makes efforts to phone, and video call, almost filming his every move when he travels. She sees and knows where he's been and what he does. But she isn't satisfied with soft copies of him on her phone. She longs for him, his hard copy.

There's this youth, a course mate she studies with. She's vowed before the Lord and in the presence of family and friends, to stick to her husband like postage stamp. Now loneliness is driving her slowly towards this youth. He doesn't flirt with her, neither does she try to seduce him. She's taken the youth as a junior brother, like a son, and he, he sees her in the same light. But the bond between her and this stranger is deepening, the further her husband travels to strange lands.

How does she explain all this to her man? Even if she did, he has no cure for her loneliness when he's away and perhaps, this youth she's hanging onto might be scared off by her blunt admissions should he hear them.

Perhaps, it's best to leave things just as they are.

By Benjamin Nambu

From: Ghana

Website: https://www.greatbenji.business.blog

Facebook URL: https://www.facebook.com/kwesi.nambu