“The strangest happenings in life come with the most sincere intentions from familiar people, and such sincerity is what hurts us the most.” That was the consolation I got from my friend, John, after the astonishing reply I got from Tutu earlier that day. I had asked her “will you marry me?” in a bar somewhere on Atican beach where we decided to celebrate her birthday. The ovation was high, it was a well packaged surprise; I invited few of our friends, including a saxophonist to usher in a romantic aura, and John even went out of his way to invite Wande Coal just to make it look extraordinary. “Forget it, this guy is the best male vocalist in Naija.” Tutu is also a big fan of his. The stage was set for me to shine, and I was quite confident she was going to say yes. I sipped on the wine I held in my left hand as the saxophonist set my heart ablaze with the melodic tune he played. Not quite after that, Wande Coal stepped forward; you need to see the way Tutu’s friends were screaming, “Black Diamond!” What’s it with girls and glamour? I can’t comprehend. Wande’s voice finally brought decorum to the room. He sang his onetime chat topper and R&B single Ololufe and concluded by walking up to Tutu and asked her as he pointed at me, “t’iku bade, s’oma baa lo? – when death comes, will you go with him?” and then the ladies echoed, “awww” “he’s going to propose.” That was my cue. I approached Tutu as Wande faded from her presence. I deep my hand into my pocket and retrieved the Tifanny diamond ring I had prepared for that moment. I hit it on my wine glass as if I was going to make a toast and declared, “ladies and gentlemen, can I have your attention for a minute?” Silence enveloped the bar.
*****
I drove to the nearest bar on my street and sat there for hours in an attempt to drink off the pain; but for every shot of vodka I took the agony became more evident. My fiancée had just broken up with me. I wasn’t pained because she decided to quit, I was hurt because she didn’t give me a reason. I have always been a victim of breakups, but Gbemi’s exit was traumatically dramatic. Who ends a relationship without a reason? “Maybe I am not just good enough” I muttered to myself, and then I got an unexpected response from a lady who was sitting opposite to me, “good enough for who, the vodka?” Before then I didn’t notice anyone was seated in front of me, and so I was surprised to hear a stranger question me. However, the boy within me who was hurt and seeking for attention couldn’t ignore her presence.
“Maybe I wasn’t good enough for her, my ex. She broke up with me,” the alcohol aided my speech. She simply smiled and snapped,
“Your girlfriend broke up with you. So? How is that the end of the world?” I was perplexed at her response, I expected to hear a “sorry” or “why?”
“Mister, if you choose to drink away the memory, you’ll only wake up from a hangover to discover how a beautiful girl walked pass you.”
“Who are you?” my curiosity heightened
“I am Tutu.”
“I am Omotayo, and if I may ask…”
“Ask” she interrupted. Truth is if she hadn’t interrupted I wasn’t sure of what I was going to ask her. She technically afforded me few moments to think,
“Are you here alone?”
“Yes”
“Okay, I can see you are also drinking. If I am drinking to cure my pain, why are you drinking?”
“Every passing moment is but a privilege. You never know when death will come knocking, enjoy the life you lead while it last. I am simply enjoying the moment.” She winked at me and made a toast, “to forgetting about the past and focusing on the future.” Our glasses kissed and that night became history.
That night I got her contact and we decided to hook up some other time. While we conversed, she exhibited a strong personality trait; she appeared to me like an angel with a broken wing who was helping others survive. There was something about the words she spoke; they came with precision and definite messages.
Meeting her birthed a new me, she became my counselor and no night became dawn when we didn’t reach out to each other. Then something happened, I called Tutu’s phone on a Sunday and it was switched off. I sent her messages on the social media networks she operated, I didn’t get a reply. Things remained that way for two months, and for each day that expired all I did was stare helplessly at the last text she sent me:
I am going to bed now dear. I just want you to know that meeting you has made me a happier woman.
One day, I was on my way back from work when I saw her standing outside my door. I matched the brake impatiently and rushed out of the car leaving the door opened after I had managed to pull the handbrake. We reached for each other and hugged. I fell in love with her afterwards. We did everything together; she spent more nights at my place. She helped me plan my life and with her by my side I was able to exceed certain milestones. I soon learnt about the dreadful things she had gone through in life; her mother died while birthing her and her father was a soldier that lost his life to the war against the Boko Haram insurgents. Learning about her sufferings made me love her more, hence I decided to will my loyalty to her.
*****
“Today marks the beginning of another year for a very special woman in my life. She is someone I like to refer to as the hallmark of my existence, because she gave me a reason not to drown myself with alcohol,” I smiled and winked at her before continuing.
“Tutu, you made yourself a perfect reason for me to love again. You nurtured the boy you met in that bar into a man. Your presence in my life has made it more colourful. I cannot imagine a future without YOU. Tutu,” I knelt on both knee and asked her, “Will you marry me?”
She gazed into my eyes as I watched tears drop from hers, and as I reached for her hands, she ran outside the bar and I went after her.
“Tayo, I cannot marry you.”
“Why? What have I done wrong?”
“You haven’t done anything wrong; I just don’t think this is right.”
The memories of the times I have been a victim flashed through my mind. I searched my mind for answers I didn’t get, “am I about to become a victim again?”
“Tutu, do you doubt how I feel about you?”
“No Tayo. I don’t, but love isn’t about the feelings alone. It is a decision that has to be made.”
“Then decide, marry me. I have made up my mind.”
“I cannot afford to enslave you with my burden,” she replied. I became confused and nervous; I couldn’t comprehend what she said. I held her hands as I pulled her closer, kissed her forehead and whispered, “No condition will change my conviction about you Tutu.”
She murmured “I love you Tayo”, pushed me away and exited the beach.
*****
My baby,
By the time you get this I will be dead. I was diagnosed of leukemia, and the few months I have to live expired yesterday. I was on chemo the two months I was away, but I missed you so much I had to return and spend the rest of my life loving you. I almost said yes to marrying you, but that would have made you a widower. I loved you till my last breathe.
Tutu.
She died two weeks after her birthday. I dropped the ring on her coffin with a note that says …the history we shared will never fade away. I wasn’t a victim after all.
“True love knows when to say NO.” – Olufemi Fragile
119 comments
‘ A Beautiful Pain’ is a touching, interesting and romantic piece. Am impressed
FRAGILE!!! AWESOME…THERE’S ALWAYS A FLIPSIDE TO LOVE, JUST THE IRONY OF LIFE SOMETIMES…YOU HAVE SHOWN THAT HERE. KUDOS MAN. #BlackRooney
Interesting! Femi is a great writer
very interesting and touching piece. good writeup.
Nice piece keep it up dear
Awww. This is so nice and touching
Great story. Quite touching n sad. Nice work
Hmnnn beautiful pain indeed. Love though. Its just for a couple of people and those who found it; kudos .nice piece femz..
I don’t read fiction, but this one got me interested in reading every fiction on this blog… This story is pure, touching, and a lesson.. big ups to the writer.
This Is so lovely…… Thumbs Up#
“The strangest happenings in life come with the most sincere intentions from familiar people, and such sincerity is what hurts us the most.”. Nice one Sir fragile
U are a great writer n u have a bright future ahead …………..interesting !
Femi u are a great writer n u had a bright future ahead ………..this is interesting!
*****u hav a
Boss fragile….u r burstin ma head….feel u bro
Can’t stop these tears… What a beautiful story.. ” I can’t marry you” doesn’t always mean ” I don’t love you”.. Nice one..
Your writings gets better and better each day, u always know how to carry your readers along till the very end…. *smile*
Nice one bro keep it up
Painful…awesome write up!!!
Femi has never disappointed me n he will never do, u’ve got a nice writeup here,love to see more.
Thumbs up dear, d sky is ur starting point…..
Thumbs up dear,d sky is ur starting point…..
Kudos……… Thumb’s up
Thumb’s up……kudos to u
Love the suspence in between, got me really interested and super eager to read the story to d end. Good job
Tragedy…beautiful pain indeed…
Der is a lot dat touches d hrt wit a catching love piece; nice 1
*sigh* I loveeeee. I like how the insecurity in the country was put into this.There is nothing as splendid as loving the one who loves you.
Best piece av read in recent time!
Ok, dat rili got to me… Nice piece fragz
Beautiful…touching…proud of you FRAGILE, im inspired…..more blessings dear
Beautifully crafted peice of work, heart touching.
Am so proud of u femi, this piece is so touchy and awesome. Thumbs up dear!! C u at d top
great piece of art
Nice work from a great philosopher….always thinking….good job and keep it up
Ds s beautiful…luv it
Great Story. Awesome and very interesting. Keep it up my Brother. God is your Strength.
Is touching and awesome….nice one
Life is complex. Love is not enough. Life is too short to hold back your love. Too many lessons in one story. The way Fragile painted this thing, you can’t be asking if it actually happened, you just believe him.Cool story! The back and forth flow between happiness and sadness is sweet. Well organised too.
A beautiful write up…..keep up d good work
Interesting story, useful! Weldon Brother
Nice one bro
Wooow am so speachless by this! Femi is a natural born writer….thumbs up brother.
Awesome write up from a great writer.
Awesome
Beautiful
Wow…I almost cried…Interesting..- I love it…keep it up.
So loving this piece right now…Brilliant!
Nice!
Beautiful
Wow!!!
Nice one mate.
very touching and creative write up… No doesn’t mean hate..
Sleek bruv
all i can say is, i now know there is another blog in naija.. elsieisy.com…. nice story
Awesome piece
Beautiful piece, interesting, well done…
Amazing piece. God bless the source of this creativity.
Touching!…………. Keep up the good work bro. So proud of you.
Beautiful-pain indeed! Nice writeup
A wonderful write up. EXCELLENT
Beautiful piece, interesting, well done….
Great write up… Kudos.
I almost cried…very touching and sad.keep it up
Intrigue.&.touching story…thumps up
Wow! Am touched
Hmm! This is nice
You are just great femi
This is simply the best
This is mad my nigga!
Amazing!!! YOU never ever disappoint
wow. this is amazing. kip it up dear. nobel prizes on d way
I was reluctant to read, but itwas worth it at the end…
Good story my son… God bless you
Intriguing Stuff…Food for thought really.
Nice one from my creative director
Beautiful write up…touching story
Fragile can write as much as he can drink… No jokes this story just made my babe cry… Haba…
I dont ever want to be in this guy’s shoe….damn!
Tayo is fortunate to have tutu… Beautiful pain indeed
You got what it takes
I don’t regret waking up from my sleep to read this… Nice one..
Fantastic! I love it.
Wow! Most times i say ‘wow’ when i am in awe and so speechless. I almost had a tear drop. Wished Tutu survived d cancer but Tayo can derive a whole lot from her strength. Femi, this is a great piece!
Why did u have to kill tutu? I hate sad stories… I feel for tayo…
Fragile. Quit writing stories. Start writing scripts… You deserve better than a competition.. Aim for oscar.. This is heart melting… Great one
Wow! So touuching…and so well crafted. Thumbs up!!
Your stories always have sad ending
Wow!!!!! This is so touching….true love is still out there guys….be patient to find one.
Wow this is a great story very touching and amazing.the person that wrote this story must be a genuis it got ma attention and hearth
Wow…what a wonderful write up..bravo
Abeg.. No ruin my tgif oooooo…. I hate cancer
Wow what a touchx story,it melt my heart.
Touching! Love and what it holds…
Great story
Femi certainly knows how to keep his writers glued to his stories till the end, great suspense, these days u find it difficult reading a long piece but with femi it never gets boring… proud of you my creative director, the sky is your starting point, you are a rare gem of our time. more initiative and grace
Waoh Femi,this is really niceee. Keep it up bro
Whao this is indeed awesome… great write up/story. I enjoyed every tin on it. U should come up with a mag like doing hints mag of those days. Awesome awesome
Kuranyin! This is a nice piece guy! Keep it up
Femi o. I go love. Nice story
Good read
I totally enjoyed reading this…..the last line ” True Love knows when to say No” does it for me. Good job FemiFragile
I once called this guy a super story writer…lol but seriously, this is more than ‘superb’…..I pray nollywood do not get dis script, Alaba will so sell!!!…well done bro, well done!
Touching. Great story….
Nice piece Femi. Keep up the good work.
Wow this was beautiful almost brought tears to my eyes…good job
Quite inspiring and thought provoking. Fortune
This is awesome! This isn’t jst a story, I see reality…..proud of you dear
I don’t know if this story is actually real but I can tell this is a heart touching story that brings one reasoning closer to reality of life… beautiful things don’t last forever rather they are temporal.
Wow! OMG! Dis is awesome….’true love knows how to say no’… God!!!
Raw talent……excellent write up. More grease to ur elbows
I don’t usually read long articles but this one surely got me glued to my device. Beautiful write-up that I created pictures in my mind while reading. Kudos to the writer.
Great piece! Very captivating
Awesome stuff. Well done, Femi
Brilliant! well done Femi
Brilliant!!!!!!!!!! well done Femi
Wow! So touching….nice one Femi!
Ok… I usually dont put comments on writeups… dis is just too awesome to let slide… great piece bro… greatness awaits you
Ok… I usually dont put comments on writeups… dis is just too awesome to let slide… great piece bro… greatness awaits you