The devil I know

Fifteen years after a chance encounter with my childhood sweetheart, Niran, I found myself torn between my unhappy marriage and the rekindled spark between us.

I stared blankly at my JAMB result, heartbroken. I hadn’t scored well enough for my dream university. Feeling defeated, I wanted to share the news with my friend, who had taken a gap year after secondary school and was working as a sales rep in a supermarket.

A few days later, she visited me at home, bearing what she called “good news.” But it wasn’t what I expected; I thought she got me a job at the supermarket. But instead, she told me about someone who had seen me at the supermarket and was interested in being my friend. I wasn’t intrigued until we met coincidentally at her workplace. His name was Niran.

Despite our vastly different backgrounds—he was a rich kid from a stable home, while I was a year older, raised by a single mother in a less stable environment—we became great friends. I juggled my job as a salesgirl with preparing for my exams, while Niran geared up for his second year at university. Our friendship blossomed into romance, but our relationship was strained by distance and poor communication. Those were the days of postcards and letters; however, we did not put in the effort to write to each other regularly. We drifted apart, and the relationship gradually fizzled out, ending naturally without a formal breakup.

Fast forward to fifteen years later. I had just moved into a new city with my family, and the electricity bill was constantly driving me crazy, and I was advised to pay a visit to the head office of the power company to lodge my complaints. I walked into the office, and who do I meet? Niran Ademola. It was an uncanny coincidence!

Our discussions quickly went from insane electricity bills to lunch dates. These casual lunches rekindled the spark between us, but I intentionally cut off contact, aware of the unhealthy situation. Little did I know that fate had other plans.

Five years later, I was onboard a plane heading out of state to attend an official assignment when I heard a familiar voice call my name, almost in a whisper as if he wasn’t sure it was me. I didn’t need to turn around or guess who it was. I knew it was Niran.

He swapped seats with the person sitting beside me, so I was forced to endure the three-hour flight with him sitting so close to me. He was ageing like fine wine. He looked more breathtaking than I could remember, and the connection between us was still palpable.

I must say, it was the best three hours I’ve spent with anyone in a long time, especially as my husband and I barely spoke to each other because we always had unresolved issues between us.

I also had mixed feelings when I learnt that Niran’s four-year-old marriage had ended. He thought it was a sign for us to rekindle our romance, but I laughed it off even though I made a mental note of what he said. After that chance encounter, I tried not to keep in touch with him because I didn’t want him to wake up feelings that I was struggling to tame, but it was hard to keep away from him. This guy has always had a special place in my heart, and it was hard for me to ignore that.

Fate keeps bringing us together, and I don’t know if it’s a mere coincidence or, like he said, it could be a sign that we are meant to be together. At this point in my marriage, I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. My heart is pulling me towards Niran, and I’m faced with an impossible decision: stay in an unhappy marriage or leave to be with the devil I know. But who really is the devil in this situation? Was Niran the devil I knew, or was my husband the one holding me back?