My name is Daniel, and honestly, I don’t even know where to begin. I’ve carried this pain for too long, bottled it in, smiled through it like say I dey okay. But inside, I dey die small small. Let me talk today. Maybe person go learn, maybe person go help.

Two years ago, my wife Chidinma—woke up one morning and said she wanted a break from our marriage. She said she was tired. Just like that. Said she wanted to focus on her career,that being married was weighing her down.I tried to understand. I begged her. I told her we could work things out. But she told me if I was too desperate for peace, she could return my bride price. My own wife. I still remember that day—how I stood holding back tears like a child, begging a woman I gave everything.She packed her bags and left the house. Left me with our two children—Zara, who’s 9 now, and Junior, 6. Told me to "hold them" while she chased her dreams. I didn’t stop her. I raised those kids with my bare hands, with no help.I became father and mother. I cooked, cleaned, did school runs,I even plaited my daughter’s hair once when no one was around to help.And through it all, I kept sending Chidinma ₦200,000 every month out of my ₦1.5 million salary. Not because she deserved it, but because I still loved her. I wanted to believe she would come back. I told the kids good things about her. I never once spoke evil of their mother, even though she acted like I never existed.

But life didn’t stop. I was driving back home one night and met this girl—Ngozi. She was a night worker. Pretty, shy, not really good at the work like the rest, so I figured she was new. I took her home. After that night, we exchanged contacts and started talking. I told her I wanted her to leave that life. That if she was willing to change, I could help her, date her, maybe even marry her. She said she had no one to support her, that if I would take care of her, she would stop.I started sending her money every week. Minimum of ₦40,000. I stopped seeing other women. I wanted her to feel loved.Then in November, I started noticing  unanswered calls at night. Excuses every morning. I asked, she said rent was stressing her. So I took a loan and paid ₦1.8 million to rent her a house in Surulere. I furnished it—AC, TV in fact the whole work.But information started reaching me. They said men dey enter her house every night like say na guest house. I didn’t believe it at first. Until I started going there unannounced. Almost every evening I went, I met different men.One day, I caught her with a guy and confronted them. The guy looked shocked. He said she told him she was a night worker and offered to bring him to her own place if he didn’t have one. She charged him ₦30,000 instead of the usual ₦20,000 because the house had AC and was neat.

Kia! My chest nearly burst.

When I confronted her, she didn’t even deny it. She just said, “Abeg make we end am,” like say na pure water we dey talk about. No shame. No apology. She even told me all the sex we had was payment for the house  refusing to leave the apartment. She says she won’t go anywhere.I wanted her out. I wanted to take my balance and recover the things I bought. All I wanted was peace.

But guess what? Chidinma—my dear wife that left—has started calling. Her precious job is gone. Her rent is about to expire, and now she suddenly remembers her family She’s saying she wants to come back, be a mother, be a wife. Her family members are even pleading. Saying the children need their mother.But where were they when I was drowning?

This woman insulted me, Said my love was a burden. For two years she never asked how I was surviving without affection, without help. Now because her world is crashing, she remembers family? I wasn't taking her back because if another job comes, she will vanish again. This marriage was over. I begged her before, I cried to her. But now, I am strong. My kids are happy.we play together.I didn't need her anymore. I have found my balance.