He Took Back Everything He Ever Gave Me

We were both attending nursing school when we crossed paths. He was an incredibly handsome man. Despite rumors labeling him a womanizer, he hadn’t done anything wrong. I turned him down a few times, but he persisted, showing genuine care and bringing me gifts during his frequent visits.

One day, my roommate Suzy asked, “Why don’t you give him a chance? He keeps coming back. He might be the one.” Deep down, I felt he was the one. I loved him and appreciated everything he did. The only barrier to saying yes was his religion—he was Muslim. He didn’t seem like someone who would abandon his faith for mine, and there was no way I would convert to Islam.

I pondered this a lot, but that evening, Suzy said, “It doesn’t have to end in marriage. Use this time to get to know him better and see where it leads.” Her words made sense, so I decided to give it a shot.

The next time Awudu visited, I told him yes. He looked surprised, so I clarified, “Yes, I would like to be your girlfriend.”

From then on, we were inseparable throughout our time in school. As fate would have it, we were both assigned to Kumasi for our National Service. He was incredibly supportive, helping me find a place to stay and furnishing my room. Though he didn’t have much money, he was determined. One day he’d bring a fridge, the next a TV, and then a rice cooker—one item at a time, he filled my room.

One evening, he came over to spend time with me. While I stepped away briefly, he took my phone and read messages from a guy who had been trying to get my attention. Yes, I had gone out with him once, and he had visited me before, but there was nothing serious between us.

Awudu became upset and started to throw a fit. “Why are you entertaining a guy who clearly likes you?” he demanded. I replied, “He’s interested, but I’m not. I’ve told him no. He’s just a friend now.”

He was just a friend, but he was inching closer to my heart. Awudu had a right to be angry. If he had read the messages a bit longer, he would have discovered that I had kissed the guy once.

I found myself torn between continuing with Awudu or giving Sammy a chance. That’s when Awudu’s religious beliefs resurfaced in my mind. “Awudu is a Muslim; our future together seems unlikely. But if I give Sammy a chance, we could have a bright future. He’s a Christian, so things should be easier for us,” I thought.

I confided in Suzy about my dilemma, and she said, “I can’t tell you what to do, but Awudu has been a great guy. If you have doubts about the future, address them now or let him go.” I liked the idea of “letting him go,” so I began planning to end things with Awudu.

I started seeing him less and made up excuses. I thought he would take the hint and leave me alone, but he became even more understanding and forgiving. One afternoon, he called to see if I was home to visit. I told him I was on my way to see my mother and would return the next day. Sammy had already informed me he was coming over, and I wanted to avoid any awkward encounters.

Minutes after Sammy arrived, I heard a knock on my door. Before I could react, Awudu walked in. “I thought you said you were going to see your mother?” he asked, glancing around the room and spotting Sammy. He fell silent and left.

I knew it was over between us. I felt sad about how it ended, but I was relieved that it had ended at all. I didn’t hear from him for several days until one afternoon, I heard another knock. When I opened the door, it was Awudu. He didn’t say a word; he just walked in and headed straight for the microwave. He carried it downstairs and placed it in a waiting taxi. He returned for the blender and the standing fan. I understood his message—he was taking back everything he had bought for me.

I couldn’t stop him. I was terrified he might lash out at me. I wanted to block his path and plead with him to stop, but the anger on his face frightened me. He came back for the TV and then the rice cooker. That’s when he noticed I was cooking rice. He said, “Pour the rice out; let me take my cooker.” I pleaded, “Awudu, please don’t do this to me.” He shot me a menacing look that made me fear for my safety. I said, “Just give me a few minutes; it will be ready soon, and then you can take it.”

The next thing I knew, my rice was on the floor. He pulled down the curtains, scattered my jewelry, and picked up the beads he had given me for my birthday. He returned to lift the fridge onto his shoulder and started down the stairs. I rushed in front of him, begging him to stop. He noticed my phone in my hand and tried to grab it from me. He lost his balance and slipped down the stairs. Unfortunately, the fridge landed on his left foot, breaking it.

He screamed loudly, causing my neighbors to rush out. He couldn’t stand up, and his foot began to swell. The neighbors brought ice, wrapped it in cloth, and tied it around his foot. He continued to scream in pain. The taxi driver helped lift him into the car. Just as the taxi was about to leave, he told the driver, “Come back and pick up the fridge after dropping me off at the hospital.”

I felt sorry for him, but the fridge seemed to matter more to him. Indeed, the driver returned to collect the fridge. Had it not been for the accident, he would have likely come back for the mattress or even the carpet. I realized I owned nothing in that room.

When Sammy visited and saw my empty room, he asked, “Were you robbed or something?” He promised to help, but for the next several months, he didn’t even get me a spoon. He professed his love, but one day, he vanished from my life.

Awudu now walks with a slight limp, but he’s doing well. We currently work at the same hospital, but we hardly speak to each other. My room is slowly coming together. I don’t have everything he took yet, but little by little, I will acquire them through my own efforts.

—Sarah,
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