I Funded Our Wedding, Then He Walked Away Cold

Fii was there when I began facing challenges with Kwame. He was the friend I turned to when things spiraled out of control between us. He always had the right words to soothe the turmoil in my heart. On occasions when Kwame refused to speak to me after an argument, it was Fii who would go to him and help mend things for us.

He felt like the brother I never had. Being an only child, I didn’t want my parents involved in my relationship troubles; it didn’t seem right. We weren’t married, so why drag Mom and Dad into issues that shouldn’t have existed in the first place?

Fii was my support whenever I needed him.

Eventually, Kwame and I drifted apart. One night, I discovered him in bed with a woman he had always insisted he wasn’t seeing.

I was shattered. My pride crumbled, and I felt unable to pick up the pieces. Fii was there to comfort me, reassuring me that a brighter future awaited. Even when I couldn’t see any hope, he stayed by my side, doing his best to make me laugh and spending time with me whenever he could.

Neither of us anticipated what would happen next. Before we knew it, we were deeply in love and planning our future together. To this day, I can’t recall when or how Fii proposed, nor do I remember saying yes. It’s as if that moment never truly happened.

Our love flourished. Once again, the universe conspired to turn things in my favor.

Fii faced job struggles. When we began dating, he was unemployed, and I found myself covering most of his expenses—paying his rent, utilities, and even giving him money for his needs. When we decided to marry, we agreed he needed to secure a job first.

Soon, he landed a job. It wasn’t the salary he hoped for, but it was a start we both believed would improve. Six months later, he brought up marriage again. We set timelines and began preparations.

Understanding his financial situation, I didn’t want to overwhelm him. I encouraged him to plan a wedding within his means. Even then, I had to support him financially. One afternoon, he called me, saying, “Babe, I want to buy the rings, but I don’t have enough money. Can you lend me some that I can pay back in a month?”

“No,” I replied. “I can help with everything else, but not the ring. It should be entirely yours, a promise of your love to me. If I buy the ring, it feels like I’m buying it for myself, and that’s not right.”

When I saw him that night, he wore a frown. I could tell he was upset about my refusal to lend him money. When I tried to talk to him, he gave me blunt answers. I asked, “Are you angry about something?” He replied, “Of course I’m angry. Everything I’m going through is because I want to marry you. If you won’t help when I need it, maybe we should call off the whole thing.”

I didn’t take his words seriously. People often exaggerate when they’re angry. I tried to calm him down, reminding him there was no rush if he didn’t have the funds. There would always be time.

Everything was set except for the rings. I held firm on my stance, but somehow, he managed to work some magic and bought a set of rings for both the engagement and the wedding. I remember treating him to something special for his accomplishment. We laughed and spent the night together.

Marriage was on our minds, but we hadn’t discussed where we would live afterward. We couldn’t share his small room, and I didn’t think it was appropriate to bring him to my parents’ house. Living apart wasn’t an option either.

I knew he couldn’t afford to rent an apartment, so I took it upon myself to solve that issue. I had him look for an apartment he liked and gave him money to pay for it. He promised to repay me after the wedding, but I knew better; he often forgot his debts.

Three months later, we had a beautiful wedding. I had never seen him so happy, and his joy filled me with happiness. As guests departed, he stayed by my side. We deserved that happiness on our special day.

As night fell and the wedding festivities concluded, we enjoyed our first night together in the hotel, though we were too exhausted to fully embrace the moment.

The next day after church, the photographer called. We had made a partial payment for his services and promised to pay the rest afterward. He called for the remaining balance so he could start working on the photos. I told Fii, “The photographer wants his money.” He replied, “So what do you want me to do? Why don’t you pay him yourself?”

His cheeky tone ignited my frustration. I responded, “Be a man for once and take responsibility. Step up when needed and stop pushing everything onto me. Must I pay for everything?” My words seemed to infuriate him.

“I did what men do. I married you, as you always wanted. This was your desire, and we’ve accomplished it. I can’t keep paying for things you requested.”

I’ll never forget that phrase: “So he married me not because he wanted to, but because I wanted it.” I thought to myself, “So that’s why I had to cover all the expenses?”

I wanted to say more hurtful things, but I kept my composure. I called the photographer back and assured him I would send the money first thing the next day.

After our argument, he grabbed his t-shirt and left the hotel. He didn’t return, and I didn’t reach out to ask where he was. Monday came and went, and by Tuesday, he still hadn’t shown up. I didn’t call either.

I checked out of the hotel and went to my parents’ house. They were curious about why I was alone and why I hadn’t gone to our rented apartment. I simply told them, “I haven’t seen Fii since Sunday evening.”

They began calling him, inquiring about his whereabouts. He lied, pretending everything was fine. He called on Sunday morning, a week after he left, asking for the keys to the apartment. I remained cold and indifferent, asking, “Are you coming to pick up your things from the house?” He replied, “Your parents have spoken to me, and I think we should sit down and resolve our differences. It’s too early for fighting.”

I told him, “Come by whenever you’re ready. I’ll give you the keys to collect whatever you have left.” He started to rant, “Didn’t you hear what I said? Your parents have…”

I hung up before he could finish. During his absence, I had learned to move on, and he was unaware. I wanted the marriage, which is why he pursued it. Now, I no longer desired it. I hoped he would let it go.

My parents tried to dissuade me, calling it a devil’s influence, but the only devil I knew was Fii. We parted ways, and now I’m happy. Wherever he is, I hope he finds happiness too.

-Florence
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