He proposed marriage to me that fateful day in May but I turned him down. He, the eligible envy of most young women in my ward, chose me in the end, and I turned him down.
Of course the ward went berserk with speculations and the sidetalks began. “Oga abu na-onwe ihe na-akuru nwa a egwu”, they said. I heard but I was not hurt. They too had been watching him, with all his awesome personality, move from one sister to another in the name of dating. They must have, in all things, seen the way I complimented him. So why didn’t they push him to me sooner.
They said I should be happy but I wasn’t. Instead, I was angry. I was angry because this man made me wait. I mean, what manner of man goes about searching when I had already found myself on his behalf. Definitely, he knew how I felt about him because I made no effort to hide it.
I learnt his favorite hymns and learnt to sing them in a way that brought smiles to his face. I was always punctual because I knew he appreciated the extra hands at setting up for Sacrament. And yes, I shamelessly joined the married sisters in waiting for their husbands in the Bishopric every Sunday because I knew how relieving it was for him to sit and talk after. Most definitely he knew how I felt about him.
So don’t be quick to judge me. I waited and while I did, he was busy tasting waters. I waited and while I did my love suffered. It waned as days turned into weeks, weeks into months and then years. They went by and I soon got used to loving him from afar. I got used to not getting the one thing that mattered to me the most. Who knows, maybe unrequited love was our Heavenly Father’s way of sealing my salvation. See, there was nothing I did not begin to consider, and just when I had accepted my fate and found a higher purpose, he flashed the ring.
The sweetest man on earth went down on one knee that fateful day in May but I turned him down. Why? Because I love him of course. Yes, if he asks again I will consider, but right now I’m too angry. I’m too angry to let the butterflies in my stomach flutter. I have cut their wings and held back the tears. I’m too angry to allow the weakness at my knees or excitement in heart show. Who send am go Sokoto when the love wey him need dey hin shokoto. If he asks again, maybe I will consider. But right now? Right now, I’m too in love with him to marry him!
Image: Ben White
CHINA TORI 
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