When Love Decides To Turn Cold.

Everyone in the neighborhood knew about Temitope and Shade, they were that kind of couple people pointed at and smiled, the kind that made love look easy, you know those couples that just have this calm, unshakable vibe, yeah .....that was them.

They had been together for years , through the good, the bad, and also the ugly, Shade was the kind of girlfriend that every guy wishes for, she was so patient,so supportive, and she never one to give up, even when things went too rough, she stayed.

Then Temitope, on the other hand, was the hardworking man, but life had not been fair to him at all, he had been struggling to find a good job for a very long time, and most times, it was Shade who would encourage him never to give up but to keep pushing.

Temi, don’t worry, Shade would always say, your time will come, just keep believing.

I hope so, Shade, see sometimes ehn, I just feel so tired of everything, he would reply, and his voice heavy.

She would smile softly and then pat his back, see this guy , chill na, you know I didn’t fall in love with your money or something, I fell in love with you, you alone.

That was Shade, the girl who stayed even when everyone else would have left, all In the name of wanting a good life.

Then, on one sunny afternoon, Temitope’s phone rang,when he picked his call he saw that It was his uncle from Lagos, the man who owned a thriving construction company, the uncle wanted him to come over and work with him as he ended more trusted hands at his business, It was the kind of call that changes a man’s life, he was happy he accepted the offer.

Shade was the first person Temi told. She screamed out of joy and hugged him tight Finally! I told you your time would come!

Things changed fast after that and within months, Temitope started earning good money, he bought new clothes, changed his phone, and even moved into a better apartment, Shade was proud , so proud that she always prayed for him.

But somewhere along the line , things just changed.

So at first, it was the late-night calls, then came the unanswered texts, then the excuses.

Babe, I’m so busy these days, Temi would say, work is just crazy.

Shade tried to understand , after all, this was the same man she had once prayed would make it, but then one evening, while scrolling through his status updates, she saw a picture of him at a restaurant with another woman, the caption read, [Good times with the best company.]

Her hands shook as she stared at it, hmm... so this is what we have become ehn..... Just like that? she whispered to herself.

She didn’t confront him immediately after she found out, she just waited, hoping that maybe it was just an innocent friendship, but later , the signs kept coming, perfume smells that were not hers, lipstick stains on his shirt, and many missed calls at odd hours whenever she was at his place.

Finally, she summoned courage and asked him one night when he came home very late and she had been waiting for long.

Temi, who is she? she asked quietly, tears already threatening to fall.

He froze, Shade, what are you talking about?

Do not play dumb, so you think I don’t know abi? Shey you know you have totally changed, you don’t even look at me the same way anymore like seriously and you say you don't know what I am talking about?.

He sighed and sat down, rubbing his forehead, Shade, you are just overthinking things.

That was the final straw, shade felt her heart shatter, No, Temi, I am not, You are just too cowardly to admit what you have been doing.

The house went silent after that, She cried for days , the kind of tears that come from deep betrayal, Shade couldn’t understand how the same man who once couldn’t sleep without hearing her voice now barely cared if she existed.

She stopped calling, she stopped checking up on him, when people asked, she just smiled and said, We are fine
but deep down, she was just so broken.

Temitope, on his end, thought he had everything under control, the money, status, new friends,v but slowly, he began to feel something missing In his life, his peace, the laughter, the calm he used to feel whenever Shade was around.

Then One night, he called her.

Shade… please, can we talk?

She hesitated, then said quietly, there is nothing to talk about, Temi, You made your choice.*

I know that I messed up.I just.... I just want to see you.

Shade then took a deep breath. You know what Temi, see I was there when you had almost nothing, and I stayed because I believed in you, and not because I needed anything from you or something,but you let me down, no .....you let us down.

Then there was silence on the line before she added softly, you know you had a good woman, but then you did lost her because you do not know her worth.

Then after that night, they never spoke again, Shade never called , nor did Temitope try calling again because he knew he messed up big time.

Months later, people noticed how Temitope became withdrawn, the once lively man now looked lost in thought most times,Shade, on the other hand, picked herself up, slowly, but surely, she healed.

Sometimes love doesn’t die , it just gets tired of being taken for granted.

And for Shade, that was the day she finally chose herself over love.

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