She Came, She Smelled, She Scarred Me.

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In the past, i have had all sorts of neighbours in my life—some friendly, some nosy, some you barely notice. But there’s one woman I can never forget. Not because she was kind or caused any trouble, but because she left a mark in the most unforgettable (and honestly, uncomfortable) way.

Back then, my family lived in a large compound with two duplexes. We occupied one, and the other was rented out to a couple. At first glance, nothing seemed off. The husband was actually a really nice man—calm, respectful, and friendly. Sometimes, I even found myself wondering how he managed to live peacefully with his wife. Because his wife? Well… she was a different story entirely.

The first thing that stood out about her was her body odour. And when I say it was bad, I’m not exaggerating. It was the kind of smell that made you want to hold your breath and run for your life. I remember the first time she came to our house to talk to my mum—I was in the sitting room, and the moment she stepped in, the air literally changed. I couldn’t concentrate, I couldn’t breathe, I was silently praying for her to leave quickly. It was that serious.

At first, I thought maybe it was just a one-time thing. But as time went on, it became clear that this wasn’t something temporary. She had a consistent odour, and to make matters worse, she didn’t seem to care about hygiene at all. Her side of the compound was always unkempt. The surroundings were so dirty that weeds and grasses started growing tall like a mini forest.

What baffled me most was how someone could live in that kind of environment and not see anything wrong. I tried not to judge, but it was hard when the smell literally gave me headaches, and her area looked abandoned. I remember the day i found out she had given birth. Instead of being happy, my first thought was, “How is she going to take care of a baby in this condition?” It may sound harsh, but that was how deeply her lifestyle had affected us.

Till today, whenever someone asks me about unforgettable neighbours, I don’t even have to think. Her face pops up in my mind along with the memory of that legendary scent. Some people leave behind memories, but then she left behind an aura—and my nostrils have never been the same since.