21/11/2025
I have a daughter—a seven-year-old daughter. I was seventeen when I gave birth to her. I usually want to skip the story surrounding her birth because all that story brings to me is heartbreak, regret, and sometimes tears.
At some point in my life, I thought men were running from me because I was a single mother. And then Aboagye came along. A man who went around carrying his dreams on his shoulders. I don’t know which oracle spoke to him about his future, but this guy was so sure that he was going to be great in the future. He described himself with every fancy word that’s connected with wealth. The only problem was, he had no work. He has his certificates, plenty of them, but no work to do.
I gave him a chance in my life because he loved my daughter and my daughter loved him too. I remember one day, my daughter asked me, “Is Uncle Aboagye going to be my daddy?” That question hit me so hard. She had been starved of masculine affection for so long she wanted to cleave to this one that’s available. That’s the reason why I agreed to Aboagye moving into my house, though we were not married. It could also be the reason I allowed Aboagye to go see my family with a drink to perform the 'knocking' rite when I knew very well that he was unemployed.
At first, he was diligent with his job search, but with time, he slowed down. He was always in the house, watching TV and playing games until the evening when he would help my daughter with her homework. I told him; “You’re one smart guy. If there’s no employment out there for you, why don’t you start something on your own?” He answered, “I have all the plans laid out. All I need is money.” He told me “GHC30,000 was enough to set him up.
The next day, I went to the office and put in a loan application for GHC35,000. I handed the whole amount to him, telling him to make me proud. Then he started making himself proud. For close to three months I didn’t see any business initiative from him. I saw new clothes. I saw new shoes and sneakers every other week. And he didn’t eat from the house anymore. When I asked about the business he told me, “I’m in the process of registering the business.” “People have businesses they haven’t registered," I said. "You can start something" He answered, “A business like mine has to stand on legal legs before it can walk.”
A year later, he continued living in my house with no job or business. We started having fights. Each time we fought he threatened to leave the house; “I would leave this house, and it’s when I’m gone that you’ll realize no one has time for a single mother.”
That statement always got me on my nerves but in my sober moment, when everything was quiet and serene I thought to myself, "All these years he’s been the only one to stick around. It’s true what he says.” Then I would be scared to lose him and crawled to him again.
He’d be in the house sending me messages while I’m at work; “There’s no drink in the fridge. Get some when coming to the house.” “My shaving stick is finished. Get some for me.” “The prepaid got finished. Send me MoMo to load some.”
I started feeling the burden of financial stress. I was paying for the loan I took from the office, so my salary was deeply affected. It got to a time I was struggling to pay my daughter’s school fees.
He came home late one night, smelling of alcohol. I served him his food. He went to take his bath and later went to sleep. At dawn, he jumped on me trying to sleep with me. I couldn’t stand his breath and I couldn’t stand his method. I struggled with him and succeeded in pushing him off me. He said, “Single mother with attitude. It’s my fault. When I’m gone…”
I didn’t wait for him to finish his statement. I said, “You're leaving tomorrow so stop right there with that silly when I'm gone speech." He screamed, “I’ll go! Explain to your parents what you did to drive me away.”
Morning…
He was in bed when I was going to work. I told him, “When you are ready to leave, call me; I’ll come for the keys.”
He never called. In the evening, I asked why he was still there. He didn’t answer. My daughter was there so I couldn’t pick up a fight. The next morning I didn’t go to work. When my daughter went to school, I started putting his things together. He thought I was joking. He asked, “Are you serious?” I said, “I look like I’m joking to you?” Clothes and shoes are easy to pack, so the next few minutes I was done packing for him. I said, “I want to lock my door and I don’t want to do it with you inside. Leave.”
I left him in front of the house and left the house. When I came back, he was gone.
Guess who’s begging now. Definitely not the single mother.
Copied!!!
