Crown of Thorns

 

By Abraham Favour Olohigbe 

Growing up, society painted romance as the ultimate fantasy, a fairy tale filled with roses, romance, laughter, and endless joy. But why did they only show us the glitter? Why did they flood our minds with positivity, never once flipping the coin to reveal the other side? They lifted our hopes sky high, only for reality, relationships, and adulthood to crash them down.

This isn’t my story, though. My marriage is a dream come true, better than any fairy tale because it is rooted in reality. But my friend Adanne didn’t have it so easily. She is divorced now, completely closed off to the idea of men. I’d love to blame men for her pain, but the truth is, wickedness knows no gender. It cuts through mankind.

Adanne’s POV

Nine Years Ago

It was just another ordinary day. I strolled to class with my friend Leema though her name is Halima. We grumbled about how the final year was sucking life out of us, as we were barely holding on to a thread of sanity.

Then, out of nowhere, a guy walked up to us.

Leema rolled her eyes, “Not again,” she muttered.

This wasn’t new. Guys often approached me, armed with cheesy punchlines and empty charm. Some were bold, some acted clever, and the worst. Those with boring, overused lines that made me cringe.

I let him finish his little act, then shut him down with a firm, “No.” Without waiting for a response, I grabbed Leema and walked away.

Everyone knew I wasn’t interested in relationships. Sure, I’d been told I was attractive countless times, but I didn’t want love based on my looks. I wanted a man who saw me for who I was not just my beautiful face.

Two Weeks After Final Exams

The party lights flashed in dizzying colours, and the music blasted loudly through the speakers, but all I wanted was to go home. I wouldn’t even have come if Leema hadn’t begged me.

“I don’t want to go alone,” she’d pleaded. “I need to distress!”

Being the loyal friend I was, I reluctantly tagged along which was a big mistake.

The night was nothing but a bore. Guys tried their usual antics asking for a dance or my number and the atmosphere was anything but relaxing. I’d had enough. Just as I was about to drag Leema away from some “hot shot,” my eyes locked on someone across the room.

It was him.

My worst nightmare, wrapped in all his undeniable glory.

For the first time in years, I felt something stirred, feelings indescribable. He wasn’t even looking at my way, which, oddly enough, made my heart sink a little. A point for him, but also a blow to my pride.

Months After Graduation

I later found out he and Leema knew each other. She got invited to one of his elite gatherings and had the privilege of bringing a plus one. Naturally, she chose me.

The event was unlike anything I’d ever experienced, it was grand, exclusive, and dripping with sophistication. Little did I know that night would change everything.

Because that was where it all began.

The gathering was unlike anything I had ever seen. It dripped of luxury, chandeliers hanging low enough to touch, soft classical music playing in the background, and people dressed in designer outfits I’d only seen on TV. I felt out of place in my simple, borrowed gown, but Leema kept reassuring me.

“You look fine,” she whispered for the tenth time as we walked into the grand hall.

Fine wasn’t enough, not in a place like this. I felt everyone’s gaze on me, judging me, but I held my head high. My eyes scanned the room for a familiar face, only to land on the one man who had haunted my thoughts since that night at the party.

He stood at the centre of a small circle, laughing effortlessly, his smile lit the whole room. There he was, looking even more dashing in a perfectly tailored suit and as fate would have it, just as I tried to look away, his eyes found mine.

It was as though the air shifted. He smiled at the polite kind, but one that made me tremble from within. I quickly turned to Leema, pretending I hadn’t noticed.

“He’s coming over,” she muttered under her breath, tugging at my arm.

“Who?” I asked, though my heart already knew.

The next thing I knew, he was standing before us, his scent filling the space between us.

“Leema,” he said, his deep voice smooth and commanding. “Good to see you.”

Then, turning to me, his eyes lingered for a moment longer than necessary. “And you must be Adanne.”

I wasn’t sure how to respond. My tongue felt heavy, and my mind raced in every possible way to make a good impression. Before I could embarrass myself, Leema jumped in to save me.

“This is Adanne,” she said with a playful grin. “But you already knew that didn’t you, Somto?”

So that was his name. Somto, it suited him.

The rest of the evening felt like a blur. Somto is attentive, intelligent and charming. He didn’t try any punchlines or overused tactics. Instead, he asked about my interests, and my plans post-graduation, and even listened intently as I rambled about how hard it was to find genuine people in today’s world.

By the end of the night, I found myself giving him my phone number, something I swore I’d never do. But there was something about him, something different, or so I thought.

Three Months Later

Somto and I became inseparable. He was everything I thought I wanted. He was kind, generous, and romantic. He’d send flowers to my office, surprise me with surprise trips, and make me feel like the only woman in the world.

When he proposed under the stars on a private yacht, I didn’t think twice. He’d broken down every wall I’d built over the years. Against my better judgment, I let myself believe in fantasy.

Our wedding was nothing short of a fairy tale. The big shots of society were there, and everything felt so unreal. As I walked down the aisle, I felt like the luckiest woman alive.

The Morning After

I woke up to find him already dressed, sitting on the edge of the bed with a distant look in his eyes. I smiled, expecting him to return it, but his face was as cold as the air-conditioned room.

“Somto?” I called, my voice laced with confusion.

He turned to me, his expression unreadable.

“I need a divorce,” he said.

For a moment, I thought it was a joke. My laughter died in my throat when I saw the seriousness in his eyes.

“What are you talking about?” I whispered, holding onto the sheets tightly.

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and sighed. “Adanne, this was never real.”

My heart stopped.

“This was a bet,” he continued, his words slicing through me like a sword. “My friends didn’t think I could win you over. But I did. I dated you, married you, and now… I’m done.”

The room spun. My chest tightened as his words sank in. Every moment, every kiss, every promise, it had all been a lie.

He stood, adjusting his watch. “You’ll get the divorce papers soon. Take whatever you want. It doesn’t matter.”

With that, he walked out, as the world I thought we built came crumbling down.

Present Day

Adanne’s voice cracked as she finished recounting her story. Her hands trembled as she held her mug of tea.

I reached out, placing a hand over hers. “You didn’t deserve that, Adanne.”

She smiled weakly, as she sniffed and cried. “No one deserves it. But it happened, and I’ve learned to live with it.”

I wanted to say something comforting, but what could I say to erase the pain of a backstab that deep?

Adanne straightened up, wiping her tears. “One thing’s for sure, though,” she said, her voice firm. “I’ll never let another man define my worth again.”

And at that moment, I saw a sp

ark in her eyes, a strength that no betrayal could conquer.