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A little girl named Amaka was taken in by her dad’s younger sister, Aunty Ngozi, who ran a provisions shop. Aunty Ngozi had no children of her own and paid for Amaka’s school fees. After school, Amaka helped in the shop, selling rice, beans, and other goods to customers. The house was always full of chores because Aunty Ngozi was busy, but she loved Amaka like her own daughter and treated her kindly.
Amaka’s mum and Aunty Ngozi didn’t get along because of an old quarrel, so Amaka’s mum never visited. But her stepmum came often, and Aunty Ngozi liked her more. Amaka’s dad wanted her to stay with her aunt because she was getting a good education. Even though the chores were many, Amaka worked hard and later got admission to study chemistry in university.
When Amaka grew into a beautiful young woman, men in the village noticed her. Rich families came to her aunt’s shop, asking Amaka to marry their sons after her studies. They called her hardworking and decent, unlike other girls. But something strange happened. Every man who showed interest in Amaka would suddenly stop talking to her.
The first was Matthew, a kind man who paid her school fees. They dated for one month, and Amaka, still a virgin, thought he would marry her. Aunty Ngozi knew about him and seemed happy. But one day, after a WhatsApp chat, Matthew promised to call but never did. Amaka called and messaged him, but he ignored her. Soon, he acted like she was his enemy, and they broke up.
The same thing happened with two other men, including a rich businessman named Chukwudi who promised to care for her. He, too, vanished without a word. Amaka cried day and night, feeling alone as the firstborn with no one to help her dreams.
She wondered why men kept running away. Heartbroken, she told her friend Chioma, who took her to ten churches and mosques for answers. Shockingly, every pastor and imam said the same thing: Aunty Ngozi was a witch who didn’t want Amaka to marry because she had no children.
They claimed she was using evil powers to chase away Amaka’s suitors so Amaka would stay and help her forever. They said Chukwudi, the businessman, was Amaka’s “God-ordained husband” and told her to pray for him to return, warning her not to marry anyone else.
Amaka prayed hard, but Chukwudi never answered her calls. She began to see her aunt as an enemy. Aunty Ngozi started quarrelling with her, and life became unbearable. One day, Amaka packed her bags and ran to her mum’s house. A month later, her sister Nkechi, who lived in Lagos, invited Amaka to join her, promising a better job than village life. Her mum gave her money for the bus, and Amaka moved to the big city.
In Lagos, Nkechi found Amaka a job at a supermarket. There, Amaka met Emeka, a charming man who fell in love with her. Unlike the others, Emeka didn’t leave. Amaka was scared he would disappear, but he stayed and soon asked to meet her parents to marry her. Nkechi warned Amaka not to marry at 21, saying she was too young, but Amaka wanted a stable life and went ahead with the wedding.
Two years into the marriage, Emeka opened a big provisions shop for Amaka, just like her aunt’s, but fancier. Life seemed good, but trouble came when Amaka checked Emeka’s phone and found messages to other girls. She cried to her mum, wanting to leave him, but her mum begged her to stay, saying divorce would shame the family. She told Amaka to pray for Emeka instead. Amaka listened, and Emeka started to change. He still provides, loves her, and cares for her, though Amaka sometimes notices he’s not fully stopped chatting with other girls.
But now, after three years of marriage, Amaka faces a bigger problem. She can’t stop thinking about Chukwudi, the businessman the pastors called her true husband. “I think about him when I’m eating, sleeping, or working,” she said. “I’ve tried to forget him, but it’s impossible.” Lately, it’s so bad she barely thinks of Emeka. Amaka feels guilty and hasn’t told anyone, scared it could ruin her marriage. She runs her shop, smiles for customers, but inside, her heart is heavy.
“I don’t know what to do,” Amaka said. “I want to love my husband and be happy, but this man from my past won’t leave my mind. Please, help me.” What should Amaka do to find peace and save her marriage?
