Debby stood in front of the dressing mirror, adjusting her gele for what felt like the hundredth time. She wasn’t even looking at her reflection anymore, she was just trying to stay busy, to distract herself from the chaos in her chest. Today was her best friend Chisom’s wedding, and Debby was the best lady. But deep down, her heart was a war zone.
This wasn’t just any wedding. It was his wedding. Nonso’s wedding. The man who used to be her everything, now promising forever to someone else. And not just anyone else, Chisom. Her own best friend.
Debby had always been a private person. You see, she wasn’t one of those girls who posted love notes on Instagram or whispered sweet nothings to their partners on speakerphone. No, Debby believed in coded relationships. “You people won’t use village people to ruin my love life,” she always joked. But deep down, it wasn’t about village people. It was about her fear of vulnerability.
Even when she was with Nonso, she kept him at arm’s length. He would beg her to talk about her feelings, to share her plans for them, but Debby always found a way to deflect. “Nonso, abeg let’s enjoy ourselves first. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” she would say, brushing him off.
Nonso, for all his love and patience, tried his best to understand her. But love without communication is just like ewedu without potash, it’s undoubtedly always frustrating. It all started small, missed calls she didn’t return, dates she canceled at the last minute. But they grew, slowly at first, until they became gaping holes neither of them could fill.
The day it all fell apart, they were sitting in his car. It was one of those Akure evenings, the atmosphere was light. Nonso had parked in front of her apartment, and they were just sitting there, the silence between them became so loud that it made her shift uncomfortably.
“Debby,” Nonso started, his voice soft but heavy, “do you even love me?”
The question felt like a slap. She turned to him, frowning. “Why would you ask me that? Of course I do!”
“But you don’t act like it,” he said, his eyes meeting hers. “You never let me in. I don’t know what you want, where you see us going. It’s like I’m here alone, trying to build something you don’t even want.”
“Nonso, it’s not like that,” she said, her voice defensive. “I’m just… I’m trying to figure things out. You know I’m not like other girls who rush into things.”
“I’m not asking you to rush, Debby. I’m asking you to meet me halfway,” he said, his frustration spilling over. “I can’t keep guessing how you feel. Do you know how exhausting it is to love someone who acts like they don’t need you?”
The words hit her hard, but her pride wouldn’t let her admit he was right. “So because I’m not shouting ‘I love you’ everywhere, that means I don’t care? Nonso, abeg, let’s not start this tonight,” she said, reaching for the car door.
But Nonso grabbed her hand, stopping her. “Debby, I can’t keep doing this,” he said, his voice breaking. “I’ve tried. I’ve waited. I’ve loved you with everything I have, but it’s not enough. I don’t even know if you want me here.”
Her chest tightened. “Nonso, don’t say that. You know I…”
“You what?” he interrupted, his voice rising. “You care? You love me? Then show me, Debby. Show me you want this to work!”
But she couldn’t. Not because she didn’t want to, but because she didn’t know how. Her walls were too high, and she was too scared to let them down.
Nonso sighed, leaning back in his seat. “I love you, Debby. I really do. But I have to love myself too. I can’t keep pouring from an empty cup.”
And just like that, he let go of her hand and started the car. The drive back to his place was silent, the kind of silence that says more than words ever could.
That night, as Debby walked into her apartment, she thought Nonso would come back, as he usually does, but she was wrong. She waited for months but saw no green light from him.
Some three years later, Chisom barged into Debby’s apartment, her usual lively self lighting up the room. She flung her bag onto the couch, kicked off her shoes, and plopped down beside Debby, who was lazily scrolling through her phone.
“Debby! I have gist!” Chisom said, her voice dripping with excitement.
Debby groaned, already bracing herself for one of Chisom’s long tales. “Chi, abeg, I’m not in the mood for your wahala today.”
“Will you keep quiet there!” Chisom snapped, laughing. “You’ll love this one.” She leaned forward, her eyes sparkling. “I’ve met someone.”
Debby paused scrolling and glanced at her friend. “Someone, how? Like, love-someone?”
“Yes, oh! And this one is different. Debby, I think I’ve hit the jackpot!” Chisom gushed, practically bouncing on the couch.
Debby rolled her eyes, trying to mask the unease creeping into her chest. “Ehn ehn, who is the lucky man?”
“His name is Nonso,” Chisom began, her voice dripping with admiration. “Nonso Obi. You know him now! The guy that owns Nonso’s Kitchen Royale in Akure. Everybody dey talk about him catering business, it’s like the only one people call for big parties.”
At the mention of the name, Debby froze. Her heart skipped, then resumed with the speed of a runaway keke. She forced a laugh, trying to play it cool.
“Nonso Obi?” she asked, her voice tight.
“Yes, now!” Chisom beamed. “Tall, dark, and handsome. He’s sweet, funny, and he can cook! Like, proper husband material. In fact, see his picture sef.”
Before Debby could protest, Chisom unlocked her phone and shoved the screen in her face. There he was. Nonso. Her Nonso. Standing beside a plate of what looked like designer jollof and grilled chicken, smiling like he didn’t once tell her she was the love of his life.
Debby’s throat tightened. Her fingers twitched as she forced a smile. “Oh. He’s… he’s fine,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Abi? I knew you would agree! Debby, I think I’ve found my husband,” Chisom continued, oblivious to her best friend’s growing panic. “He even said he wants to meet you. Can you imagine? He said, ‘Your best friend must be special, let me meet her.'”
Debby swallowed hard, trying to keep the room from spinning. “Ehn… that’s… nice,” she managed, her mind racing. What would she say? What could she say? That Nonso wasn’t just some guy? That he was her ex? That he had once held her hand and promised her forever?
But Chisom was still talking, lost in her own bubble of happiness. Debby nodded along, her chest tightening with every word. It felt like someone had set her world on fire, and she couldn’t even scream.
How could she tell Chisom the truth? She had never told her best friend about Nonso, not even when they were together. It wasn’t out of spite, Debby just didn’t believe in sharing her personal life, even with the people closest to her. She convinced herself it was to protect what she had, but in the end, her silence became her punishment.
Another time after a few months, Chisom’s excitement filled the room as she set her phone down, barely giving Debby a moment to breathe. She grabbed both of Debby’s hands and squeezed them, her eyes shining like a star.
“Debby, I have another big one for you. I’ve thought about it a lot, and I want you to be my best lady.”
Debby blinked, her heart momentarily dropping into her stomach. She wasn’t expecting that. “Best lady? Chisom, isn’t it too soon? You guys just started dating…”
“Debby, please!” Chisom interrupted, laughing. “It’s not that soon! I can’t imagine anyone else by my side, helping me through this. It feels right.”
Debby’s mind raced, and her heart started pounding in her chest. Was she supposed to be happy for her best friend? She had been so used to protecting her feelings and keeping everything locked away that now, she was struggling to keep her calm.
“Chisom, I’m not saying I’m not happy for you, but… don’t you think you’re rushing things? You’ve only just met Nonso, and now you want me to stand by you on your big day? This feels…”
“Debby!” Chisom cut her off, looking at her with an almost surprised expression. “Why are you acting like this? You’re not happy for me?”
Debby felt a sharp pang in her chest. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Was she happy? How could she be? Seeing Chisom so excited, so hopeful for a future with a man who was once hers, it felt like she was choking on her own emotions. But how could she admit that?
“Why do you want me to be your best lady?” Debby asked, her voice shaking. “I’m sure there are so many people…”
Chisom shook her head, cutting her off once again. “Who else, Debby? Who else am I going to ask? You’re my best friend, my only friend who has been through everything with me. It has to be you.”
The words hit Debby harder than she expected. Who else? She wanted to scream, “Nonso is my who else,” but the words stuck in her throat. Chisom didn’t know the truth. Chisom had no idea that the man she was about to marry had once loved her. That was a truth too painful for Debby to voice out loud.
So instead, she smiled, just barely, and nodded. “Of course, Chi. I’m happy for you. I’ll be your best lady.”
But deep inside, her heart shattered, piece by piece.
***
Now, standing in front of the mirror, Debby tried to steady her breathing. She adjusted her gele one last time and whispered to herself, “Debby, you go dey alright. Smile. No let them know say your chest dey burn.”
The wedding was beautiful. Chisom looked like a queen and Nonso… Nonso looked like a dream. He was everything Debby still wanted but couldn’t have. She clapped when they kissed, she danced when the DJ called the bridal train forward, and she even gave a toast. But every moment felt like swallowing hot eba without water.
Later that night, when the celebration was over, Debby returned to her room. She didn’t cry, she had cried enough already. Instead, she opened her suitcase and began to pack. Her flight to Canada was the next morning. She hadn’t told anyone. Not Chisom, not her family. She didn’t even know if she was running away or just trying to breathe.
Before leaving, she sent Chisom a short message: “I’m happy for you. Take care of him. Bye.”
And just like that, Debby left. No goodbye hugs, no explanations. She carried her broken heart and boarded the plane, leaving Akure, Nonso, and everything she had ever known behind.
As the plane took off, Debby stared out of the window, her mind replaying all the ways she could have fought for Nonso but didn’t. She wasn’t sure where life would take her next, but one thing was certain, she would carry the scar of this love for the rest of her days.
