I have this cousin sister. We’re really close. She tells me almost everything going on in her life, especially when it comes to her relationship. So recently, she confided in me again, and honestly, I’ve just been thinking about the whole situation. She’s been in a relationship with this guy for about two and a half years now. They’ve come a long way. She even lives with him. He’s older, mature, and very supportive. Throughout their relationship, he has really invested in her financially, emotionally, and in her career too. She’s a lash technician now with the help from her boyfriend, and she just completed her NYSC, so she’s trying to find her feet and move forward. On paper, everything looks good. The guy is caring, generous, and he’s been there for her. But here’s the painful part: she doesn’t love him anymore. She’s been pretending. Smiling. Playing along. Acting like everything is fine just because he’s still giving her money and taking care of her. But her heart has left that relationship a long time ago. What makes it even more complicated is that she’s already seeing someone else. There was even a time the boyfriend almost caught her or at least became suspicious.
I think he saw something on her phone, a message or maybe a chat that didn’t sit well with him. But she somehow managed to downplay it, telling him it was nothing, and I guess he believed her. But I know the truth because she told me. She’s emotionally checked out of that relationship. She doesn’t feel the same way about him anymore. Yet she’s still there, still playing the role of the girlfriend, still collecting money, still pretending. All because of guilt, comfort, and maybe fear. Honestly, I don’t think it’s fair, not to the guy and not to herself either. I feel like she should just be honest. It might hurt him now, but it’s better than dragging a dead relationship and pretending to love someone you don’t. Love isn’t something you force. And no matter how much someone has done for you, if your heart is no longer there, staying out of pity or gain is only going to hurt both of you in the end. I don’t know if I’m wrong for feeling this way, but I just wish she would open up to him instead of continuing the act. Because one day, everything will come out and it might be messier than it needs to be.