Love lost, love found: A journey to healing

For Funke, love was both a dream and a nightmare. She had once believed in fairy tales, the kind where love conquers all, where a person’s soul mate would appear and everything would be perfect. But after a series of heartbreaks, she began to doubt that such love existed for someone like her.

Funke grew up in Lagos,  full of possibilities, and she was the epitome of beauty and intelligence.

It wasn’t long before the men began to notice her. But, with each relationship, the promise of forever quickly fell apart.

The first heartbreak came from Bayo, a charming young man from a wealthy family. He had swept her off her feet with his smooth words and grand gestures. They had been inseparable for months until Funke discovered that Bayo was seeing someone else. The betrayal hurt deeply, and she found it hard to trust again.

Then came Durojaiye, or Duro, a fellow Yoruba man who seemed different. He was kind, thoughtful, and they shared a strong spiritual connection.

However, after a year of dating, Duro suddenly grew distant. Funke was confused, and when she confronted him, he admitted that his family didn’t approve of her because she wasn’t from their village. Duro chose to honour his family’s wishes, leaving Funke heartbroken once again.

After Duro, there was Tayo, another Yoruba man with an ambitious spirit. Their relationship had been full of potential—dreams of building a future together. But just when things seemed to be going well, Tayo’s career took off, and he began to neglect Funke. Eventually, she found out he had started seeing someone else, a colleague who shared his interests. Tayo chose his career over love, and Funke was left alone, once again.

She tried to move on, but the scars of those past relationships weighed heavily on her. Then came Chijioke, an Igbo man from Enugu. He was different—funny, spontaneous, and had a warmth that made Funke feel safe. For a while, things seemed perfect. But as the months went by, Funke realised that Chijioke was more interested in the idea of a relationship than in actually being there for her.

He often cancelled plans and ignored her feelings, making her feel like an afterthought. When Funke finally decided to confront him, he admitted that he wasn’t ready for a committed relationship. He broke up with her in the most indifferent way, which made her feel worthless.

Not long after, she met Chinedu, another Igbo man. He was charming, hardworking, and genuinely seemed to care. At first, their relationship blossomed, and for the first time in a while, Funke dared to dream of a future with him. But Chinedu had a secret—a past that he wasn’t ready to share. One night, while out at a party, Funke found out that he was still seeing his ex. The heartbreak was unbearable, and this time, Funke felt like she had reached her breaking point.

For months, Funke kept to herself. She didn’t want to trust any man again, and the thought of opening her heart to someone new seemed impossible. Love had always hurt her, and she couldn’t bear the thought of more disappointment.

But just when she was ready to give up on love, Lawrence walked into her life.

Lawrence was different. He wasn’t flashy or quick with grand gestures. He was patient, kind, and grounded. They met at a mutual friend’s gathering, and while Funke initially wasn’t interested, there was something about him that made her feel at ease.

He listened to her, genuinely cared about her well-being, and never rushed her into anything. Unlike the other men, Lawrence didn’t put pressure on her or make her feel inadequate.

As weeks went by, Funke started to open up to him. For the first time in years, she began to trust again. Lawrence understood her pain and never judged her for her past. He encouraged her to pursue her dreams and showed her a love that was rooted in respect and mutual understanding. Slowly but surely, Funke realised that this was the kind of love she had always been searching for.

Lawrence didn’t just bring love into her life—he brought hope. He believed in her when she had forgotten how to believe in herself.

And, after two years of building their relationship, Lawrence proposed to Funke. It wasn’t an elaborate proposal, but it was sincere, and that’s all Funke needed.

But Lawrence didn’t just offer her a ring—he offered her a new beginning. He had been working on securing a permanent residency visa to Canada, and he wanted Funke to be by his side.

They moved to Canada together, where they started a new chapter of their lives. The transition wasn’t easy—Funke missed her family and friends, and Canada was a world away from Lagos. But she knew, for the first time, that she was exactly where she was meant to be.

In Canada, Funke thrived. She found a new job, made new friends, and began to heal in ways she never thought possible. She realised that love was not about perfection or avoiding pain. Love was about finding someone who would stand by you, no matter the storm, and together, you would weather it all.

Funke and Lawrence built a life full of love, understanding, and adventure. And when she looked back at her past, she no longer saw it as a series of failed relationships, but as stepping stones that had led her to the love she had always deserved.

In the end, Funke learned that heartbreak wasn’t the end of the story. It was simply the beginning of a new, better chapter.