The dark side of love: Esther’s struggle for freedom

In the town of Sango Ota, there was a woman named Esther who epitomised resilience and self-reliance. At 36, she had carved out a stable existence for herself, toiling away as a dedicated employee at a well-known biscuit factory.

Unknown to Esther, her life was about to intertwine with that of a man named Tunde, whose influence would cast a long shadow over her cherished autonomy.

Tunde, driven by a deep-seated jealousy, set his sights on Esther, and with a blend of charisma and persistence, he managed to dismantle her defenses. Despite her hesitations, Esther found herself drawn into a relationship with him.

Before Tunde’s entrance into her life, Esther had enjoyed the solitude of her own space, a quaint apartment equipped with all the comforts of modern living—a refrigerator, a television, a sizable fan, and a set of cozy two-seater chairs.

But Tunde’s jealousy soon began to surface, manifesting in a controlling demeanor that flared whenever Esther interacted with other men. In a bid to quell Tunde’s insecurities and preserve their budding relationship, he suggested a significant change: Esther should move into his home in Iyana Iyesi.

Esther, hoping that this would be a new chapter in their lives, agreed to the move, unaware of how much this decision would cost her the independence she so deeply valued..

Though hesitant, Esther reluctantly agreed, hoping that this change would alleviate Tunde’s jealousy.

Additionally, Tunde encouraged her to pursue a new career in fashion designing.With a heavy heart, Esther packed her belongings and moved into Tunde’s house.

However, her hopes for a better life were quickly shattered. Within a mere two months of starting her fashion designing journey, Tunde’s behavior took a dark turn.

He began to subject Esther to constant harassment and threats of eviction, despite her vulnerable position. Meanwhile, her own house rent had expired, leaving her with no alternative but to seek refuge with her father in the Command area of Lagos.

Desperate to escape the clutches of Tunde’s toxic grip, Esther made a difficult decision. She sold her refrigerator for a meager sum of N20,000, using the money to transport her remaining belongings to her father’s house.

It was a painful sacrifice, but one that she deemed necessary for her freedom and sanity.

Reflecting on her harrowing experience, Esther offers a candid piece of advice to unmarried women: steer clear of over-jealous men.

Their possessiveness can suffocate and destroy the very essence of one’s being.

As Esther embarks on a new chapter of her life, she vows to reclaim her independence and rebuild what was lost. She remains determined to never let the grip of jealousy dictate her choices again, embracing the lessons learned from her tumultuous encounter with Tunde.