Every morning Charlotte called Henry before she went off to work. But today, she decided she won’t call him. Henry was hard-headed; he had been ignoring her for a long time. He only got back to her when he wanted something. She always bought him airtime and gave him money when he needed it. The conflicts in the relationship were getting worse. She had to do everything he wanted to please him.
“What about your happiness?” Farai asked.
“You deserve to be happy too,” Rufaro said.
Her friends were right; she can’t be in a relationship just to please a man. How desperate can she be?
“I love this guy, he has stolen my heart,” she spoke sadly.
“That’s what they do, they smooth talk you.” Farai said comforting her friend.
Charlotte had been friends with Farai and Rufaro since high school.
“Men are dogs,” Rufaro said with a low voice.
“Don’t say that. Charlotte, men are different,” Farai said softly.
Charlotte didn’t know how to deal with this situation with her boyfriend. She met Henry when he began to work as a security guard at a hotel. She was a chef for the same hotel. It had been 8 months. Henry always complained about his salary so she helped him here and there. She wanted to support him, even financially. But he was an ungrateful man.
She stopped giving him money two months ago. He always nagged. Charlotte got hurt when she gave Henry what he wanted but he never showed her he still loved her. She loved him dearly; he has a good personality. He was attractive and friendly. He had a pleasant character.
She started feeling irritated when a girl, Sisa, from work spoke about Henry as her boyfriend.
“Henry gave me two-hundred rand’s to do my hair,” she had said.
“My Henry? “Charlotte asked.
“You don’t own him. He is actually mine,” she spoke and walked with her head high.
Charlotte sighed, her heart was broken. Charlotte got angry and that’s when she started to ignore Henry. He kept sending messages begging for airtime and money. She avoided seeing him. He came by the reception.
“Can I see Chef Charlotte?” Henry asked after his shift.
He stood at the reception, desperately looking at the door to the chef’s kitchen.
“Let me see if she is available,” the receptionist said.
She stood up and entered the kitchen for a long time.
“Tell him I am not around,” Charlotte whispered.
“I can’t lie,” she said.
“Please, it’s for my own safety,” she begged.
“OK,” she said and she left.
Henry was now standing by the door as if he was sniffing around.
“She is not here,” she told him.
“Charlotte, I know you are in there, please I need you.” he said loudly.
He tried to enter and the other security on duty stopped him. Charlotte had cautioned them to wait at the door inside. The guards grabbed his hands and let him out.
“Leave me alone. I will go. He spoke angrily. He looked at them as they let him go. He dusted his hands and left.
After Charlotte’s shift, she told her two friends over dinner. They laughed very loudly.
“You have to make him see that you mean it,” Rufaro said softly.
“Tell him face to face,” Farai said.
“What if he smacks me, “she said sadly.
“It will get worse, keep stringing him,” Farai said, sipping wine.
“I am going to tell him tomorrow,” she said sadly.
When she was alone after her friends left, she cried, holding his picture. At first it was so loving and sweet and now she was going to tell the man she loved that it was over. Sometimes we love those who don’t love us, she thought.
She had to be strong to overcome this. Her phone had a lot of messages from Henry.
Baby I miss you.
Please talk to me, I am going crazy.
“Don’t forget my airtime, I need it for my WhatsApp.
She switched her phone off and went back to sleep.
***
Tell us what you think: Do you think Henry loves Charlotte?
lover