Femi The Busy Husband

FEMI THE BUSY HUSBAND

Lola and Femi had been married for a decade. They lived in the bustling city of Lagos, Nigeria, with their 8-year-old son, Tunde, who was the light of their lives. Their home was in Surulere, a place where their family had built memories.

Femi worked long hours at a multinational company as a project manager, spending most of his days in meetings, traveling for business, and coming home exhausted. The demands of his job kept him away from Lola and Tunde far more than he wished, but he believed that all the sacrifices were necessary to secure a better future for his family.

Lola, on the other hand, was a homemaker. She spent her days caring for Tunde, handling household responsibilities, and managing the emotional load of the family.

Though she loved Femi deeply, the constant absence left a void in her heart. They hardly spoke anymore. She missed their late-night conversations, the laughter they used to share, and the small, tender moments that made her feel cherished. Femi was always at work or lost in thought about work, and Lola found herself feeling increasingly alone.

One day, she met Tayo, an old university friend, by chance at a wedding. He was warm, attentive, and unlike Femi, had all the time in the world to listen to her. Their reconnection started innocently enough—just a few phone calls here and there, catching up on life. But as weeks passed, Lola found herself drawn deeper into her conversations with Tayo. He gave her the attention she craved, made her feel seen again. One thing led to another, and the emotional bond soon became something more.

Tunde was unaware of the tension building between his parents. He was happy with his video games, his soccer practice, and spending time with his friends. But even he could sense something wasn’t quite right. His father was always away, and his mother seemed distracted, her phone always buzzing with messages.

Then one evening, Femi came home early from work, something he hadn’t done in a long time. He was excited to surprise Lola and spend a rare night with her and Tunde. But when he entered the house, he found Lola on the phone, her voice low and filled with emotion.

“I miss you too… I can’t wait to see you again,” she whispered into the phone, unaware that Femi had just walked in.

Femi froze, his heart sinking as he heard those words. At first, he didn’t want to believe what was happening, but the conversation continued, revealing more than he could bear to hear. He stood there in shock, feeling as if the ground had been pulled from beneath him. When Lola finally noticed him, it was too late. The look in his eyes said everything.

“Femi, I…” she stammered, dropping the phone, panic written all over her face.

“Who is he, Lola?” Femi asked, his voice trembling with a mix of anger and pain. “Who have you been talking to?”

Lola tried to explain, to tell him that it wasn’t what he thought, but the damage was already done. Femi stormed out of the house, leaving her standing there, paralyzed by guilt and regret.

Over the next few weeks, the marriage unraveled. Femi couldn’t get over the betrayal. He became distant, throwing himself even more into his work to avoid dealing with the heartbreak. Lola, filled with shame, didn’t know how to mend the wound she had caused. Every attempt to talk ended in a fight or cold silence.

Tunde, sensing the growing distance between his parents, asked questions. “Mom, where’s Dad? Why doesn’t he stay with us anymore?” But Lola had no answers, only apologies for the things she couldn’t explain to an 8-year-old.

Eventually, Femi moved out, deciding that separation was the only way forward. The trust had been shattered, and neither of them knew how to rebuild it. Lola was left with the echoes of her choices and the weight of the love she had lost. Though she and Femi co-parented for Tunde’s sake, the marriage was beyond repair.

In the end, both of them were left wondering how they had drifted so far apart. Femi, despite all his hard work and good intentions, realized too late that no amount of success could replace the moments lost with family. And Lola, in her search for connection, had learned the painful truth that some mistakes can never be undone.

MORAL

The moral of the story is that neglecting emotional connection in a relationship, even with the best intentions like providing for the family, can lead to devastating consequences. Communication, time, and emotional presence are essential to maintaining trust and intimacy in a marriage. Betrayal, no matter the form, erodes the foundation of a relationship, and once trust is broken, it may be impossible to repair. Both partners must prioritize their relationship and openly address feelings of loneliness or dissatisfaction to prevent drifting apart.