BN Prose: I Had A Girlfriend Once by Dami Dokunmu

Posted on Tuesday, June 26th, 2012 at 10:30 AM

By Dami Dokunmu

I had a girlfriend once.

Every time I spent the weekend at her place, she had the exact same routine. She’d wake up sometime after six, just before seven. She’d read for about half an hour after that. She read everything; news, blogs, magazines. I often woke up to find her reading, tears silently streaming down her face as she got reeled into the fictional tragedy.

She would get up at about seven thirty, pee, then brush her teeth and go for a run. Sometimes, she was back after 10 minutes and sometimes after an hour, but she always went for a run. She’d wash her face, bring me a toothbrush with toothpaste on it and go and make breakfast.

She had speakers everywhere. She’d put on her present favorite album and it would play on repeat all day. Really loudly. Then after breakfast, she would write. She was always in the middle of a story in her head. Sometimes, it was mundane and sometimes it was over the top. She was just always somewhere else. Sometimes she’d let me in by discussing her characters. ‘Daniel cheated on Gabby, you know? I don’t think she can take him back, even though she really wants to.’ Then she would sigh. Her characters were always real to her, I could often not tell whether the person she was talking about was created or real.

Sometimes, she’d only write for 20 minutes and then come find me. She would curl herself  tightly as  she could into me and take a nap, or just start talking about something completely random. Sometimes, she would be quiet and let me speak about whatever I wanted. She was an amazing listener and she never got bored. Everyone’s story was one she could use.

In the evening, we would go somewhere, the cinema or dinner. She would always hold my hand, but she hardly spoke. She wasn’t really a talker, so whenever I was with her, I wasn’t a talker either.

I met someone that was a talker. It was different. We talked about everything. Sometimes I’d talk to her all through my lunch break and not even notice I hadn’t eaten. We talked in the morning and in the middle of the night. She told me everything and I felt like a well had opened inside of me. I just had so much to say. In many ways, it was easy to spend all my time talking to someone else. The quiet weekends with my girlfriend became furious text-a-thons for me. I put a password on my phone, even though she never checked it. I  started waking up before her. I stopped taking naps with her and got irritated when she wandered from her writing to find me. If she noticed, she didn’t say anything and that often irritated me. Everything irritated me during this time.

I got deeper and I started to get careless, or maybe I just didn’t care about my girlfriend finding out. A message popped up on my phone during dinner. Damn iPhones. ‘I wish I you were here with me’. Her lack of reaction made me fall over myself trying to explain. She looked really sad. ‘If she’s what makes you happy, I wish you’d have just told me. I’d have let you be.’

That broke my heart. Our relationship ended as silently as it had been.

My new girlfriend was fun. We did things. Talked about things. I think I loved her. I loved our relationship, it was fun, until it wasn’t. We started running out of things to say and I longed for the silence. In the gaps, there was no intimacy there. If she wasn’t talking, I didn’t really know her.

I started to think about my old girlfriend.

I knew she hated when I left because she never looked back when she said goodbye. She didn’t want me to see her crying. I knew she loved anything that tasted of honey and hated chocolate. I knew all the things that made her laugh and most of the things that made her cry. I knew she loved weddings, but hated the idea of marriage. I knew she found it hard to trust anyone and always felt like she never fit in with people. I know she hated literary fiction because it over stated simple things. I knew she loved unfinished endings, because it felt more like real life. I knew her.

It wasn’t because of all the things she said, it was all the things she forced me to see by not saying anything.

I had a girlfriend once.

I think she may have been my soul mate.

Photo Credit: Black Enterprise

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  • 191 Comments on “BN Prose: I Had A Girlfriend Once by Dami Dokunmu”

    Comments
    • Kach June 26, 2012 at 10:39 AM

      Wow!

    • tosin June 26, 2012 at 10:44 AM

      i am impressed ur story captured my attention through out….have you written any book yet would love to buy dem…if u haven’t pls think about it you are a good writer ;)

    • ofilispeaks June 26, 2012 at 10:44 AM

      wow! Powerful writing but an even more powerful messages…I am in awe! Great article.

    • Busayo June 26, 2012 at 10:49 AM

      Wow! Deep! You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone….what a sad story…. not all that glitters is gold.

    • Shirlzerijo June 26, 2012 at 10:50 AM

      Beautiful! I totally love!

    • adenike June 26, 2012 at 10:51 AM

      You’re a confused person jor!
      Nice writeup though.

      • Ropo July 11, 2012 at 8:34 AM

        i second ur opinion..most guys get confused tho’ when it comes to matters of d heart..m not an exception…nice write-up though!!

    • Ifeanyi Dibia June 26, 2012 at 10:51 AM

      Beautiful story Dami. Very subtle and beautiful. Made my day! Pls keep writing!

    • Ready June 26, 2012 at 10:52 AM

      Aaaww..I had to re-read “..In the gaps, there was no intimacy there. If she wasn’t talking, I didn’t really know her.” Many of us get caught up in being fun & having fun in relationships..I know I do. But there’ll be times when there’ll be nothing to say, and if you and your partner can’t share silence without getting uncomfortable, there’s a problem. This reminded me that listening and observation are as important as communication in a relationship. Great writing too! Loved it.

      • Jamce June 28, 2012 at 10:38 PM

        @Ready, well said. This is deep and mature reasoning.

    • sunshine June 26, 2012 at 10:56 AM

      I had a boyfriend once *sad face*. I can soooo relate to this right now

    • tina June 26, 2012 at 10:56 AM

      hmmm….deep just reminds me I had a boyfriend once 20 yrs ago.

      • Sabirah June 26, 2012 at 10:41 PM

        Amazing story, loved every bit. great writing, great message

    • Folake June 26, 2012 at 11:01 AM

      Omg! This is so captured my attention..Is this real? This really got me thinking though! Great piece

    • rita June 26, 2012 at 11:03 AM

      Lovely!

    • usman adam June 26, 2012 at 11:03 AM

      wow u are such a wornderful writer and i would love to have conversation with you.ur friendly Usman Adams

    • dimpledfreak June 26, 2012 at 11:05 AM

      wow, I’m completely blown away!!!

    • Mademoiselle June 26, 2012 at 11:05 AM

      Story of my life…but with me as the girlfriend. Lovely write up!

    • thankgod June 26, 2012 at 11:10 AM

      i like dat comment literary fiction overstating simple facts. i ve always felt dat way.

    • yinca ojo June 26, 2012 at 11:10 AM

      …nice one…its a little tasking to describe what you just described because of its silence…that’s why i think the height of compatibility is embedded in silence, not in activity and you’ll only understand if you’ve ever been there…..

      big kudos!!

    • upssie June 26, 2012 at 11:11 AM

      This is deep, very very deep. I think i had a boyfriend once too.

      • Mz Socially Awkward... June 26, 2012 at 1:29 PM

        I know, me too. The clarity of hindsight, eh? :-(

    • Abs June 26, 2012 at 11:12 AM

      wow nice piece! It leaves you with nothing to say really. That’s love for you. Never knowing if there’s an ideal partner.

      http://www.abadawoode.blogspot.com

    • Cinderella June 26, 2012 at 11:16 AM

      WOW!!! I’ve got tears in my eyes as I read this piece. I can identify with the character. I had a boyfriend once too…
      Nice piece with a jolt of reality.

    • Raliah June 26, 2012 at 11:16 AM

      Very nice piece. I enjoyed it. U neva knw wat u hav till its gone. Nicely put

    • zaynab June 26, 2012 at 11:18 AM

      Wow, great work.

    • alicia June 26, 2012 at 11:18 AM

      and i couldnt hold back the tears

    • Fionnuala June 26, 2012 at 11:20 AM

      Excellent writing! It speaks for itself in a quiet and intriguing way. I’m going to read all other the previous posts!

    • Oly June 26, 2012 at 11:23 AM

      l loved this piece, the same happened to me but thank God we both realized our mistakes n are back togeda again. this time with more appreciation n contentment abt what we have as no 1 can ever have all in life.

    • Deep June 26, 2012 at 11:32 AM

      Sadly the story of my life. Il love you always oam x

    • QueenofEverything June 26, 2012 at 11:40 AM

      i’m on the brink of tears… so deep, so true, so real
      well written

    • cha-cha June 26, 2012 at 11:44 AM

      Wow. Nyce piece  wuld say kept me glued to the end. Didn’t want it to end yet ,guess some ex’s are just exceptional!!!

    • Bisi ayoko June 26, 2012 at 12:00 PM

      Beautiful story you got there. Couldnt get my eyes off it until i was at the final fullstop.

    • bella June 26, 2012 at 12:03 PM

      lol @ adenike.Wellllll i have known my bobo for yearsssss n theres always sumfin to say o. So tis hard to relate to this. Nice piece all d same

    • Zandra June 26, 2012 at 12:07 PM

      wow,nice,very captivating….i kinda was in that situation once

    • Nneoma June 26, 2012 at 12:12 PM

      I really like this story. It is very very very well written.

    • Minki June 26, 2012 at 12:16 PM

      Wow! True to the saying you dont know what u have till u loose it… well put together, Great Job.

    • bsafa June 26, 2012 at 12:18 PM

      Lovely….more pls

    • nene June 26, 2012 at 12:19 PM

      Very well written! So intriguing. Such is life, love and relationships. Everyone will certainly relate to this. This is why one should never rush into the boyfriend/girlfriend zone even when you think it feels right. Take time to know each other well and make sure you can handle the silent moments well. Relationships can’t always be fun even if you try. Best to just keep it real with yourselves. I always say take time after a break up to be certain you are ready to move on to the next otherwise you will soon find out that you’ve only just rushed into another one because you were carried away with the temporary fun you were having with this new person. a woman that isn’t talking much wants the man to find out about her and at least keeps the man intrigued by her.

    • Dee Mist June 26, 2012 at 12:19 PM

      hmmm! Deep.

    • Raychelle June 26, 2012 at 12:21 PM

      Wow…deep,so deep!! Amazing writing. I can totally relate with the silent girlfriend.

    • dwise June 26, 2012 at 12:23 PM

      “It wasn’t because of all the things she said, it was all the things she forced me to see by not saying anything.”
      This statement is so full of meaning. It tells me that knowing someone doesn’t end with the gists, fun and excitement…

    • sueme June 26, 2012 at 12:24 PM

      “It wasn’t because of all the things she said, it was all the things she forced me to see by not saying anything.”- this line killed me! amazing write up

    • eca June 26, 2012 at 12:26 PM

      breath-taking………………summary, breathtaking

    • opeyemi June 26, 2012 at 12:34 PM

      a wonderful piece and touching and things like this happens.

    • keppy June 26, 2012 at 12:40 PM

      wow!!!!
      Lord help us to appreciate what we have so we would loss it.

      • person pikin June 26, 2012 at 1:57 PM

        Really?????

        • lol June 26, 2012 at 3:28 PM

          Probably a typo, lol though with your comment person pikin as in read before you post abi…

        • doppleganger June 26, 2012 at 3:56 PM

          LMAO

    • sugar banana June 26, 2012 at 12:41 PM

      I had a boyfriend once too…thank God i married him :)

      • d June 27, 2012 at 9:10 AM

        loool.. lucky u

      • ella June 27, 2012 at 9:25 AM

        I smiled when I saw ur comment …Thank God u married him

    • geenarh hally June 26, 2012 at 12:56 PM

      Amazing write up i need to print dis.DAMI ur great kip it up hun.@sueme dat got me too yea plus “She looked really sad. ‘If she’s what makes you happy, I wish you’d have just told me. I’d have let you be”DEEP

    • Bobby June 26, 2012 at 1:01 PM

      Nice write up. thatz all i can say. Very nice writeup.

    • meena June 26, 2012 at 1:03 PM

      This is sooo intense…makes me apprreciate my husband so much more..he says so little but loves me so much..guess that’s what counts. Lovely write up.

    • uzez June 26, 2012 at 1:04 PM

      I’ve always read Bella Naija but never made any comments.this piece just blew me away..it’s effortlessly captivating.the simple descriptions are etched deeply in your mind and u feel like you can see through this person and even feel his emotions..u have no other choice….

    • ada June 26, 2012 at 1:06 PM

      this is a lovely piece, vert articulate and deep, well done

    • Fenxu June 26, 2012 at 1:11 PM

      Well written article rather than the wrongly copied Carrie style (sex and the city) articles that are usually on this site mostly burdened with irrelevant questions, no real theme or storyline, all the gasps and bracketed thoughts in the writers head garbage.

      On another note, I think from the comments, a lot of people are missing the point here.
      It’s more of the 80-20 rule whereby ‘they’ say you shouldn’t leave what you have/love (80%) for the 20% that you think it’s missing.
      So I don’t really think this is about silent relationships as I know a number of readers will now proceed to try and be mute in their relationship. Hey… it could have been the other way round; where his gf could have been the expressive one until he met something different, went for it and then realised his expressive ex was just perfect for him.

      • charisma June 26, 2012 at 2:45 PM

        So true..it got me thinking and i realised that mine is the exact opposite and it still works for me.. its all about what works for you in your own relationship

      • Gimmer June 26, 2012 at 5:57 PM

        Kpom. I commented below before reading any comments and my comment alo drew parallels with the 80-20 rule as well. Great minds think alike. I soooooo wanna hug you for validating my interpretation of the writeup

      • myladymo July 11, 2012 at 2:15 AM

        “proceed to try and be mute in their relationship.”LOL y’all killing me with the comments.Loved the story too

    • tito June 26, 2012 at 1:12 PM

      hmmm! u waohed me!……. great piece.

    • The White List June 26, 2012 at 1:15 PM

      Brilliant read!!!!

    • Fola June 26, 2012 at 1:22 PM

      fanatastic!

    • D'Don June 26, 2012 at 1:24 PM

      This piece is mind blowing. Great job. I am going to hold on to this forever
      “It wasn’t because of all the things she said, it was all the things she forced me to see by not saying anything.”

    • gugu June 26, 2012 at 1:26 PM

      Wow! amazing. well articulated.

    • debbie egwuogu June 26, 2012 at 1:32 PM

      Wow. Great plot and theme.

    • Anne June 26, 2012 at 1:37 PM

      Completely bowled over! I’m sure a lot of people can relate as sometimes we get caught up in the thrill and excitement of something new and forget that old, faithful and reliable is usually always the best

    • Concerned... June 26, 2012 at 1:38 PM

      You didn’t write this!!! I read this story 3yrs ago!!!

      • Dami D June 26, 2012 at 2:36 PM

        Lol…I don’t even know what to say to this, I’m glad my writing is good enough to you that you’d think I plagiarised myself…If you’d said anything else at all, criticised it in any way, I wouldn’t have minded…I’d have ignored you, but that I copied something I wrote myself? I think that’s the worst thing you can ever say to anyone about anything that they’ve done.

        • doppleganger June 26, 2012 at 4:03 PM

          concerned, you need to stop being concerned and get a LIFE! hehehe

          no offence dude or dudette! but you don’t put people down because you feel something’s too good to have been written by an earthling *lol* unless you have proof *coughs+which i doubt*

        • Pendo June 26, 2012 at 6:24 PM

          Dami did you

        • Pendo June 26, 2012 at 6:29 PM

          Dami did you publish this elsewhere on the web recently? Because i had a strange feeling of deja vu when i read this especially the paragraph that starts “i know she hated it when left…..” since i remember thinking i too wouldn’t look back if i was in her position when i first read it….so i just googled that paragraph >>>>> http://sexywriterchic.blogspot.com/ i knew i had read this before so you are sexy writer mmmmh i like

        • Purpleicious Babe June 26, 2012 at 8:48 PM

          But seriously it whole all over other pple blogs?? did u write it too?

          I have read on a blog and it was nothing new to me reading this. I personally “i am not too sure you wrote cos I googled it now. I found it on this blog http://sexywriterchic.blogspot.co.uk/ it was posted on the 10th of June. Yours on BN is posted on the 26th of June? But I didnt read this article on this blog…

          Anywhoo I read it like couple of wks ago and I thought you copied it. It might be you wrote it on there too..

          http://lifeinstagesdoz.blogspot.co.uk/

      • Beeba A June 27, 2012 at 4:05 PM

        Seen . Where did you read this. Put post the link or name of wherever you read it. Olodo . Some haters will just be using the Internet as avenue for lies.

    • PD June 26, 2012 at 1:38 PM

      ur galfrd is goldie!!!………………..oops……..

    • remi June 26, 2012 at 1:42 PM

      Wow, good write.

    • NUBIANWATERS June 26, 2012 at 1:55 PM

      This is such a good piece. I likey.

      @Fenxu, you are so on point!

      The grass is never greener on the other side. My wonder is this; when would people stop falling for side distractions that hold nothing but illusions. We always pay great price when we choose to remain fixated on the ideology that the grass is greener on the other side thereby sacrificing what we have in hand on the altar of jeopardy.

      There is always this insatiable longing embedded in our subconscious, an illusion that drives us to believe it’s better and gainful for us to bypass a tangible cup of water in the desert as a result of our fixation on the mirage of a fountain ahead only for us to find out when we reach that destination, it was nothing!

      When you have a good relationship, rather than go seeking “better” elsewhere, invest your time in that relationship to make it better. Bring in what you think is lacking and be content with what you have. You cannot have it all…that is what life is all about. Sad he’s learnt the hard way!

      http://nubianwaters.wordpress.com

    • Nok10 June 26, 2012 at 2:00 PM

      @ Concerned – please share where did you read this? Source please? If this was plagiarised then give credit to the original writer. By the way, I’m a talker and some guys like women who talk and are outgoing. So just be you! Don’t pretend to be quiet if you’re not and if you’re a talker be yourself:)

    • jayne June 26, 2012 at 2:07 PM

      was bored wv google until i read dis….gud work dami….wonderful piece…

    • Lue June 26, 2012 at 2:07 PM

      WOW……… very nice. you are a very good writer
      http://lucianochinwe.blogspot.com/

    • niki June 26, 2012 at 2:11 PM

      IT is really something to think about, the story was a reminder that we should appreciate what we have

    • alala June 26, 2012 at 2:19 PM

      This is simply beautiful. Well written and it just gets the reader in such a way that most others don’t. I have to agree with fenxu though. Its not about silent or expressive but the 80/20 rule. In life we will always have something missing but we have to learn to understand that once you have most other qualities/character then that 20% that you think you are missing is not worth you going after another new one. I’ve seen people who try to venture out into new relationships and still end up going back to the same person they started with. Yes that same person they thought was close to perfect but perhaps missing a few things here and there. I’m sure some people can relate to this. Ask yourself why is it that when you try to date someone new or see someone else, you find that you still end up missing that one you thought was missing something which is probably irrelevant or not even enough to have even left in the first place. Don’t make stupid mistakes in search of something you already have or probably don’t even need. Close to perfect = perfect because perfection really doesn’t even exist! Great read!

    • Mz B June 26, 2012 at 2:21 PM

      YES i love it!

    • annonymous :) June 26, 2012 at 2:33 PM

      This piece highlights the problem with a lot of couples today, they always expect relationships to be fun and exciting through out and if its not they panic which leads to them cheating or breaking up with the one. Look for a good person that even through the boring times just cuddling up means a lot :)

    • First Flight June 26, 2012 at 2:44 PM

      I had a girlfriend once and she did all the talking…..

    • Olayemi June 26, 2012 at 2:46 PM

      Lovely, absolutely lovely

    • ushees June 26, 2012 at 2:49 PM

      patience dey say is a virtue …d fact dat u guyz r diff in some ways doesnt mean u guyz arent meant 4 each oda,always tk ur tym wen in a relationship to knw d strength nd weakness of eachoda,try nd always encourage eachoda more of d +ve dan d -ve,bcos wen u encourage eachoda it brings out d best in dat person…no 1 is perfect, rememba!

    • cy June 26, 2012 at 2:50 PM

      woah…. i love it……… nice, really nice

    • Dee June 26, 2012 at 3:14 PM

      Brilliant!

    • Dahlia Voka June 26, 2012 at 3:20 PM

      Bella Naija you are the best with your BN Prose.I like the story, beautiful

    • Titilade June 26, 2012 at 3:43 PM

      Waow…… May you find her again : Bliss and Brilliant !

    • funmi June 26, 2012 at 3:45 PM

      Nice Article

    • lmao June 26, 2012 at 3:49 PM

      lolz nice one there!

    • BE June 26, 2012 at 4:06 PM

      Wow…

    • Grace June 26, 2012 at 4:16 PM

      Hi Dami Dokunmu…I was just wondering if this piece is fiction or a real part of your life (if you don’t mind)

      • Dami D June 26, 2012 at 4:31 PM

        It’s fiction…although, I think there’s always a part of yourself in whatever you write, and that’s what makes it real.

        • lima June 27, 2012 at 12:45 PM

          great right up dami.funny i have the same pic of ur profile.he is a good friend.chris okafor, or i might be wrong.

        • lima June 27, 2012 at 12:47 PM

          great write up dami.funny i have the same pic of ur profile.he is a good friend.chris okafor, or i might be wrong.

    • Sandi June 26, 2012 at 4:38 PM

      Thanks for the great read Dami. Sadly I can’t say I’ve had experience with this on the relationship side, never really met someone I’d say ‘I had a boyfriend’. However, I’ve come across this in other aspects of life. I regret not making the change I felt called to make. In hindsight I missed several wonderful opportunities because I gave in to my fear. I’m at a place where I’m fearful again, so hopefully this time with my decision, I won’t regret.
      Glad that what you wrote can be applied to other aspects of life. Looking forward to more writing from you.

    • Ella June 26, 2012 at 5:03 PM

      Absolutely a well-written piece!!!

    • Johnywilly June 26, 2012 at 5:04 PM

      I wn’t say the article dn’t relate to me but I’ve come to realise that the proper quest for perfection resides only on ones mind.

    • creamy June 26, 2012 at 5:09 PM

      brilliant write up

    • mama tamar June 26, 2012 at 5:34 PM

      Wow!!!,..captivating,..nice.

    • Gimmer June 26, 2012 at 5:53 PM

      Typical of humans to always scrap the 80% they have to go find the 20% they think they can never compromise on. So many men have given up on potentially great relationships just cos they are not solution oriented. Rather when something int the way they envisioned, they go find a new woman….and the cycle repeats itself

    • bisola June 26, 2012 at 5:56 PM

      i could not agree more.

    • Anonymous June 26, 2012 at 6:00 PM

      Amaizing

    • laide June 26, 2012 at 6:02 PM

      aww dami…dat was soo gud.

    • Adeyemo Olusteady Stephen June 26, 2012 at 6:31 PM

      A nice piece… It reminds one that it is not always perfect and one needs to manage with what one has…

    • HRS June 26, 2012 at 6:41 PM

      Fab piece…..

    • Alake June 26, 2012 at 6:48 PM

      Wow!!! you got e wanting more……………alot to learn from ***thumbs up

    • Toyin June 26, 2012 at 7:57 PM

      Beautiful piece….

    • MissA June 26, 2012 at 8:12 PM

      Woow.. Way to go Damilola Dokunmu. Absolutely beautiful.

    • adetutu June 26, 2012 at 8:13 PM

      wowwwww!!!!!!!!. all i can say is wow dat was great and inspirational…..this is the first piece i would ever comment on here and im touched…..thanks so much for sharing this great story with us.

    • kenora June 26, 2012 at 9:02 PM

      well writen very intresting….

    • Once June 26, 2012 at 9:08 PM

      Just “silently ended” a relationship and I feel like the girlfriend in the prose.
      I guess one goes through life to learn lessons, thumbs up

    • Eunice June 26, 2012 at 10:52 PM

      Sounds all familiar. Guys test, try and dump; trial and error. They often use logic to decide if ‘she-is-the-one’. e.g. if it did not work out with ‘B’ that means ‘A’ was the better one. We ladies often know by intuition. We are either into him or not. Thanks for being brutally honest Dami. Interesting prose.

    • lilly June 26, 2012 at 11:29 PM

      WOW!!! that’s deep. beautiful write up

    • Bianca June 26, 2012 at 11:52 PM

      Dami, I enjoyed your writing. It was simple yet deep, got me thinking.

    • Dami June 27, 2012 at 12:02 AM

      Well-written piece namesake, so how many blogs exactly are yours? Would like to visit regularly.

    • oge June 27, 2012 at 1:18 AM

      very beautiful story. and why is it that we never appreciate what we have until its gone?

    • farydah June 27, 2012 at 4:59 AM

      Lovely piece I must say. But is it you or this blog sexywriterchic.blogspot.com/?m=1 that owns it????? Thank you

    • Dem June 27, 2012 at 7:38 AM

      Just silently ended a relationship too but not because I met someone else. Nice guy and all but it just wasn’t right. Stayed in it for 6 months thinking maybe I’ll feel differently about the guy. Even met someone I liked whilst dating the guy and told him I was seeing someone really nice, but wasn’t into him as much as he was into me. Refused to see someone on the side and kept dating Mr Nice guy. Tried to break up with him twice but it was kinda hard. Finally ended it silently 2 weeks ago. Stopped calling and texting him and when he called I just kept the conversation short. Finally he got the message and stopped calling. Feel bad but no point dragging it on and delaying the inevitable.

      Atimes there is something missing in a relationship, you need to be certain its not a mirage. If the feeling persists, then the relationship is not for you. Otherwise, you’ll always be looking over your shoulder thinking you could have done better. The key thing is it shouldn’t be because you met someone you think is better and ensure your empty feelings are genuine.

      I’m a firm believer in destiny, if you’re meant to be with someone even if you don’t appreciate it whilst in the relationship and venture to ‘greener pastures’, you’ll somehow find your way back to that person or you’ll find another true love. By the way there is no one person for you. That flawed concept of one soulmate for each person is not reality. If you loose a soulmate due to circumstances or poor decisions, you’ll find another if that person is not available anymore.

    • Dem June 27, 2012 at 7:59 AM

      By the way, we’re talking dating relationships not marriage, which is a whole different ballgame. Thats why you date and when you decide to forsake all others and be with your spouse, you respect those vows. When you have your silent empty periods in a marriage, you work on it and go for cousellling if need be.

    • Iboro June 27, 2012 at 8:18 AM

      I know two people that write so simple and it captivates me and yo are one. If you havent thought of writing a book, start thinking about it now. You are gifted! Nice article man!

    • Nomy June 27, 2012 at 9:46 AM

      Lovely piece Dami! Way to go! I hope he gets his girl back. Now that said, i got excited when he met the new girl, the talker, it seemed his life came alive then. Life with his former girlfriend was just so tranquil, soooo just there! it was so sleepy, easy, breezy, smooth and just there! Abeg we need spark, we need ever new and sparkle, something interesting jo! E better say you leave am o! Cos you might get attracted to everything bubbly if you remain with her.

    • austin June 27, 2012 at 9:55 AM

      very inspiring and really good

    • Dami Dokunmu June 27, 2012 at 10:41 AM

      Thank you everyone that has taken the time to post a comment. I really appreciate it.

      To the few people that asked, I have 3 blogs; http://www.sexywriterchic.blogspot.com, http://www.modasaggezza.com and ilovetights.tumblr.com.

      Thanks again.

      xx

      • Idris June 27, 2012 at 11:28 AM

        Wow Impressive!Basically just reiterates the fact that the best things in life are indeed free…

    • dewunmi June 27, 2012 at 11:18 AM

      Thanks for this piece. I am presently dating a guy who loves me and all but he is not a talker and am talker,I keep forcing him to talk and fighting with him to talk,infact I spend most of my time with my friends so I can talk,now I know I have to work on myself,get comfortable with the silence cos dats how it starts,from talking to friends to cheating on him but now I have read this, I know better!!!!

    • Adun June 27, 2012 at 12:14 PM

      cooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool

      almost brought tears to my face!

    • Florida June 27, 2012 at 12:45 PM

      Briliant piece!silence speaks louder than words.I had a boyfriend once.He was the quiet one and I the lousy one.Needless for me to say we broke up and I regret. I can definitely relate to this.

    • Bee June 27, 2012 at 1:29 PM

      This was an excellent piece. I loved it! Ah-mazing!!! :) Great Job to the writer….Powerful Message!

    • jumzyyy June 27, 2012 at 1:39 PM

      Like Damnnn! Really niceee!

    • L.A Chick June 27, 2012 at 2:28 PM

      Genius!! Because it makes me feel the sadness the author is feeling… As the French poet Verlaine said, this piece gave me “le vague a l’ame…”

    • Chiek June 27, 2012 at 3:31 PM

      Don’t know what to say. I’ve got tear running down my eyes…

    • chichi June 27, 2012 at 3:46 PM

      Lovely Lovely Lovely!!!!

    • vivila June 27, 2012 at 6:20 PM

      I really love this piece……you WOWed me. thumbs up

    • skheliz June 27, 2012 at 6:26 PM

      Lovely piece.

    • Nok10 June 28, 2012 at 8:59 AM

      Bella Naija: Please move this prose to the relationship section na. I told my friends about it and they are having a hard time finding it here.

    • q_styl June 28, 2012 at 10:29 AM

      It is poetry in prose. No, it is plain petry. the rhythm, the rhyme. and then the purgation of emotions. I hate you! I hate that I see myself in you! why does tinsel have to always distract us? and why can’t we always just get back on track so easily?

    • Lolade Onilenla June 28, 2012 at 11:45 AM

      …sigh…well doe Dami..trust you are well..indeed, we never realy know how good we had it until we experience the bad…no one’s perfect..the grass aint always greener on the other side, so try to water your own grass to get greener.

    • Contradiction June 28, 2012 at 4:29 PM

      Wht a stupid story…he just got bored with a new toy

    • agreement June 28, 2012 at 5:56 PM

      lol.cool story.i have a boyfriend now. very different from all the others.

    • mde ato June 28, 2012 at 7:43 PM

      wow!!! beautiful and well spun

    • real June 28, 2012 at 7:58 PM

      well tbh he is only missing his xgf because h doesnt have any other girl tryna steal his attention. its funny how when we are lonely or our new relationship does not work out we always think about our xbf/xgf but the moment we have someone else to talk to or tx and go out and have fun with trust me the x is in the past and the feeling dissapears. i am a living witness to that me and my x loved each other like something else i left him and got into another relationship and it dint work out and what did i do i came running back to my x. then guess what he has a new chick he is talking to and i was there all lonely with noone to talk to and was missing and thinking about him. but the moment a next boy started paying me some serious attention and constantly calling and txing me truss me i forgot about my x which was easy because i had been wishing to stop thinking bout him and calling him. makes you think is there such thing as true love smh

    • Vye June 28, 2012 at 9:40 PM

      hehe I had a boyfriend and he’s my friend now, but I have a boyfriend :D I must be one lucky lady

    • Elegant June 29, 2012 at 12:22 AM

      Deep, well written. sometimes it takes a loss to realize the value of you have. After the loss, comes the longing never to be regained

    • Lady D June 29, 2012 at 10:43 AM
    • moj June 29, 2012 at 12:53 PM

      vry lovely piece. Im d quiet type too nd jst almost typical to d first gf wat surprises me is her response afta d text. ‘If she’s what makes you happy, I wish you’d have just told me. I’d have let you be.’ she probably didnt tink u were happy wif her to have tot so nd i fink dats not sensitive enof she shld try to make u happy smhw maybe jst to try. perhaps if she tried her little effort wld hav satisfied u. and on another hand she prob didnt trust u nd was suspectin u even b4 d text came in nd she jst tot wats d nid to fight cos she’s not the type. i am not d fighting type too. I cried readin dis anywys. lol got me finkin of d ex.

    • triple A June 29, 2012 at 1:25 PM

      this was simply lovely.

    • Keke Dire June 29, 2012 at 3:13 PM

      Sad sad story. Happens to us all, every time. We never know what we have until, bang, it’s gone!

    • Daisy June 30, 2012 at 2:31 PM

      I had a boyfriend once…I was the girl that talked a lot…then he left…n came back, I love him A LOT…but I don’t talk anymore…its just silence…

    • Onazare Olatt July 1, 2012 at 5:29 PM

      Amazing! I thought I would only scroll a few spaces before writing my comment but here I was, almost like I would never find a space to put in my lines. The style of your writing got to me. I love it and it is so gripping. It is so indirectly direct. The content of your prose is an everyday story but the way it was told is surely from the mars. I hope to read more from you. Do you have any published work yet?

    • tee July 1, 2012 at 11:12 PM

      awwwww…so sweet :D

    • Pkay July 2, 2012 at 10:32 AM

      Not one to throw around random comments….but this is EPIC!!!!!!!

    • ephee July 2, 2012 at 12:14 PM

      this is just wat happened with my ex- i dated for 5 years and i walked away and 6 months after he comes running back after me and it keeps me wondering what happened to the flashy, fully educated, loaded edo girl u left me for.but no withstanding i vowed not to go back to him but truthfully speaking it took me 3 yrs to let go of he memories coz i was hurt and am glad i didnt go back to him.am married to my own peace of mind now.

    • Chaibuz July 3, 2012 at 12:42 PM

      Hmmm..i really love dis piece!

    • sheyhun July 4, 2012 at 12:33 AM

      Dami, 3 words…let’s get married!(Pls dnt say no)
      Neva tot I cud comment on here but I jus did. Fabulouso!!!

    • yewande July 4, 2012 at 1:04 PM

      hmm, interesting read…i dont think you should get back with the girl thou…you’ll get bored all over again…the reason you broke up in the first place

    • Idowu July 4, 2012 at 5:36 PM

      Wow.. very powerful writing..Food for thought for me…. I had a boyfriend once too.

    • AYO July 5, 2012 at 1:41 PM

      wow! i didnt even want it to end…splendid write up

    • annie July 6, 2012 at 8:13 AM

      very familiar, was once in a silent relationship that also ended silently. Good piece of story. You are a good writer.

    • ZimVogue July 7, 2012 at 8:21 PM

      this is such a beautifully written story. Captivating!!

    • Naijamum in L. July 7, 2012 at 9:53 PM

      I had a boyfriend once…..I loved him…I lost him
      I went after him…and I married him
      Thank God !!
      Really nice piece
      xxx

    • Tiya July 10, 2012 at 1:50 PM

      I once had a boyfriend, we talked and we knew when to just stare. He knew when to hold me and what I was thinking and vice versa, we both knew when something was wrong, we always felt it. He called me his soul mate until we both began to feel like we wanted more…We ruined it, somehow it will never work again.

    • myladymo July 11, 2012 at 2:49 AM

      lovely…i had a boyfriend once,i broke upwith him after doing the ups and downs for 7 years so i can be single(he was my first bf)…then i missed him and wanted him back but homie got him a chick,took me 4 years to finally let him go which was four years ago..now im praying for the bone of my bone and asked the lord to comfirm its not him so i can put him out of the you never know at the back of my mind.Crazy i know..Love LOve LOVE

    • rukayat lawal July 11, 2012 at 11:22 AM

      wow beautiful writeup, yaeah most men get confuse when it comes to heart choosen,i love you wirte up, its whats relly happening

    • Obehi Okoawo July 11, 2012 at 11:44 AM

      Aww…really awesome

    • kayjay July 11, 2012 at 1:12 PM

      Very touching!

    • BeeT July 11, 2012 at 2:12 PM

      Awwwww…beautiful piece. I had to re-read

    • Ibiyemi July 12, 2012 at 1:04 PM

      What a captivating piece on peaceful beautiful love, I loved reading it.

    • LORI July 12, 2012 at 1:52 PM

      ONE WORD: “WOW”

    • Zee July 14, 2012 at 7:12 PM

      WOW! *gob smacked*

    • Geemayree July 15, 2012 at 8:56 PM

      This piece is just simply beautiful. The expressions, choice of word, tone on point!

    • Mary July 18, 2012 at 11:45 AM

      Calling this piece great is an “understatement” its flawless. I just have to share this. One question though; What did the guy do when he realized he had lost the 80% ? Stick with the 20%?

    • Simisola July 19, 2012 at 12:25 PM

      Touching…..you never know what you had until you lose it!

    • nenye July 20, 2012 at 9:06 PM

      its simply touchin and educative.i fink i nid 2 start lykin d area of silence.

    • ty July 23, 2012 at 12:47 PM

      tears just dropped from my eyes right now.. its so touching, but am a talking type, does it mean i wont get a soul mate that will know me deeply!!!

    • Dede July 24, 2012 at 12:35 PM

      Deep……and it calls for its kind…….I wld suggest you go afta her……u might still be lucky…..

    • mz_nerd July 25, 2012 at 3:11 PM

      *wipes tears* i had a boyfriend too :(

    • em July 26, 2012 at 11:05 AM

      beautiful write up,mind touching too, u got my heart and believe me, have learnt

    • baybee July 29, 2012 at 9:16 PM

      Absolutely beautiful write-up! Profound! Deep! Sad end…to that school of thought that the grass is always greener elsewhere…that you experience something new and different sometimes, doesn’t make it the best for you!

    • brown sugar July 31, 2012 at 1:15 AM

      Beautiful. …and that’s true intimacy.

    • obah August 8, 2012 at 4:05 AM

      Totally captivating,kudos to u dami,wonderful,well written piece.

    • ANONYMOUS August 22, 2012 at 8:20 PM

      wow

    • Toni August 28, 2012 at 12:38 PM

      i was totaly held or drawn to your story, what a piece of creativety?, your story brings memory to life in my head………. NICE ONE BRO!

    • bigbeiby September 11, 2012 at 2:50 PM

      great write up,am still in complete awe of it, mega kudos!

    • eve October 12, 2012 at 4:45 PM

      WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Very touching. You never know what you have until you lose it

    • ESI December 19, 2012 at 10:24 AM

      SIMPLY SPOKE TO MY SOUL. M IN A SIMILAR SIYUATION BUT HAVE NOT STARTED DATING THE TALKATIVE YET. PLS KEEP WRITING.