PEOPLE WHO GOSSIP and tell lies are the most dangerous people in the world. They destroy lives, break up families and tear down people’s character.
The most horrible thing about these people is that they repeat their lies over and over, regardless of the pain they inflict.
As you may have guessed, I was once a victim of such lies and, though it was more than ten years ago, I still feel angry knowing what happened.
My story is one of pure jealousy.
I was involved with a professional man who had tremendous career prospects.
I really liked him, but because of his profession, the profile he had, and his very good looks, I initially played hard to get and then would always be reluctant to go too fast into anything with him.
The reason I did this was because I never wanted to appear to be too easy.
After all, when a man looks good, is bright, has a big job, and comes from a good family, he tends not to get seriously involved with women from a lower social standing. He may have sex with you, but, as for making you his wife – no way – not in Barbados.
So I played difficult to preserve myself, because I felt that if he could see I was worthy, he would respect me and eventually we would be married.
I must say that the only reason I was in his social circle was because I too was in the same profession. But as you know, when you come from a poor area and are a nobody, no matter how many qualifications you have, the people born into money tend to say derogatory things behind your back.
Despite my early misgivings about being hurt, I eventually gave in to him and we started going out together. Things got really serious and, though I tried not to fall in love with him, I just could not help myself, and I think he cared for me too in his own way.
We were together for nearly two years and in that period we travelled away on weekends to cricket, jazz in St Lucia, and made a couple of trips for shopping.
Here, we did many wonderful things together whenever we had the time. They ranged from the simple things like hiking on Sunday mornings, to jet skiing or kayaking together, and sometimes, even cycling.
We became inseparable, and I was really happy about my future because we really respected each other personally and professionally – so it was a good match.
But just when things were going great, in stepped a female with whom I grew up years earlier and she poisoned my man’s mind against me with her lies out of sheer jealousy.
What happened was that because my family was poor and large, my mother sent me to live with my godmother. It was only her and her daughter – this same wicked woman – and as we were a year apart (she was older), we grew up like sisters.
We got on well together until our late teenage years when a rivalry arose between us. She was much prettier and was always well-dressed with clothes sent by her father in the United States. She also spoke well and was “fast”, so she was by far the guys’ favourite.
I, on the other hand, was small, shy, wore glasses and had slight acne – so no one really paid me any real attention.
Anyway, my adopted sister went off to the United States, supposedly to study, while I struggled through Cave Hill working and studying. My hard work paid off as I graduated with honours. On the other hand, she didn’t finish college and after wasting time trying her hand at different jobs, just dropped out of sight for five years before suddenly returning home, unannounced.
From the time she returned she seemed to resent the fact that I had moved up in the world. I was not as beautiful as she but through my brains I had my own home and was able to help my family. She, on the other hand, had returned, seemingly penniless, to live in her mum’s house without any real skills.
I think because of her failure when compared to me, she set out to cut me down to size by stealing my man.
And he fell for her like the typical man who could not resist bedding a pretty woman.
What she did was basic. She conned his number from me, then would call his house asking for me when she knew I was not there. That provided an opportunity for her to chat him up. Soon he would drop her to different places, and in no time they were having intercourse.
But it was how I found out that hurt most, and to this day I am convinced she planned it.
What happened was this: I got a message from her about her mother’s worsening condition and was told she was kept in at the hospital. She asked me to pick up some clothes from the house and bring them to the hospital. (Auntie’s health was failing because of complications due to diabetes).
So I went to the house, opened the door with my key, and went inside to find my man and my adopted sister having sex.
While my man almost died when I confronted them, all she did was smirk, and said nothing. Her expression said it all.
She planned and schemed and got what she wanted and I guess he was so ashamed he never asked me to let him explain or to make up.
As for me, I’m a lot wiser now.
