Can a heart really break?

"Anyways, the basic idea is to write about a heart breaking or one that is already broken. Show us the wretched emotions, the anger, depression, fear, whatever happens after the happy honeymooon lovey-dove V-day stuff is over and all that is left is a broken heart." Says Dawn Embers of In the Book DE

So I'll be sharing with you all a snippet from A Love Rekindled, my forthcoming book. It is one of the most poignant for me while I was writing the book. Read on and tell me what you think...

“Listen, this is the last time I’ll say this.” Chief Mukoro said, and shook a be-ringed finger at her. “I told Kevwe why Itsekiri people cannot be trusted, and he has accepted another suitable girl I chose for him. He's changed his phone number and moved out of his house, how else can he show he doesn’t want you anymore? Leave him alone!”

His words hit her like stones, leaving burning nicks in their wake. It couldn't be true, Kevwe would not choose another girl over her. “But we promised…”

“Promised what?” he pushed his face closer to hers. “Kevwe doesn’t want you. You’re not good enough for him. He can’t see where you fit into his future, and that’s it.”

“Please sir, I don’t understand…I’m sorry, but can I see Kevwe, talk to him…”

The force of the door cut her off as it slammed in her face. Efe trekked all the way to campus like one in a daze, calling on Nneka, who then followed her to her room. By the time they got there, Nneka knew the whole story. Two days later, Efe still refused to leave the shroud of her sheets.

“Why? Why? How can it end this way? If Kevwe had to reject me, at least he could do it to my face.” She sobbed, tears trickling from her eyes.


“Efe, it’s enough; stop crying. Remember, exams start next week...”

“You don’t know how I feel, or you wouldn’t be saying that,” Efe cried. “No crying will be enough, and of what good are exams if Kevwe has broken up with me?” She scrubbed at her nose. “Kevwe was everything to me, my past and my future. I loved him with my very soul. How could I continue life without him?”

“Efe, you’ll make yourself sick o.”

Efe sat up, “I want to go home, and I don’t want to come back to this place again. How can I come back where I may see Kevwe with someone else, or hear news of his wedding? You know how Benin is such a small place.”

Deep sobs welled up in her throat again as if to strangle her. “After three years with Kevwe, he rejects me. Why should I stay here, or remain in this country? Eh, tell me, why?”

Ovie came in at that point, talking as she strutted to the side of the bed, “What is this I hear?”

“Kevwe may have broken up with Efe…” Nneka replied.

Efe looked up. “Is there any doubt about it? His father told me. I’d been hoping he would call, but he hasn’t.” In the two days since that visit, she'd gone from confusion to resignation. If Kevwe could harden his heart to cut her off like this...

“So he couldn’t face you to tell you himself?” Ovie demanded as she sat. “I saw him today, and he wouldn’t talk to me too.”

“You saw Kevwe, today?” Time seemed to move in slow motion, and as Efe sat straight, she felt dizzy for a moment.

“Yes. On my way to First Bank, I saw him at UBA Akpakpava, near the roundabout. When I said hello, he ignored me. Maybe he thought I already knew about the break-up ...”

“Are you sure it was him you saw?” Efe clutched her chest. The ache in her pounding heart was becoming real.

“I’m sure. You know how I complain about his habit of jangling his keys all the time as if he’s the only one who has a car. It was the sound that caught my attention, and he was with another girl.”

Efe stopped thinking, her breathing also seemed to cease. Ovie had just confirmed her worst nightmare. All the blood in every single part of her body drained to her heart, making it expand, and it pushed against her ribs as if to burst loose. Efe sprang out of bed, screaming in fear.

“Efe stop it, stop it right now!”

She came to her senses to find Nneka and Ovie restraining her on the bed. Two girls were at the door, but Ovie went and pushed them away. Her ears rang and her eyes felt hot with piercing pain. One thought seized her mind, echoing in her head over and again until everything blurred together. Kevwe had another girl. Kevwe had another girl. Nneka and Ovie murmured above her head, but they sounded far away. Efe wondered if she was going mad. She closed her eyes and blanked her mind, but the thought refused to go.

“He has another girl. Nneka did you hear? Kevwe has another girl.”

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So, can a heart really break? Talk to me...