Love is a complex and powerful emotion that can bring people together, but it can also lead them down dark and difficult paths. When a girl falls in love with a boyfriend who is addicted to drugs, it can be a challenging and heart-wrenching experience for both.
Opioid addiction is a serious and widespread problem in many parts of the world. These drugs, which include prescription painkillers like oxycodone and fentanyl, as well as illegal drugs like heroin, can be highly addictive and difficult to overcome. They can lead to a range of physical and mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, and overdose.
Jasmine knew that Justo was just the guy who was a perfect match made in heaven. When I met Jasmine, a few years ago, she sounded the kinda girl who would not fall for any tricks in the name of relationships. Hers was a cautious path that she dared not tread carelessness – as she liked to describe many Nairobi girls.
Let me tell you a bit about Jasmine. She is the firstborn in a family of 2. She is the senior to her only sister, Josie, who is 4 years younger. Unlike Jasmine who is the reserved and conservative girl, Josie is the extrovert per excellence. She would be in 4 places at 7 different times doing 18 different things. To her, life happens and happens now. There is nothing like waiting. Josie had her first boyfriend when she turned 15, tasted alcohol at 16, and broker her virginity at 17 – just immediately after clearing high school. You know those leaver’s parties? Josie was only waiting for this moment to discover what happens when Copper and Sulphur are mixed at the right temperatures – if you know what I mean. The sad part is, that this leaver’s party was a groupie, where all rules had been deposited at the gate to this location of the house party. To date, she cannot remember who it is that broke her cola nut.
We were not talking about Josie, but Jasmine.
It is truly remarkable that Jasmine was able to navigate her way through high school and emerge unscathed, especially currently when the pressures of social media and the fast-paced dating scene can be overwhelming for young adults. Her resilience and commitment to maintaining her purity is a testament to her strong character and values, which undoubtedly were instilled in her by her loving and supportive mother.
When Mike, her first boyfriend, expressed his interest in her, Jasmine knew that she could turn to her mother for guidance. Her mother’s wise counsel to take things slow, to get to know Mike as a person, and to understand his values and beliefs was invaluable in helping Jasmine navigate the complexities of a romantic relationship. Nothing like his hobbies, his chillout joints, his dreams, and the type of girl he wants to date. It is so different from what we perceive in a relationship between generations. I digress again.
Their relationship was nothing short of a modern-day fairy tale, a black Cinderella story that captured the hearts of those around them. Jasmine believed in love again, but unfortunately, their love story was cut short when Mike had to relocate to the USA. The pain of their separation left Jasmine shattered, and she was unable to piece herself back together.
Unlike some who advocate jumping into a new relationship to avoid the pain of heartbreak, Jasmine understood the importance of taking time to heal and process her emotions. She knew that true healing comes from within and that rushing into a new relationship would only delay the inevitable. She was not the “life ni fupi, mambo mengi, muda mchache. Mambo ni kuoga na kurudi soko. Ku heal ni heaven”. Far from it.
This is a story that Jasmine narrated to me not too long ago. We happen to work in the same sector and have worked for the same organization for some time. It was easier then during the office breaks to hear this story.
Fast forward and Jasmine lands a job with a US-based global venture capitalist as a business development manager for emerging markets, Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), based in Johannesburg, South Africa. This is a role that would have her relocate from Kenya, and with frequent international travel. Now, this is the kind of life she needed. Cruising on the fast lane. After all, this afforded her the luxury and opulence of living a soft life.
It is on one of these trips that she met with Justo at the business lounge.
When a girl falls in love with a boyfriend who is addicted to opioids, she may feel a range of emotions. She may be worried about his health and safety, and she may feel frustrated or angry that he cannot stop using drugs. She may also feel guilty or responsible for his addiction, wondering if she could have done something differently to prevent it.
….. part II to continue …..
Daddy Chronicles 