17/03/2026
The bus was quiet that evening, the heavy kind of quiet.
I was on a bus to Anambra State from Enugu🚊for weekend shenanigans 😂
Then I heard her voice from the man sitting beside me, he was on a call( he had the call on loudspeaker for reasons best known to him)🙄
“Why do you talk to me like I don’t matter?”
She sounded careful… like she was afraid of saying the wrong thing.
He sighed, irritated.
“You complain too much.”
There was silence on the other end of the call
Then she spoke again, softer this time…
“I just want you to be nicer to me.”
He laughed.
“If you don’t like it, leave.”
I held my breath, waiting for her to choose herself.
But instead, she said
“I’m sorry.”
For asking to be treated with basic kindness?
The man smirked, satisfied and replied:
“Better.”
And just like that… the call continued like nothing had happened.
And that left me wondering:is it normal to be in an unhealthy relationship just for peace to reign??
Because that wasn’t just her story… it’s the reality of many women both you and I..
Women who stay… not because they’re weak… but because they’ve been slowly convinced that this is the best they deserve.
Sometimes it starts with love.
Real love.
Good mornings messages, late night calls. Sweet promises.
But somewhere along the line, things change.
The respect fades.
The kindness disappears.
The effort becomes one-sided.
Staying in an unhealthy relationship not because they’re weak… but because they’re hoping things will go back to how they used to be.
Adjusting, shrinking, enduring.
Until disrespect starts to feel normal.
Let me remind you that love should never feel like something you have to beg for.
The moment you start apologizing for wanting basic respect… something is already wrong.
The scariest part of unhealthy relationships is not shouting or pain…
It’s the moment you become comfortable with things that should have broken you enough to leave.
And one thing you don't know it's that it actually takes a toll on your mental health..
Please choose yourself ❤️
Even when it’s hard.
Even when it hurts.
Even when you still love them.
Because the right kind of love will never make you feel like you’re asking too much for asking to be treated well.
This is my advice to you as someone who cares and understands what it feels like to constantly question your sanity👇
If you constantly feel anxious, unheard, or “not enough” in a relationship, pause and check in with yourself.
Your emotions are signals, not weaknesses.
Talk to someone you trust or write your feelings down,it helps you see clearly what your heart has been trying to tell you...
