A true story of an emotional conversation, moral choices, and a surprising permission given by a husband living abroad.
It started as a quick visit to pick up my repaired phone—but a sudden downpour led to an emotional confession from a stranger. What she revealed about her marriage and a deceptive love interest left me stunned. This story is a powerful reminder of the importance of integrity in relationships—a tale of choices, truth, and the quiet power of staying true to one’s values.
I went to a mobile repair shop located at Osu near the St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Accra. I had earlier sent two keypad mobile phones for repairs because the phones had developed a fault with the charging system.
It is a small shop where the owner combines selling mobile phones with offering all types of mobile services. He told me the date, day, and time he would finish the repairs and that I should come for them then.
The scheduled day arrived, and I went to his place to collect the phones. I also took the opportunity to go to the Osu Market to buy some foodstuff for my afternoon lunch.
Upon reaching there, I realized the shop’s door was shut. The shop had transparent glass, so I could see the display of the mobile phones and whoever was inside.
I saw the repairer with his back facing the entrance while a fat, short, dark-skinned woman with wild eyes, believed to be in her 30s, was facing him. Both were speaking in undertones. I sensed that they were arguing over something, but I could not fathom what it was about.
The woman was serious while the man was slightly smiling. Both stood in an uncompromising manner. So, I knocked, and the owner of the shop opened the door to let me in. I asked about my phones, if he had really finished the work—so I could pay him, collect the phones, and head to the market.
But he said he had not yet completed the work and asked me to go and come back later. He said this with a smile; I smiled back.
But the lady, though I had not asked her anything—immediately claimed that the repairer, believed to be in his 40s, was troubling her. I jokingly said it was rather women who always troubled men. We all laughed over it.
She said she came to buy a phone charger, but it was faulty, so she had returned to replace it with a better one. I told them I would come back later, and they should continue with whatever they were talking about. And I left them.
Unexpected reunion
On my way back from the Osu Market, while it was raining cats and dogs, I encountered the same woman again. She stopped me and began to narrate her side of the story. This was my first time meeting her and my first ever interaction with her.
The woman’s story
This lady is a married woman with a child who is 10 years old. Her husband has sojourned abroad and would not be returning to the country anytime soon. She said her husband remits her every month, and it is enough to cater to her needs and those of the child.
According to the woman, her husband had told her she could have a boyfriend if she wished, as long as she avoided pregnancy. She said she had gone to the mobile shop to buy a charger, and upon the guy sighting her, he began to talk about love and his intentions toward her.
She said she told him the truth, that she is married, and her husband had permitted her to engage in extramarital affairs, as long as she did not get pregnant.
The man proposed to her, and she accepted. He was able to convince her that he was not married and that he was looking for a lady to befriend. He said he had rented a two-room apartment at Weija, a suburb of Accra, and that he went there every weekend. He also told her that he was living with his sister, who was currently not around because she had traveled to Kumasi.
According to her, this conversation between them had been ongoing for some time, so she accepted his proposal.
She continued that her newfound lover invited her to his supposed house at Weija, and upon reaching there, she saw a wardrobe packed with women’s clothes. Upon seeing the clothes, it dawned on her that the place was not his, but rather a friend’s place. An arrangement had been made between them, as he was bringing his girlfriend over, so the friend had vacated the premises for them to use.
She asked him if he was being truthful, but he denied it and insisted that the place belonged to his sister. She was not convinced by his explanation, so she began her own investigation and background checks on her lover.
Through her inquiries, she discovered that he was married with two young children who were living at the Osu Police Barracks, just 20 minutes away from his shop.
She had requested a phone from him to use since hers was faulty, but the seller insisted she come to his house to collect it clearly hiding ulterior motives. She pleaded with him, even offering to buy the phone, but he insisted that he wouldn’t give it to her until she came to his house.
She confronted him again about her findings, but he continued to deny that he was married.
My reaction
I expressed shock at her husband’s stance and the current situation. A husband telling his wife to cheat? But not get pregnant? I advised her against going through with such a dangerous and emotionally complicated plan. She might not get pregnant, but she could contract sexually transmitted diseases.
I also told her that there is no guarantee she wouldn’t get pregnant. Having her husband’s permission doesn’t mean every opportunity is worth pursuing especially not with someone who is hiding the truth.
She nodded slowly, the rain still falling around us.
That brief, rain-soaked moment reminded me that every person carries a story, sometimes messy, sometimes painful, and often looking for someone willing to listen.
It also reminded me how important it is to speak truth into people’s lives, even in passing.
Because sometimes, you are not just running errands. You are stepping into someone’s chapter that is still being written.
Moral reflections
In a world where personal values are often tested by distance, loneliness, and deception, it is easy to make choices that feel convenient in the moment but are costly in the long run.
This woman’s story is a reminder that honesty, both with oneself and with others—is the foundation of peace.
Even when others give us permission to bend our convictions, our inner compass must still point to what is right.
Temporary comfort can never replace long-term integrity.
“Better is a poor person who walks in integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.” Proverbs 19:1
Let’s choose integrity, even when it rains.
If this story moved you or made you reflect, let me know in the comments. Share your thoughts because sometimes, listening is the first step to healing.
