Duru Benedicta

Hello and welcome to my little corner of imagination! 🌸

My name is Nwachukwu Benedicta Chidera, and this page is where stories come alive. I’ve always believed that fiction has the power to take us on journeys beyond the ordinary—whether it’s through unforgettable characters, surprising twists, or worlds built from pure imagination.

Here, I’ll be sharing short stories, or even longer stories, and creative pieces that I hope will inspire, entertain, and maybe even challenge the way you see the world.

This isn’t just my space, it’s our space. Feel free to read, comment, share your thoughts, and engage with the stories. Your support and feedback means so much.

So grab a cup of tea (or coffee ☕), make yourself comfortable, and let’s embark on these storytelling adventures together.

Thank you for being here—and welcome to the journey! 🚀📚

I completed the university without tasting the warmth of a woman. The closest I got to was a hug, a handshake or sitting next to a woman in a trotro but it didn't mean I knew nothing about s*x. I listened to conversations from friends and learned as I grew up. There was nothing I didn't know, theoretically, and I was loud about it.

I wanted to belong to the upper echelon so when guys met and they were sharing intimate experiences, I contributed imaginary ones. Sometimes, I stole other people's stories and made them mine. Friends believed me but deep down, I'd only sat next to a woman and breathed the same air with her. We didn't go beyond that.

It wasn't religious. It was upbringing. I could have done it along the line but my upbringing came in the way. You can say I was scared and you wouldn't be wrong.

I'm done with the university and currently doing my national service in a town far from home. In the office, colleagues would gather and talk about nonsense things. Again, issues of intimacy feature loud and proud so I give it to them. The theory I know. The stolen stories. About the imaginary girl I made cry in bed.

I don't know if it was due to these talks that drew Cynthia to me but she liked me enough to let it show. She is also doing her national service in the next office. She started visiting, cooking for us and hanging around. One thing led to another and it happened. I didn't last for three minutes. She said, "Say the truth. Is this your first time?"

I thought we had something deep going so I could reveal my true self to her. I could be vulnerable in her presence so I confessed. She looked regretful. She said, "You should have told me." I asked what was wrong and she answered, "I'm not in the position to tutor anyone in this enterprise." I proudly answered, “I know my way around, trust me. Didn't you see my action? Wait for the second round.”

I'd learned the second one is the longest but Cynthia dressed up and left my room. No chance to make a second impression. The fact that our relationship is suffering isn't my problem but the fact that her friends see me and they laugh discreetly makes me worried. Her colleagues in her office also do the same. I just have to walk past them and they’d give me this mischievous smile.

I'm worried. If this news gets to the brotherhood, I'm dead. I can't sit among them when they talk so I met Cynthia and asked if my failure to perform is going viral. She said she hadn't told anyone because she doesn't kiss and tell. I don't trust her so I pleaded with her not to let the guys know.

That aside, I want to reclaim my position in her life. Another chance to make amends. It’s not going to be easy but I'll ease my way slowly back into her life somehow and make things work again. Is it worth the try?

I have been with my boyfriend since I was 16. I’m 30 now and he is still in my life. Although we have an 8-year-old son together, we are not married. Our relationship has been on and off over the years. Mostly because he leaves and only returns when he sees that I’ve met someone new and want to move on.

Recently, he told me he got a new girlfriend. We were still together when he said this. Then he sent me a video of the two of them together on vacation. I responded, “Oh nice, congratulations. I have also moved on with someone new.”

Actually, there was no one in my life. I just said that because I was hurt. I tried to move on, but like all other times, I couldn’t. No one who came my way was him. That should have been a good thing but the heart wants what it wants.

A few months later, he came back to me again, and we rekindled things. I even lent him some money when he was broke. I didn’t mind helping him out because he had been good to me in the past. And I didn’t want to be ungrateful to him in his time of need.

Everything seemed to be fine until two days ago, when I sat him down and asked about his thoughts on us settling down.

“We’ve been together for fourteen years. Where is this heading?”

He told me plainly, “I don’t see a future with you. Besides, I haven’t broken up with my girlfriend.”

He said we could still be together and get intimate whenever we feel like it. After that, he repaid all the money he owed me. I know what this means. I am just disappointed that I wasted all my time with him.

Despite his shortcomings, I held on to him because I didn’t want to have kids by different fathers. So I figured if I could make it work with him, I would bear all my children with him. Now he says he doesn’t want me. What am I supposed to do?

I’ve lost good men because he always comes back begging. I thought the fact that he always came back meant we would end up together. It turns out that it wasn’t that deep for him.

Come to think of it, we made a blood covenant when we first met. I am wondering if that is the reason I am stuck with him. I want to know what I can do to break free from his hold, so I can move on from him while I still have my youth. I don’t want to keep doing this dance.