Internet Stranger

Sophia was the cautious type of woman but she wasn't always this way. Her childhood years were more carefree and wild however with the passage of time and the worsening crime stories on the printed press and the television media, her fears of living in society grew making her that way. Needless to say, when different social media platforms became a hit for her other middle-aged friends to get the tea on the neighbours and others' dirty laundry, she didn't think so fondly of it. In fact, she was skeptical and hesitant but somehow, she got roped into it

- let's just say the devil was busy that day, a popular Trinbagonian saying, that too gained popularity with Sophia and her mother now because it took one link sent from one friend, one app download and one clink that led her to meet, date and eventually marry Darryl. The online Facebook friend. The man whom she thought was the man of her dreams but was merely a fake.

The wedding was fantastic, smooth. She was on cloud nine being surrounded by her loved ones, marrying the man of her dreams. And for a while, it seemed like a wonderful day- dream of sorts but that quickly thereafter changed into a nightmare as she would come to learn.

The sweet, kind, handsome and charming man she knew slowly but surely disappeared. Each time creating a crack in her happiness and self-confidence.

After their honeymoon, however was when the real nightmare began, as Darryl became more moody and distant than after the wedding ceremony, and he would often come home late, claiming he had to work overtime. One day, when Sophia tried to talk to him about it, he brushed her off saying she was overreacting.

He was mad and he made sure she knew that by storming out of the living room into their bedroom then locking the door behind him leaving Sophia to sleep outside. Sophia, convinced it was her fault that he got mad, the next day prepared a surprise dinner for him, which she would drop in at his work office to give to him.

To her shock, she caught him

flirting with another woman, his co-worker. Sophia was heartbroken and confronted him, to which he responded with anger and accused her of being paranoid.

Once they returned home, things only got worse. They got into an argument as Sophia questioned him about the type of relationship he has with that co-worker she witnessed. Darryl snapped. He slapped Sophia across the face, grabbed his jacket from the handle of the metal chair where it had been thrown, got into his car and drove off. He had gone off the grid for days without any calls made to Sophia about his whereabouts or well-being. Sophia was worried sick and when her friends and family started to notice these changes in him and got updated about their situation, they warned her to be careful. That something didn't seem right about him.

But Sophia was still in love with Darryl and refused to believe that he could be capable of anything bad. She convinced herself that he was just going through a rough patch and that things would get better.

But they didn't. Once Darryl returned home after a couple of days, his behavior only became worse. He would come home drunk and angry, and would often lash out at Sophia for no reason. She would try to talk to him, but to no avail as he would refuse to listen and blame her for all their problems.

One day, Sophia came home to find that Darryl had emptied their joint bank account and disappeared without a trace. She was devastated and felt like her entire world had crumbled before her eyes.

It wasn't until the police contacted her that Sophia learned the truth about Darryl. He had been leading a double life, using her for her money, and had been involved in various illegal activities, from gambling to selling drugs to thieving antics. Sophia was shocked and couldn't believe that the man she thought was her soulmate and loved was nothing but a complete stranger.

She realized that she had been blinded by her love for Darryl and had ignored all the red flags. She also realized that her family and friends had been right all along, but she had refused to listen.

Sophia's fairytale wedding was not a fairytale marriage as she had hoped, and she couldn't help but feel like a fool for not seeing the truth sooner. But she also knew that she had to get over it and start a new life without Darryl. Forgive and forget, as the saying goes. She felt hurt and betrayed but she also felt that it would be the best way to move on with her life.

It was a painful lesson, but Sophia learned that sometimes, the person you think you know and love can turn out to be a complete nightmare. And that it's important to listen to the warnings of those who care about you, even if it's hard to hear.