As traumatic as divorce is, nothing really prepares victims for the depth of loneliness and resentment that follow. That is why, when a marriage tottering on the verge of divorce is put on hold by couples deciding to do their own thing but still stay married ‘for the sake of the children,’ they try to make the most of it. Early in the year, I was in between dates and what with the nuisance of the strike action, had a lot of time on my hands.

In spite of the stay-at-home order, some of us comfortably called on each other. That was how lni managed to drop by for a chinway when I was settling down to a good read. I wasn’t particularly happy she was stealing some of my ‘me’ time. She also had Maria her cousin tagging along with her.

I’d met Maria a couple of times at Ini’s parties and when we heard she’s finally left her bully of a husband, we heaved a sigh of relief. I was worried about how she would get on with life on her own though. She wasn’t really on her own however, she’d moved into the boys quarters of her married daughter’s house. She refused to stay in the guest room so every one could have their privacy. In her mid-fifties she had a small business that kept her busy and a zilch social life. Only the Maria I now saw wore better clothes and smiled a lot. I told her as much. “She has just landed herself a catch – a smashing boyfriend”. Ropo told me looking happy for her. Maria looked a bit embarrassed.

A boy friend, at her aged? What did she intend to do with him? “You don’t understand why this relationship is important to me”, Maria said after we had a couple of drinks. “I was barely 20 when I got married and within 10 years, I’d had four children. I’d never enjoyed sex with my ex – I thought it was something I had to endure to have kids.

Over the years, he turned into a real chauvinist – always shouting at me even in front of the children. Once in a while, he became violent. I was unhappy most of the time. My consolation was that the kids were doing well. After my first daughter got married, I spent a lot of time helping her to look after the twins she had. My ex wasn’t happy at all. He threatened and bullied me, I just ignored him and he became violent.

“Then I discovered he had a girlfriend who was cooking his meal. When I confronted him, he said pompously that since I was busy looking after the interests of other people, I shouldn’t complain if someone else was ‘deputizing’ for me, I had gone past the stage where anything he did

bothered me and I was glad when my daughter’s husband agreed with her that I could move in with them. My ex was furious. Within months, he’d moved in his fancy woman and asked for a divorce, I didn’t even bat an eyelid. I knew it was better to be alone than being trapped in a loveless marriage. Ropo, bless her, was very supportive, she made sure to check up on me regularly, but I assured her I was happy and not really lonely. As far as I was concerned, the end of my marriage was good riddance to bad rubbish!

“That didn’t stop her from dragging me to some of the parties she attended. It was at one of these parties that I met Pius. He was about my age and I just took to him and his silly banter. I later found out that he lost his wife to cancer a few years ago. We exchanged phone numbers, and when he offered to take me home, I agreed ignoring the amused look on Ini’s face. The bungalow I occupied was quite independence of the main house, so he was able to come in, away from prying eyes.

We talked and kissed. I was shocked at the emotions that went through me, when he invited me over to his place the next time, I didn’t hesitate. We were half-way through our bottle of wine when we pounced on each other. I didn’t know what was really happening to me. I’d never enjoyed sex but now strange sensation I’d never felt before were coursing through my body. After decades of having sex, the fireworks I always heard about were finally exploding! We did it three times that first night. It was then I told him I had never had an orgasm before until then. He was shocked. ‘You’ve got some catching up to do” he told me, cheekily, feeling proud he was the ‘stud’ I’d been looking for all these years.

“It’s amazing that it has taken me all these wasted years to discover the beauty of sex. With Pius, I’ve discovered a whole new world of pleasure and fulfilment. At an age when I thought the only hot thing I’d take to bed is only hot cocoa, I am enjoying the best sex I’ve ever had. I feel like shouting from the roof tops and show other women that life can begin at 57! Sex was a taboo subject for me when I got married and I hardly knew orgasm existed. Now I am making up for lost time!”

I was really touched by her story. A woman who’d always looked the worse for wear, now transformed into this glowing specimen of womanhood! It’s amazing what the love of a man who knows his onions in the bedroom can do for a woman’s well-being. And with a ‘pro’ like Ini giving her all the encouragement she needs, it is unlikely she would take back her ex even if he asked her to on his two knees! Don’t leave it too late if you’re in the shoe Maria once were, like the medic says “to be on top of the world, a woman needs to have at least two orgasms a week and she doesn’t necessarily have to have it with a man!