Used in the name of love

My name is Adaeze, and for a long time I carried a secret that weighed heavily on my heart. This is the story of how love almost destroyed me, and how I slowly found my way back to myself.
I grew up believing that love was meant to be safe. I watched my mother endure hardship with strength, and she taught me that patience and kindness were virtues. When I met Daniel, I thought my prayers had been answered. He was gentle with words, calm in appearance, and very attentive. He listened to my dreams and fears, and for the first time, I felt truly seen. I was young, hopeful, and deeply in love.
Daniel did not have much money, but that did not matter to me. I believed love was more important than wealth. I was working hard, saving little by little, and supporting myself. Slowly, he began to depend on me. At first, it was small things transport money, food, help with bills. He always promised to pay me back. I trusted him because love had made me blind.
As time went on, my life began to change in ways I could not explain. I was always tired. My business started failing without reason. Money would enter my hands and disappear quickly, like water poured into sand. Whenever I complained, Daniel would comfort me and say it was just bad luck. Yet, strangely, whenever I gave him money, he looked relieved almost satisfied.
The dreams started after that. I would wake up shaking, seeing dark places, hearing whispers calling my name. I began to feel drained, both physically and emotionally. Friends told me I had changed. My smile disappeared, and my confidence faded. Still, I stayed. Love can make a person endure pain silently.
One day, a close friend begged me to visit a spiritual counselor. At first, I refused. I did not want to believe anything bad about the man I loved. But fear pushed me forward. What I heard that day broke my heart. I was told that the man I trusted was using me for money rituals—that my success and energy were being diverted for his benefit.
I felt betrayed in a way words cannot fully describe. The man I shared my dreams with had turned me into a tool. I confronted Daniel with tears and anger. He denied everything, then became aggressive. That was the moment clarity came. Love does not threaten. Love does not destroy. Love does not feed on another person’s suffering.
Leaving was not easy. I felt empty, ashamed, and broken. I blamed myself for ignoring the signs. For weeks, I cried myself to sleep, questioning my worth. But slowly, I began to heal. I prayed. I rested. I cut off all contact with him. I started rebuilding my life piece by piece.
Today, I am stronger. My money no longer disappears mysteriously. My sleep has returned. Most importantly, my self-love has grown. I learned that love without respect is a cage, and trust without wisdom is dangerous. My story is painful, but it is also powerful.
I share this autobiography not out of bitterness, but out of hope. If someone reads this and finds the courage to walk away from a harmful relationship, then my pain will not be wasted. I survived betrayal, and I chose myself. That choice saved my life.