The word "scent" reminded me of twenty-three years ago. Oh, see how time flies! Immediately after my secondary school education, my parents advised me to go to computer school while waiting for the West African Examination Council. I was excited because I was going to attend computer school in Ghana, the first time I would be leaving my country to meet my uncle and his family who reside in Ghana.
As I started the computer school, two days into my stay at Teletalk International Computer Institute, I met an elegant lady named Matilda, who was 31 years old. She was very beautiful with unassuming features, but she had a repulsive scent that disgusted and repelled men from her life. Her body odor was so offensive that speaking with her required endurance, and she became the subject of gossip in the organization. The worst part was that whatever she touched smelled the same way, but people hardly complained because of her excellent manner of approach. The provisions and solutions given to Matilda to improve her scent proved abortive, but people never gave up on her. Despite her body condition making her miserable, she always said, "My dream of captivating and alluring scent that will enchant men and draw my lovely husband in an extraordinary way and allow me to comfortably interact with humans is certain."
Her condition gave me more concern because I had not seen such an angelic lady with a heart of gold. She was an instructor with a positive mind, apart from her scent that chased people away, but I saw strength in her weakness. She became my senior friend, and I pray that her negative story turns positive.
Matilda was an epitome of beauty and good character. She had always been aware of her unpleasant scent. Since childhood, she had noticed that men seemed to inexplicably turn away from her, especially those of the fairer sex that she desired, possibly because of her dark complexion. However, she never stopped looking for a solution to her problem and believed that she had not yet met her true love. She promised to patiently wait for the right man to come along.
Six months later, Kwame met Matilda and became fond of her, but Matilda believed she would be rejected like others. Their conversations were filled with laughter, and their love grew stronger whenever they were together. It was as if the essence of their love had become entwined with her natural fragrance. One day, Matilda wanted to know the magic that kept their friendship alive. She asked Kwame what he wanted from her despite her repulsive smell, and he replied, "I promise to remain faithful to our love and will never succumb to the temptations surrounding our marriage." Matilda asked, "Whose marriage?" and Kwame immediately said to Matilda, "Will you marry me?" Overwhelmed with tears, she replied, "Yes, I will, my hero."
Just after getting engaged to Kwame, the evil scent disappeared, and people noticed that Matilda now had an alluring scent. She became very happy and ever grateful to Kwame. A week later, Matilda's evil uncle, who had cast the spell of a corpse smell on her to prevent her from marrying, confessed and died.