After going through a stressful and painful divorce, Titi almost became a recluse. She withdrew into her shell and took her time to heal. It was during this period that she received a Facebook message from an old university classmate who invited her to join their alumni WhatsApp group.

Titi was excited. She felt this could be a space where she could breathe, be herself and not be judged. A familiar terrain.

The group welcomed her warmly. Most evenings, after long hours at work, she would relax and scroll through the banter. She rarely commented, but she laughed and enjoyed the conversations.

One person stood out: Mayowa. Titi vaguely remembered her from school—she used to be quiet and reserved. But life had clearly been good to her.

In the group, everyone had nicknames. Mayowa’s alias was Oil Well. From conversations, Titi gathered that Mayowa had singlehandedly sponsored their last reunion at a private resort. Mayowa had certifications, honorary degrees, two MBAs and other academic feathers in her cap. She had a husband who constantly pushed her to achieve more. Titi envied her.

Mayowa’s husband seemed to be the real MVP—a man secure enough to let his wife soar. The exact opposite of Titi’s coconut head ex-husband, who had been a leech, deceptive and manipulative.

Mayowa had everything going for her, yet her humility stood out. Her status never changed her character. Titi, on the other hand, compared her own life and felt sad. It seemed as though life had moved on and left her behind. Apart from her children, all she had was her HR job and her small supermarket. While others had evolved, she was stuck with one degree, a divorce and a history of unhappiness.

Then one day, a classmate posted about life’s issues and lessons learned, encouraging others to share their defining experiences. The mood in the group shifted. For days, everyone dropped the jokes and shared personal stories.

For the first time since joining, Titi decided to be vulnerable. She shared her marital journey and the painful road to her divorce. Her story had depth, and the outpouring of love was overwhelming. But Mayowa was different. She reached out privately, and from there a friendship was born.

Over Christmas, Titi travelled with her kids to Abuja to see her younger sister and also visit Mayowa. What she saw left her speechless. Mayowa’s home is dripping with luxury. Her husband, famous from TV and newspapers, was as charming in person as portrayed in the media. He even cooked lunch for the family. A man of such repute, cooking? Unbelievable. Titi couldn’t help but compare him with her ex, who couldn’t boil water. She secretly envied her friend’s life.

Sometimes, she fantasised about what it would have been like if she were married to Mayowa’s husband. What a life that would have been. But she shook off those thoughts—after all, she had chosen her path just as Mayowa had chosen hers.

Then came the shocking revelation. Mayowa asked Titi to meet her at a hospital in Lagos. Titi assumed malaria or exhaustion. But what she saw shattered every illusion. Mayowa was in a pitiable state. Her “perfect” husband had beaten her so badly that she now had a cardiac condition.

Mayowa opened up. Her husband was not the man she had dated. He admitted he only married her for her looks because he wanted a woman who would complement his image and give him beautiful children. She had been content with just a master’s degree and dreams of running a business, but he forced her into endless certifications to build his portfolio. Behind the glamour was fear. Behind the power couple image was violence. She was wealthy, yes, but timid, broken and trapped.

Titi was in shock until Mayowa produced undeniable evidence: voice recordings, CCTV clips, videos from their children and domestic staff. Enough evidence to destroy him. But Mayowa was afraid. She confessed that ever since she had read Titi’s divorce story, she had wanted to talk, but needed to first build trust.

When she finally moved out and filed for divorce, the threats began. Her husband, drunk on power, tried to intimidate her. But his lawyers reminded him of the damning evidence stacked against him. Reluctantly, he agreed to settle out of court. Mayowa walked away with a huge settlement. Unknown to him, she also had secret investments that ensured financial independence. With her children, she relocated abroad to start afresh.

It has been almost eight years since the divorce drama. Mayowa is still on medication for her heart, but mentally, she is free and thriving.

Karma, however, did not spare her ex-husband. He nearly killed his mistress when he discovered that the children she claimed were his were not. Unfortunately for him, the mistress’s uncle was a Chief Judge of the Federation, and he promised to deal with him. His scandal became public gist, splashed across the media.

Meanwhile, alumni group members, still dazzled by the illusion of Mayowa’s “perfect life,” continue to reach out, unaware of the storm she survived.

Today, Titi and Mayowa’s friendship stands strong. Mayowa never stops thanking Titi for standing by her, for pulling her out of hell and for helping her stay afloat.

The lesson is undeniable: appearances are deceiving. While you’re admiring someone else’s green grass, be sure it isn’t plastic.