"You know I love you, right?"
You giggle like a child who has just been handed a bottle as she professes these words to you, but she is not smiling.
"Are you all right? I mean, you don'tlook happy? What's wrong?"You ask her, worry lining your face.
"I'm sorry. I'm really so sorry, " she says with a trembling voice. Fear grips me.
"My love," you start to say, "please, talk to me. What are you sorry about? What is the matter?"
"I..I, I'm sorry, we can't be together. You can't have me," she says.
"Why? Did I do something wrong?"You begin to search through your head if you had offended her, but nothing pops up.
"No. No, Caleb, you did not, " she says and carrases your cheeks. "It's not you, it's me."
"I'm confused here. What is you, what is it?" you asked, more confused.
"I'm married," she blurted.
Shivers ran down your spine. And then it felt like you were sinking, but you weren't struggling to come up. You let yourself sink.
She had started to cry profusely, and you watched as sher Shoulders trembled, and she wiped her face with the back of her hands too many times, but you did not reach for her. You did not wrap her in an embrace and try to comfort her.
Instead, your mind wanders to the day you met her. The day you would never forget.
That wednesday, the day that you met her, you were walking along Mary slessor. You were on your way to school. You were broke and decided to take the long walk to school rather than take a cab cause you wanted to manage the little you had until whenever and however help came.
That morning, you left the house on an empty stomach. You were hungry , you felt weak although you looked strong and well-nourished on the outside. You felt so light that you had to plant one heavy step before another for fear that some heavy breeze could knock you out if you weren't careful.
You wore your favorite blue-coloured hoodie. You hadn't worn it in almost four months, cause it was too thick. But thanks to the rainy season, you wouldn't have to feel suffocated and sweat a lot.
You were rushing, the cloud wasn't smiling, the heavens was going to cry again, like it had been for the last three days. Whatever is the reason it keeps getting beaten.
When you reached Mary slessor round about, it started drizzling, you increased your walking pace, hoping to catch up before it started raining heavily.
Bad for you, before you would get to helth-tech, you got caught.
Almost immediately, a taxi stopped in front of you, and someone stepped down.
It was a fine, dark-skinned and slim-thick babe on a beautifully fitted gown. Damn!
"Hey, let's use my umbrella. "... She said. Nice voice. Soothing.
"But you just alighted, so you aren't going my way. You don't even know where I'm headed." I replied
"I alighted because of you, I have seen you often in school, it's just bad that people we notice don't notice us, I decided to alight and walk with you to school, than watch the rain beat my crush " .. she said and winked. You blushed.
You thought for a moment how brave and charming she was. And bold. You like audacious girls. So you say, "That was a nice shot. I like this generation. A girl can comfortably shoot her shots. We are actually improving and moving forward."
She laughed. You joined in. The air felt light. No tension. That was good.
" I'm Caleb, good morning. ".. you did the introduction.
" I am Veronica. And please don't call me Vera, everybody calls me that, I'd prefer you call me Vero."
You liked her there and then. You both clicked.
That was how you both started talking, day-in and day-out, you would meet somewhere and walk to school together, you enjoyed each other's company, walked home together.
You were getting closer, the connection getting stronger, everything was working just fine, you seemed like a couple already.
People would compliment how cute you looked together. You were almost inseparable. You thought you had found your soulmate. You thought you had found the one. Everything was fine until today. The day she said those words that changed you forever. The very day that gave you light, first, and snatched it without notice, exchanging the light for darkness.
You both had come to your favorite spot in school, the tree beside the basketball court. You both spent your free time there, playing, talking, cuddling, and loving.
It was a Tuesday. It was your one year anniversary together. Exactly one day since you both met. You are both wearing the same outfit from that day, as you both agreed to.
There, you had asked her to be yours. To be your girlfriend. You watched her every reaction and saw as she went from looking sad to scared. And then she said the words.
"For how long? How long have you been married?"
You finally shake off the thoughts and ask. You are surprised by your own calmness.
"It's exactly two years today."
You wonder if it was a coincidence that both anniversaries fell on sane day.
You walk towards her. You stop inches from her. "Why? Why did you not ever tell me?"
"I was going to. At first, I wanted us to be just friends. Things happened fast and I fell in love with you and I just couldn't tell you anymore. I'm sorry."
"Okay,"is all you say. And then you turned and walked away, leaving her there.
Thanks for stopping by.
SOKA🖤
