Episode 58
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“You can’t blame someone for walking away if you didn’t do anything to make them stay.”
Quiet murmurs and whispers fill the room and everyone has their eyes on Zaria and her minions.
I am fuming! My hands are shaky as I stare the trio that just walked into the church I can feel my heart beat increase as my stomach is twisting like a cobra ready to strike.
How could Zaria do this to me?
Her dress is mesmerizingly breathtaking she looks more of a bride than I do, you aren’t supposed to outdo the bride, it’s not fair. Her minions are wearing similar dresses as if they are bridesmaids.
What sort of woman are these? They are so bold and fearless, when I sent them that invitation I didn’t think they would show up but see my life, they just made such a grand entrance putting my wedding on a standstill. I can tell by the look on Wesley’s face that he is thrilled, what a fool he is.
I take in a deep breath trying to calm my nerves before I turn towards the pastor and ask him to continue.
After a pause, the pastor continues, ‘If anyone has reason that these two shouldn’t be…,’
At that moment Yedda begins coughing, it begins as a few gasps that quickly grows into an uncontrollable spasm. Within a minute, the cough grows louder and violent.
She is deliberately doing this to spoil my day I manage to keep my composure because I am the bride. Now everyone I staring at her, quickly I see one of the ushers hand her a bottle of water.
She takes a large sip and keeps quiet after a few minutes I look at her and I can see the smile on her face.
‘Can we continue?’ I impatiently tell the pastor.
He looks at Wesley, ‘I think let’s skip to the next part, will you please hold her hand in yours?’
‘Do you..,’ He begins but immediately gets interrupted by Melanie.
She stands up and walks up to the altar, at this point I am filled with rage and I am trying so hard to fight the urge to attack her.
‘Excuse me,’ she says to the priest
‘Yes young lady.’
‘Where can I find the toilets?’ she asks
My anger spirals, I am clench my fists and grit my teeth but despite the anger in my heart I keep my mouth shut.
‘We are in the middle of a wedding madam you could have asked one of the ladies at the door instead of coming all the way here to disrupt the ceremony. If you continue with this behavior I might have to kick you out.’
‘Sorry!’ she says almost laughing
He directs her to the toilet and she marches off.
‘Do you Wesley Muchindu take Luyando Mweene to be your lawfully wedded wife to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy state of matrimony? Will you love & honour her in sickness & in health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sadness and in joy—-.’
He pauses as Melanie walks back into the church, her heels making a sound with every step she takes. When she takes her seat, he continues.
‘To cherish & continually bestow upon her your heart’s deepest devotion forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her as long as you both shall live?’
I wait. A second, two, three awaiting his response but it doesn’t come.
‘Wesley!’ I pat his shoulder lightly
‘What?’
‘He just asked you a question.’
‘Oh!’
‘What’s the matter?’ asks the pastor sensing that something is wrong.
‘Nothing,’ I nervously say
‘Mr. Muchindu? Should I give you and your bride a few minutes alone?’ he asks
He shakes his head, ‘We are okay.’
‘Then I will ask you again.’
‘Okay.’
‘Do you take this woman Luyando Mweene to be your lawful wedded wife?’
He glances at me then at the priest before he responds in a nervous but firm voice that can be heard throughout the church. ‘No.’
The murmurs and whispers fill the room once again, my eyes widen and my heart thumps wildly.
The priest walks closer to him, ‘Think well son,’ he says in a soothing voice, ‘I know you are nervous but please think well before you respond,’ he urges him.
After a few minutes, he repeats the question, ‘Do you Wesley Muchindu take Luyando Mweene to be your lawfully wedded wife?’
Wesley clears his throat and responds with a firm voice, ‘No.”
My throat instantly becomes dry and my legs become weak, Sabrina stands up and holds my hand so I don’t fall.
‘Wesley!’ His sister stands up, ‘What is the meaning of this?’
‘I am sorry sis but I will not marry her, Lulu isn’t the woman for me,’ he says
‘Wes,’ I plead meeting his gaze.
‘You are irresponsible and childish you are unfit to be a wife. I doubt I ever loved you I must have been driven by lust. If I marry you today, our lives will be miserable so I am setting you free.’
His words hit me like a dagger to the heart, ‘Please,’ I plead
‘I am sorry my heart belongs to another you will find someone better, I am sorry.’
Without saying another word, he marches out of the room & a moment later his sister runs after him.
Heartbroken, humiliated and devastated, my knees give way and I sink to the floor wailing loudly. Sabrina tries to pull me up but I just squeeze myself into a tight ball and wail louder.
People in the church start marching out, whispering and sympathetically staring at me. I feel like a fool.
Shortly after, Zaria and her minions stand up too and they walk out.
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‘You shouldn’t have done that,’ my sister says when she catches up with me.
I just couldn’t go ahead and marry her. I don’t love her I just realized I was driven by lust & infatuation.
‘You wouldn’t understand,’ I respond
‘But?’
‘Please!’ I plead, ‘I don’t wanna talk about it, not now.’
‘Fine,’ she turns and walks back into the church
I am about to get into my car when I spot Zaria and the girls heading towards their car.
‘Zaria,’ I call
She turns & we lock eyes, I expect to see warmth and love but what I see is a blank and an emotionless look.
‘Yes.’
‘Can we talk?’
‘About?’
‘I would like to apologize to you for—-,’
‘I hold no grudges, you don’t have to apologize to me for anything,’ she cuts my sentence short.
****
I stare at Wesley and for a minute memories of his betrayal flash right in my face, the way he dumped me and kicked me out, the way he made me feel like a worthless woman. Anyway that’s in the past now.
‘I want you to know that I regret letting you go & taking you for granted. I guess it’s too late for me to have you back but I wish you the best in life, if I could take back the hands of time I swear I would make better decisions,’ he says tears flooding his eyes
For a minute there I feel sorry for him but he made his bed and now is the time for him to lie in it.
‘Everything happens for a reason, we didn’t work out because we weren’t meant to be. It’s sad that you didn’t marry your wonder woman but I hope you find someone you will love truly some day,’ I say
‘Thank you.’
‘Girl’s let’s get out of here,’ I say before we walk towards our car.
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A gambling Heart