An album, pages flipping as its owner narrated the stories. Of how they met, when he proposed, how many times she turned him down even though she liked him, the games and finally the trophy, which is her ring she got for winning.
“What about you, Paul”?
“Me? ” I asked, stunned.
” Yes! “
” Tell us how you two met! “
” Damn! ” I cursed under my breath.
I had planned to leave quietly, feigning a tummy upset. And now it was too late.
” Errrrrrrmmmmmm… ” I cleared my throat, glancing at my wife and hoping she would say something.
” Lina and I… ” I began, ” Lina and I… .” The words won’t come.
Awkward silence.
“Are not married ?” a voice asked, as heads turned in the direction of my wife.
“Well…we…we…” I fumbled.
Damn it! What brought me to this gathering?
Perhaps I could cook up a story. But I had begun on a wrong note. How do I switch?
How do I explain that I made a rush decision? That we didn’t take our time to get to know each other? That there was nothing fascinating about how we met.
Perhaps it was loneliness that pushed me. Rejections, maybe.
I had been rejected so many times that when Lina accepted, I was too thrilled to take a lot into consideration. Her poor educational background, unstable job, the age difference, and the many things she still had to outgrow.
I only seriously started thinking about them when things had progressed too far. Parents were involved. Friends. She was on my WhatsApp profile, Facebook, Instagram.
What was I thinking? Damn!
My impatience was becoming costly.
But loneliness. It can push a man to do things.
I wanted everything delivered hurriedly, no delays. A simple ceremony. Just the two families. It was what I could afford. And she said it was OK, love was all that mattered.
Patience. It pays. But I, I only understand when it’s too late.
“Our story is complicated…” I finally admitted, rising from the uncomfortable spotlight to leave. And as I left, pages of silence flipped. No one uttered a word.
Mowabites Worldwide 