Stell sat on the comfy and comfortable bed of her hotel room reminiscing of the different scenarios that could materialize as a result of the eternal journey she's about to embark on in a few minutes. The room was filled with gay feminine faces spinning in their wedding dresses and flashing her occasional glances of admiration.
The velvety and smooth feel of the overly elaborate make up artist's tool - who was tasked with turning her into the best physical version of herself - brushed over her face and brought her mind back to her surroundings. She peeped through the mirror and was impressed with the transformation which her face had gone through.
"Perfect! It hides all that shouldn't be seen" she thought
"I hope you like it ma" the lady queried
"Of course I do" Stell replied just as she came to the realization of the tears trickling down her eyes which she quickly dabbed with her palm.
"Are you okay Stell?" Ella her bestfriend asked.
"Yes I am" she answered flashing a bright smile.
"You're a lucky lady my friend" Ella began, placing a palm on her shoulder "Please don't spoil this beautiful makeup with your tears of joy. Brides don't cry" she teased smiling down at her
Stell smiled at her friend as the thought of the last time she cried flashed through her mind. The knock on the door, the still of the whole house, the preceding happiness, the flight through the stairs, and eventually the heart wrenching exhibition that she witnessed that day.
But she could not be sad, she was the priced jewel of the society. She was the reference for ripe ladies who were waiting on marriage, the luckiest girl of her time who did not have to go through the rigours and stress of being in the 'marriage market'.
She had been plucked away from the stem of singlehood from the moment she left the university. Theirs was a fairy tale, the most beautiful girl in the block engaged to the most veritable bachelor in town. More like a Romeo and Juliet of their time who instead of dying were made to live for eachother.
She walked around the block with her head held high, shoulders square, and chest pumped. She was the standard, the pinnacle of ladyhood and enjoying the acme of feminine luck. There's nothing she could do wrong in the face of society. She had no business with sadness and tears were a taboo to her.
"You can't be this lucky and be sad", "You're the luckiest girl in the world", "I wish I was in your shoes", were an everyday chorus from her family and friends as if she was a deity receiving praises from her subjects. She had no other option than to be happy for them as it seemed her happiness and smiles were the source of their hope.
Today was the culmination of all the love and attention she had been getting from her people, but she wasn't sure of what it was she really felt. She was happy to be making her family proud and for putting smiles on the faces of the whole community. But what does this journey hold for her, she could not tell.
Or perhaps she could, but was too afraid to own it. "But what if I'm wrong?" she kept asking herself as she tries to create a common ground for her convictions and that of the society. But this puzzle too was resolved as she looked up to behold the light that sparkled in her mother's eyes as she smiled down at her with the words "it's time baby".
Waking down the aisle with her friends gorging at her beauty and dancing to the rhythm of her footsteps, Stell could notice the adulating glances of the audience as she strolled through the pathway nervous and unsure of the next step to take.
"Calm Stell" she thought to herself as she noticed Frank at the front of the hall looking as comely as ever. His jacket fitted to his frame like a seasoned soldier and his armour, ready for war. His eyes twinkled with joy at the sight of her, and the parting of his lips seemed to illuminate the stage.
"You're probably on the right track" she thought as she walked up to the stage with the help of his silky, warm and comforting hands.
Then came the priest's voice echoing through her subconscious as her mind drifted back to the last time she cried, "Will you take Frank to be your lawfully wedded husband....."
"No" Stell interrupted to a loud row from the crowd and the astonishment of her parents.
"I'm sorry for bringing you all out here" she started as she grabbed the microphone from the priest. "But Frank I can't marry you, not because I don't love you, but because everytime I look on you I remember the day I caught you cheating on me. The picture keeps playing in my head, from the knock on the door, to climbing the stairs and seeing you naked with another woman." she paused to dab tears pouring down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry but I can't go into this illusion of a marriage with you just so I can make my family and community happy and proud. I need to find my own happiness and I'm sorry it's not with you" she concluded and ran out unable to control the emotions that was welling up within her.
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