THE MATRILOCAL WEDDING

The sound of the alarm clock woke Amelia up rudely. She cursed inwardly and tossed to the other other side of the bed. It rang again, the blaring sound affecting her cerebrum.

"Argh!" She mumbled as she got out of bed lazily to put it off.

She fit her feet into the black room slippers and made her way into the kitchen. She opened the fridge and brought out a big loaf of bread with a jar of netulla. She had slept hungry yesterday out of excitement of being finally free from Ares, the school bully.

Yesterday night was prom, she was finally done with college and most importantly she is free from her tormentor. She hated him with the bones of her bones and with her blood and flesh, she loathes him for making her school days a living hell. Now, no one would bully her for being a plus size, no one will call her ugly, no one will embarrass her during recess...

Amelia was really glad.

"Amelia, you eat too much! I don't see any of your usefulness in this house, all you do is to eat and eat and eat, I wonder if you haven't eaten your brain together with the foods" Mrs Theodore yelled, on seeing her first daughter in the kitchen.

"But mum, I didn't eat yesterday before going to bed....."

"Will you die if you don't eat?" Mrs Theodore blew hot and cold. Amelia didn't flinch, she was used to the lashes and cold words from her own mother. While her sister, Emily was her mother's beloved and honey, Amelia is just a salt in her mother's eyes.

"Don't you look at yourself in the mirror each time you wake? I always wonder if you are truly my daughter! I mean look at you..."

"You can't even attract a man, even a magnet is more attractive than you. You're too fat, your belly is too big, you don't even have a nice shape, and you know nothing asides making good grades!" Mrs Theodore lashed out.

Amelia pressed the loaf of bread together and slowly took it to her mouth. She was used to it, she's used to people spelling out her insecurities to her.

"And you're still eating!" Mrs Theodore shouted, she picked the nearest stick in and attempt to hit her.

"I didn't create myself!" Amelia mumbled with a cracking voice.

"Hmm" Mrs Theodore sighed.

"Look at you, you don't even have male friends. No guy has ever bought gift for you, no visits from friends..."

"Irene visits me" Amelia uttered lowly.

"I pity you" her mother scoffed and walked out.

Amelia burst into fresh tears the moment her mother was out of sight. She was right, she will never get a boyfriend. She is eighteen and still very single while girls of her age already have boyfriends from age fifteen.

Amelia ate up in sadness.

Her ringing phone jots her out of the sad thought. Her deep almond eyes glittered as she saw the caller. It was Irene. The only true friend she had as a child. Irene was always there for her.

"Hi, baby" Amelia said, a small smile playing on her lip.

"I'm fine, I hope you're getting ready?" Irene asked. Just like Amelia, Irene also has a dream of being a wedding planner expert. They have been preparing for Salma Culinary school examination for over a year and the form was out for purchase today. They had planned to go get the form together, even though they only have tiny hope of being selected for the scholarship program.

The school would only be picking fifty students out of over three hundred applicants.

"I just woke up but I will be ready in a jifty" Amelia replied.

"Alright, we will meet at our usual spot" Irene said.

"Bye, baby" Amelia said and dropped the call.

She cleared where she ate and hurried into the bathroom to have her bath. Minutes dragged by and she was finally ready.

She had on a black jean and a yellow top. She sighed on seeing her reflection.