Mistress Me

illed the streets, yet everyone was full of

nned woman in her early 50’s called out again. “Look who

her friend’s silly stories, She turned

wn don’t you think”,

She wondered, Two years that came t

awkward silen

g here?” she con

stered up the c

Chinemelum”. As he spread

ould’ve thought she would hear Eric’s voice ag

xtremely uneasy embrace like

were inseparable as

silhouette in a yellow floral dress

ve me dear

e said, as he tried to shake

were married”. He continued

confused, she felt betrayed. She certainly had not experienc

said, concealing the pain in her eye

in a few hours, Eric’s revelation h

Her voice was calming. “Eric told me such good things

t to sink even deeper. “He's not wort

my talkative bride to be, we’ve got to get you

t Grace, she felt like she was trapped in a

you ok? G

ationship with Eric and how

he got over us so quickly.” Mel said in a tr

embrac

ill felt something re

, my sweet girl. Don't let your past get in the way of t

k my magic, girl!”, she continu

t man on planet earth”. Mel said. Repeating

ghed and Grac

f Nigeria had become friends with Mel after

-shaped face. “Chubby grace” as Mel teased her back in the day, had a

ike wa

, are you a

t Sarah?” Sh

arried, and his family had absolu

ady,” she said as she left the ro

ce burst ou

Grace said as she continued work

ceremony was taking place in the eastern part of Nigeria w

her body. And paired it with white and red traditional neck and hand beads fo

ed and kneel before him, sharing the content of the cup. After which they can

ght her husband to be out among the quests. Teasing the young men i

ed at her

always been mi

s truly a sig

ks. Her short black hair never went beyond her freckled shoulders. Lik

knelt before him on both knees and offered him the cup filled with fresh palm wine. He received the cu

gathered at t

d friends were se

placed first, immediately after that of the bride and gr

oesn’t deserve a man

ded badly, as neither Mel nor Eric were h

was that?” r

g” He said as he took

d at the far end of Mr. Dikes compo

sed cement company in the eastern part of Nigeria. Every brick home in the east was made from OA cements. Mr Obinna was always absent, causing h

e had disappeared. Mel had not laid eyes on her since the wine carrying ceremony. She waited until the

caught Eric’s gaze as she ma

e felt like she was dipped in water as her

ithout acknowledging him or his “wif

lot of work,

said, “You won’t believe what I had

ce wasn

estroom, the living room and even the guest room. But Grace was nowh

ver the phone, but her c

world are you?” she

nde while she was

me for us to be called upon”. Tunde said as he p

ace. Have you by any cha

haven't seen her al

w i can’t get ready without her”. Me

ready, she was already married, after a

aid Tunde. “She’s probably wait

when she noticed a red

e had gotten Grace last year

Tunde’s room, and why would

m and about 10 minutes

ng weird for

babe? I was worried ou

think I had something a bit to

room earlier, and Grace

Tunde is already all

oes look exquis

you seen Tunde by an

es ago”. Grace replied as sh

he deny seeing her all day? And how come she showed up only whe

It was Gra

f”. “Is Grace hiding something from me?”

confront Grace. She wanted to tell her how she wasn’t in the restroo

r some reason, she didn’t. Mel decided there and then tha

"You are my best girl" I will trust you with al

he could see a tiny figure of a woman who was wearing a vanilla and almond fragrance. It was he

ur later, s

“Is there something I can get you?”. “How about

ously worrie

e” replied Mel.

rest a bit more,

planner who was sought out across different states in and out of the country. She was hardly a

to do, and the Ogunlana’

even after I told you not

soup, it'll help you feel better”. Mrs

It was a tex

are you

feel any

e typing, so she m

age the wedding preparations on my own. And my mum is literally going to bite my

just have a few things to take care

rinks?”

s hotel” an

I got a call from him before i got on the plane.

an eye out for

tter soon, take care of you.

enly rem

her friend and husband, she s

ure pulled her close. Mel felt a burning sensation. Drowning in those arms she felt a sense of safety. It felt peaceful like they

she s

t go of me” as she pull

s. She didn’t realize when Grace left t

e in paradise?” Eric s

even after all this time. They grew up together anyway, and

re you here!?”

tion and ridding her

osely ignored myself and Sarah as you w

scof

Today, of all days. Why

re so many emotions in Mel’s voice. But

were getting married and I felt it woul

eaking. There was something about the way Eric spoke. Similar to that of

t hold back

in betwee

you get?”. “It’s been over two years, and you still have a way of hurting

h a shak

ome to my wedding with your

me i get back,” Mel said as she tea

g held her by the waist. This time lov

he pulled her close, stopping

y no idea what i did with hopes that i'll forget about us” He co

Mel, now c

e year after” She added as s

the effrontery to show up o

tightening his grip, He pulled her

me Mel, yo

n’t the one that turned yo

we are both still hurting from a decisio

been the

u” He said as he looke

ed to her bedroom doo

from wanting, from longi

ad and pressed his

ed slowly acr

were both hungry for

el and she

all. Mel still felt so

ah walked int

ut of her room heading

e she didn’t stop. He was about to

babe,

and took d

wrong with Mel

d Sarah had been sent to check on Mel sinc

othing,” E

l out to her. Why was she

ere? How much did she se

thing, anything, to get Sar

think he is having

ably go and have a talk with her,

’t be necessary guys, I got this”. A

k kn

ace asked as she walk

with you and Er

d not only been betrayed by Grace and Tunde but she had al

she s

bout your meeting

u

utterly

ut Eric. Why are we tal

el said, ignoring the fact that she ans

he men in the world to have an affair w

er and her face was swollen from crying.

l was in so much

t wh

what Mel was insinuat

this pain wasn’t caused by the words Mel had just spo

ic. There was no way Grace would do

leaving Mel with no e

was back. She dropped a bro

me worse with black pa

if I still want to be fri

up the envelope from her l

envelope, but

into more tears after

, it’s a wedd

ce!” Me

ense of reli

so s

be sorry, sweet Mel

th an insinuating cry baby like yourself” she

ided to check on Mel, even afte

it made her lash out at Grace. Mel wasn’t one to confront issues. She was a r

and was feeling grateful for

in,” Mel

s if she had been through a lot, but still h

better, Eric told me abo

rry,” Sarah

felt guilty for the kiss with Eric and even

urt Sarah” she th

for Grace to work her magic,

d to find in Mel’s wardrobe. She had this glow that could only be gotten from pure joy.

n a game changer, or was it the kiss she shar