SINFUL MATE

y's

y life were perfect, but I was hap

't get to see our mother; s

k at the time, from raising us with so much love and care tha

tbroken over his loss, as he was the only person

el his absence, as he was a kind an

20, and things haven'

o Ril

i.

e. I was wailing together with Irene; we

k of annoyance Irene had

ped by a man. He was the be

arrow?"

may I he

ceremony will take place 7 days from now. You wil

e had a huge crush on, wants me to become his ma

ernity dragging by. Finally, the long-awaited day of the mating ceremony arrived.

commanded attention as he declared with unwavering authori

ut the hall; they were foll

and utterly perplexed by t

within me, her voice filled with sorrow. I couldn't help but feel

verflow from my eyes as the weight of his words s

ia and sorrow, echoing the anguish that permeated my own heart. We both fe

ly by the only man, apart from my fat

eyes, and my feet be

f faces. The crowd murmured and whispered amongst themselves, their word

dress that had been bestowed upon me for this momentous occasion, m

e microphone, shattering the hushed ambianc

nd cutting through the tension like a knife through butter. "After learning about

r enthusiasm palpable as my twin sister gracefully desc

struck me like a physical blow, her em

pang of betrayal twist in my gut. Just when I thought I had reached

His proclamation hung heavy in the air, casting a shadow over

breath was difficult as I struggled to

choes of his declaration kept ringing

ne who had always urged me to find a mate, had now cast me out, rej

?" The questions swirled in my mind, unanswered and haunting

t in front of me, and I tripped. Thankfully, I caught myself in time, but it was

wn my cheeks, and I fled from the hall, unabl

d me like an echo. Each mocking word pierced

ir wrapped around me, giving me a break

eeze was whispering words

heavier with every step I took. Howev

d confused in

had a small flame of d

the bleakness of my own despair;

hing down my cheek

I found myself standing at the edge of the forest, the

re very few. I realized I need

outside wasn’t safe either, especially w

the narrow back corridor leading to the main buil

it tightly in my hand, the fabric offerin

ornate chandeliers resembling oversized watermelons to the o

of a faint feminine voice drifting throug

causing me to creak closer to the door. My heart pounded in my chest as I pressed my

planned; you can proceed with the rest of the pla

heart, yet I couldn't tear myself away from the co

the strength to endure whate

of the dire news, I needed the fortit

ave to worry,” she said humorously, her laught

ne felt like a knife had

rappling with the enormity of t

shifted beneath my feet, leavi

d to reclaim control of my destiny and forge a path of

been sold!” My

ned my rejection; she had also made transactions for my exit by this morning.

Irene and as

tion; you even tried to steal my fated

l this? How could he be so

f perhaps he had been i

I heard the screech of someone rising from a seat

, I used my eyes to illuminate the space to avoid hitting my head on shar

t fluttered. I bit my lip and held

ng in the darkness, and I prayed silently

he paused halfway down, then t

if sensing someone hiding. Aft

thought to turn on the lights. I thanked

e didn’t. I had not much time to waste; I ru

he lock on the door twice and laid on my

live in my mind. I jumped

act information popped up. I dialled it, and just at the

ing go?" Her warm, bubbly

I informed her. I had just finished my speech when I heard a loud

And why were t