Embrace me tightly

It was supposed to be an auspicious day. The day her luck would change for good. The day, she was supposed to turn her life around for the better. It was the day she was supposed to begin her new life as the wife of Leonard Nkhoma. 

Mrs Taziona Nkhoma. She quite liked the sound of that. It made her feel important. She had dreamt of being the wife of the only man she had ever loved. 

Looking out of the window of her the silver Rolls-Royce Phantom, bitterness filled her heart as the corners of her mouth twisted contemptuously.

She had meticulously planned every detail and ensured that nothing would go wrong for her perfect day. From the five star venue to the burgundy theme. No flower was out of place. 

She watched as the bridal procession walked up the white isle, towards the groom. The beautiful and colourful bubbles blown by the second flower girl were a mockery to her mood.

For almost five years, she had patiently waited for this day and now it was here. Everything she had ever dreamed of was finally within her reach. But who would have thought that fate would play a cruel trick on her?

'Taziona, come out already. We have kept the guests and the groom waiting long enough,' her sister's cheerful voice broke through her thoughts.

She forced a smile on her face. How she wished it was that simple. She smiled up at her sister and allowed herself to be pulled out of the car.

'Sure you don't want dad to walk you down the aisle?'

Taziona shook her head. It hurt but it was better this way. It had shocked everyone when she had told them she would walk herself down the aisle two weeks before the wedding. 

She was her father's favourite child and her actions, even though he tried not to show it, had broken his heart.

That night and the nights that had followed, Taz had cried herself to sleep. Her father was the one person besides Leonard that she loved with all her whole heart, breaking his heart was akin to breaking her own heart but it was a necessary evil. The fewer people she involved in her treachery, the less guilt she would feel, she was already fooling Leonard. If she went through with her plans, she would be making Leonard raise another man's child.

Joyce, her immediate elder sister opened her mouth to say something but Grace their eldest sister shook her head from behind. Sighing heavily, Joyce resigned herself to straightening the tiara on Taz's head.

'Come on. Let's get you married, Mrs Nkhoma,' she said once she was satisfied all was well.

As soon as she stepped on the rose-covered carpet, the military orchestra started to playy the wedding match song. The cathedral veil flowed after her, giving her a princessy look.

Each step that she took was like a nail hammered on her fate. The smiles she saw on the faces of her family member's especially her father almost, as she walked through the wedding arch at the entrance, made her turn back and put an end to the deception she was about to do. But the rational part in her told her this she had no choice; as long as Leonard didn't know, no one would be harmed. In turn, she promised herself she was going to be the best wife and would dot on him endlessly. She would love him and make her world revolve around him. He would be her sun, moon and stars.

How was she to tell her beloved she was expecting another man's child? 

A child of a faceless man. Already, she had begun to hate the life that was growing inside her because that life was what would take away her dreams. At the thought of the life that was growing inside her, bitterness overwhelmed her heart. She wished she could reach out and yank it out. But she couldn't. Twice she had tried to medically induce the pregnancy but had failed miserably.

If not for Ruth; she had no idea what she would have done.

A little while later, she reached Leonard's side and he took her hand to face their priest. 

'And so what God has put together, let no man put asunder if there is anyone who has a reason why these two should not get married, speak now or forever hold your peace,' the elderly chaplain officiating their wedding said looking around the chapel after a length church service.

Taziona's heart pounded violently inside her chest as she waited for the deafening silence that would forever define her future.

She silently prayed for the man to hurry everything up. The sooner she was married to Leonard, the better it would be for everyone.

The seconds ticked by and when nobody said anything, Taziona let out a sigh of relief.

The elderly chaplain turned back to face the couple but just as he opened his mouth to declare them husband and wife, a loud shrill rang out.

'Oh my freaking God...Oh my God....'

Taziona felt her heart drop to the pits of her stomach. She knew that voice. She had seen the disdainful look on her face as she had walked towards Leonard. How could she not gloat? Even though Taziona would be the one to be called Mrs Nkoma, the family's matriarch preferred Alison to be her daughter-in-law. 

Everyone turned to look towards her, curious. Who didn't know she was the other party in the story?

Alison was looking down at her phone. She stood up and glared at the bride. 'You lying and scheming bitch! How could you!'

She walked over to them seeing red. Leonard frowned at her and gave his mother a warning glare. He was not having this drama. Not today.

'Alison, you better leave now, don't force me to call security...'

'Oh shut the fuck up Leonard. Do you have any idea what this bitch did to you?'

Before he could call out her name, Alison pressed a few buttons on her phone; a few seconds later, a collective gasp and hushed murmurs filled the church as the wedding celebrants received copies of Taziona's medical records and a video as she begged the doctor to terminate her pregnancy.