Chapter One ( The Rejection )
"Aubrey, this marriage can't happen!"
He said those words with so much ease like they weren't heavy on his lips.
"Williams, tomo.r..ro..w is the wed...ding! .."
I managed to say holding back so much emotions that could be heard from the way my voice cracked.
Williams and I have been dating for over 4 years now, I met him when I just clocked 18 at my birthday party. My cousin Lucian had brought him along to the party.
We started dating and he gave me so much love and filled my teenage life with beautiful memories and love. We promised to get married to each other and live together forever.
That was our dream until today...
I stood frozen in the same spot, trying to map out what I did wrong to deserve this rejection a day before my wedding, how I will cope with the humiliation and how much of a mockery I will be to family who never supported the marriage and the society at large.
I really can't decipher what was behind his sudden change of mind and rejection a day before our wedding but one thing was sure, it was a self made decision I thought to myself.
"How about the wedding tomorrow...?"
I said trying to sound as casual as possible not letting my emotions get hold of me.
" It is canceled, I already called the priest and I've told them to call it off".
"Williams, I thought you loved me, why did you do this to me?."
I could no longer hold the tears, so I let it rush down like a running tap down to my chin.
" I'm sorry Aubrey but I've made my decision."
He said with finality and walked away. Those words echoed like the way words resonated in an empty house in my head. I tried picking up the broken pieces of my shattered heart but I couldn't find even one to fix.
My legs couldn't move, my body became suddenly heavy for my legs to carry. I couldn't process what just happened, I tried blinking my eyes to see if this was all a dream but my eyes were heavy and filled tears, tears I couldn't control and No it wasn't a dream!.
Reality struck me, "what just happened?"
I finally found myself and rushed out immediately intending to catch up with him but it was too late.
He's gone already....
I sat down at the stairs that leads into the building recalling how I gave up everything for Williams Hart including my family.
My dad never liked Williams even for a day. He wasn't in support of our relationship either.
I remember the day, I brought Williams home to meet my family, my father rejected him that very day. He had said to me after Williams left...
"Aubrey, you can't marry that man! "
"Why? Dad, What don't you like about him?"
"You just can't marry him, he doesn't suit your status". He had said avoiding my gaze.
I kept looking at him trying to unravel some unspoken words, deep down I knew his rejection was not just because he doesn't suit my status . I knew there was something more but I couldn't figure it out.
One thing I knew about my father was that he doesn't look down on people so why now?.
"Daddy Please, we both love each other .
I'm sure you could help him financially".
But his response shocked me to my bone marrow.
"Aubrey, you will never get married to that young man not with you as my daughter, I will never be in support of it!".
"Then, I don't want to be your daughter anymore! I'll do what makes me happy and Williams does".
I screamed at the top of my lungs with so much resentment as I walked out of his presence.
I could hear him calling me back
"Aubrey!"
"Don't you dare walk out on me!"
" Aubrey!"
"Aubreyyy!"
But I was too determined to get married to Williams Hart that I didn't think about the weight of my action.
* * *
That night my mum came to my room to plead with me to think about the consequences my actions might result to. But my love for Williams Hart was too strong to make me see things the way my parents did.
After that day, I lost the love my dad had for me. He never spoke to me again, and it was obvious he told my mum to do the same too. Because the only time she spoke to me was when he had gone to work and even as that she spoke with low voice - more like a whisper.
Days became week, and weeks became month..
I got tired of living with people who treated me like I was nothing, people who ignored my presence , people who looked at me like I was the worst mistake they ever made just because I wanted to marry the man I love and not someone they might pick for me.
On the second month after the argument, I moved out of my home or should I say my parents home..
"Mum, I'll be leaving tomorrow."
I had said admist tears, because this going to be the first time I'll be leaving home since I was born.
"My darling, please don't leave"
My mum said trying to control her emotions, emotions I could see clearly through..
"No, mum I'm leaving, it's obvious I'm not longer wanted here".
This was me, taking a decision for once in my life by myself without my family support
"Your dad loves you, he just want what's best for you".
"All my life mum, I've lived it to make dad happy and proud, I never wanted to be a lawyer but dad wanted me to be a lawyer...."
"I did it for him, yes mum I gave up my passion of becoming a model for dad to be happy..."
"I shut out people from my life to make dad happy, I gave up practically everything that makes me happy to make him happy but not this one mum!"
I said, sitting still recalling every single time I had picked someone's happiness over mine just because I have their last name.
No, I don't want to be like my mum.
She has lived all her life to please this same man, I've seen the loneliness in her eyes most times, the hidden darkness of desiring something for herself but can't speak up because she's sacred of her husband.
Though she tried so hard to hide it and act like all was good, what she didn't know was that I could see through her, I wonder if she will ever learn to speak for herself or if she will remain like that - nodding yes to every single word dad says.
"So where are you moving in to?"
She asked, I could see the genuine care and love in her eyes, the concerned feeling.
I wish I wasn't leaving her behind but I have to do what's best for me, and that was leaving home....