Cynthia
I drove through the road in my car, on phone with my therapist and soul mate, Angel. She always looked after me. For the money of course.
"Cynthie I watched your interview"
"It wasn't an interview. GOD! you're a doctor, Angel"
"Slip of tongue, Cynthia."
"Have I improved?" I asked.
"yes, you did really well today, but try to be a bit more calm"
"more calm? What do you mean more calm?"
"I could see your aggression when that plagiarism woman spoke to you."
" I thought that was great Angel"
"Cynthia, allow me do my job – you don't even pay me as much as"
" As much as you ask for dressing tips and my book spoilers"
"I shouldn't have called you," angel declared.
"are you angry?" I questioned.
"No, when are you coming home?"
I frown for a few seconds. My husband asked me this too. What's going on? What happened? But they sound excited though. What was the occasion?
"I'm on my way home"
"call me when you get home okay?"
"okay"
"stay safe," she ended the call.
I drove home in wonder – why these two people that I know when they come together something crazy will come up. It's either a silly party idea or they're telling me how to write my own books.
I stopped my car in our garage, slid out of the car and stepped to the door. I tried to opem it. It's locked. Just when I put my hand in my bag and set my hand on the door key, I remembered. It was me and my husband's third marriage anniversary. I large smile morphed on my face.
I opened the door and stepped in. I imagined a beautifully decorated dinning table with my favorite food on the table made by my favorite chef and a bottle of what-ever-that-my-husband's-favorite-wine was then I slowly walked in.
My husband would be waiting for me with his suit on, i looked at the dress I was wearing, it smelled like it was worn-too-long. He will definitely have a dress for me to wear. Just like the one last time, even better.
I can even seize the chance to ask him to buy me a car even if I knew the one I had was enough. Maybe a diamond watch – or the children's car he didn't want to get for Adam.
I walked through the hallway. And Immediately I stepped foot into the living room –
Pop pop pop Bang bang bang! My heart shook in shock and despair. Disgraced by my expectations.
"happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you!"
I was in complete shock. Angel, Levi, Adam and Angel's husband Bernard celebrate. Levi holding the cake, Angel ad Bernard both holding the glittery sprinkles or what ever they call it.
I didn't know it would be this surprise and I didn't know that I wouldn't know that it would be this surprise. How paradoxical.
I succumbed to my shock and spiralled into a laughter to was too erratic for the moment but heartfelt. I laughed out loud. My laughter blasted through the livingroom. Everyone watching mr in silence. My laughter subsided after a while and I blew the candles on the cake. I made a wish, a wish that at that moment came to my mind out of the blue. Just a wish.
A happy future. That's all.
"Thank you so much guys"
I gave everyone a hug, knelt in front of Adam, "Adam love… Mummy Is a year older"
"you can't get older than me than you already are," Adam says.
"awwn…" Angel's doing, definitely Angel doing the "awwn…"
"that's right, smart boy." I rose up holding Adam's hand. We celebrated all through the day.
Even at night I couldn't stop feeling embarrassed about earlier in the day. My timing was wrong. I guess I was longing for a romantic time between the both of us. Our works havetaken too much of our time. That day was one of the few free time we had.
Levi will be attending
It was late at night, I wasn't asleep. I didn't know if levi was because we were facing opposite ways. I just tried to know if he was awake, "did you know why I was laughing today?"
I didn't hear a reply. Quiet. Asleep.
"The cake wasn't from a luxury bakery?" I wasn't expecting a reply after that long silence neither was I expecting that kind of reply.
"The cake was okay. There was I time I ate whatever was called cake."
He let the atmosphere calm before he spoke, "you love luxury cakes though."
"They are called "luxurious" for a reason love."
He remained silent. I moved close to him. "Are you okay?" I placed my handon his shoulder, rubbed my hand on it and ran my fingers down to his arm.
"yes"
"seriously, tell me."
"It's just work, Cynthia," he says weakly.
"Love, talk to me. You can't keep acting this way and expect me to not ask. Just tell me now."
"I won't be able to stay for the holidays… We would be holding events for the next few weeks," he revealed. I took quite a while thinking. I went closer him and hugged him from behind.
"tell me more," I requested.
"I don't know," he said.
"What do you think will happen if Cynthia Fola attended all these events?"
Levi turns to me, "seriously? Don't you have some appointments? What about Adam?"
"Angel and Bernard are open to help us."
I placed my hand on his face, rubbing my thumb over his temple.
"they are busy people," Levi keeps thinking of the negative possibilities.
"Angel isn't, she literally does her job in her living room"
Levi chuckles, goes silent again, "The information was just sudden."
"it's okay, love. We'll handle this together."
Levi smiles at me with so much admiration. That smile I always looked up to, his hands now over my waist. He draws me closer, "thank you," he says.
I moved even closer to him, pressing my chest against him that in the silence of the night I could fell his heart beat ad the warm of his body. I wanted this… I needed this.
But sometimes I just feared that it would go away, the joy and grace that held my frail heart together. I feared that it would fade away and uncover all of my hidden scars. So I held him tighter like if I stopped – I will lose everything.
I sunk in his arms till I lost hold of my consciousness while subconsciously holding on to him.