Reborn In Darkness – Episode 19

Reborn In Darkness – Episode 19

A Story by Tisa Phiri

Working up so early in the morning, I rushed to take a bath after ensuring that I locked the door for the room my reborn self was.
I had to be careful though as that day I was not going to get back into my house.
As per tradition, I was to go with my husband for honeymoon after the wedding.
That too gave me a lot of stress, how was I going to leave Feli behind? I had to come up with a plan to avoid the honeymoon as telling Daniel’s I was not ready to leave the town for honeymoon would create a lot of questions.
As I took my bath my mind battled with a lot of thoughts I felt dizzy, I held on to the rail and waited for my head to settle down.
For a good 20 minutes I was siiting in the bathroom. The loud knock on the door startled me.
“Who is there?” I shouted weakly as tried to balance my body to walk out.
“Felicia we are running out of time. What in God’s name are you still doing here when we agreed you will come to my place early enough for me to help you prepare!” The Matron shouted back i could hear panic in her voice.
” come in Matron, am in the bathroom, I feel sick!” I responded bending my head towards the door.
She opened the front door and I could hear her foot steps as she approached the bath room.
” Felicia! What happned here?” She screamed seeing me weak and panting for my breath.
“I don’t know Matron, I feel sick and have been here for more than 20 minutes” I looked at her.
“What? How can you get sick on your wedding day? My God! What do I do now?” She shook her head and bending down to help me.
” I will be okey I just need to lay down and relax a bit” I murmured as she led me to my bedroom.
“We have to call Daniels, this I not good it seems you stressed out. Am a nurse and I can tell you are under a lot of pressure. What I don’t understand though is why you are so stressed out when everything is in order.” She shrugged watching me as I lay in my back in bed.
“I don’t know too. But don’t tell Daniels yet I don’t want to get him all worried for nothing. I just need a few minutes and am sure I will feel okey again soon.” I shook my head but inside I was so aware of what has been stressing me out for days. I felt hot tears coming from my eyes and before I could hold them they ran freely out my eyes causing the matron rush to my side.
“Tell me what is going on with you. Is it your husband to be? ” she asked holding my hand.
“No, no it’s not him Matron, I just..” I stopped looking at her.
“I, um.. scared of marriage maybe” I lied swallowing the lamp in my throat
“Why are you sacred Felicia? You agreed to marry Daniels and my thinking is that you guys love each other. What is really going on?” She insisted wanting me to say the truth it was like she could see through my lies.
Before I could answer, her phone rung and she quickly turned to pick it up saving me the burden of answering her question.
“We have to move Felicia, all the maidens are ready and people are asking about you” she looked at me worried.
“Yeah, let’s go then I feel a lot better” I sighed standing up and staggering before i could gain my stance.
“Are you sure you are ready to do this?” She asked helping me stand straight.
“Yeah am sure, it’s today or never, let me just throw something on” I indicated for her to wait for me from the other side of the door.
I looked at myself in the mirror seeing how pale I was looking. For days probably weeks I had not realised how much I had lost in weight. My shoulder bones were so vivid I traced my hand in them as I cried for a moment. Realising what the bible says about the devil keeping us bondage and taking away our peace.
“Come open the door for me Felicia, you will not go to that wedding without me” I heard Feli whisper in my ears from the other room.
I didn’t respond, ignoring the voice I quickly picked a loose dress and walked out to join the Matron leaving the keys to the spare room I had Feli locked and placed them on the top of the cabinet.
Determined to get married, even though I had no idea what was giving me the impression my marriage would work with all the burdens I was carrying.
A couple of hours later, we were outside the church ready to go in. My uncle standing next to me wearing a wide smile.
I tried to compose myself though my whole body felt so weak. Just that minute I realised I had not eaten anything for almost two days and the effect of hunger was too putting presure on my body.
As I was led inside I looked around the audience for any signs of Ritah. Recalling the hunt I had a day before. I had called Daniels’ mom to ask for Ritah’s number if at all she had, lieing that I lost her contact in my broken phone.
Unfortunately she didn’t have but said she might have an idea where she was as she met her a few days back.
“Tell me where please mom” I asked sounding so much desparate to find Ritah.
“She said something like at her cousin’s place but am not sure where exactly”
I was glad she gave me some insight of where she was saying Ritah’s cousin stating somewhere in Woodlands. So I used the information I had about her cousins from our past stories and remembered we had once paid a visit to her.
That morning i traveled to Woodlands in search of Ritah. I was determined to stop her from messing my wedding.
” Felicia!” My uncle called me bringing me back from my memories.
” you have to get closer to your husband to be” he whispered and I looked around realising everyone was standing and staring at me. Daniels mouth was open in what I assumed was wonder for what was going on with me. From the look of things, I had gone out of the place long enough so much that every one was able to see it.
I felt the Matron lift my dress a little bit to help me move forward and immediately I looked up at Daniels changing my facial expression into a smile.
Daniel’s face relaxed as I smiled at him standing besides him and looking at the Priest before us.
“Before we begin, I call out any person who has anything against this union to speak now or forever hold their peace”
The priest announced to the audience and it was silent. My heart raced as silence hovered in the room. When he looked at us to continue I felt my self sigh in relief.
The marriage ceremony went on successfully with no drama from either Feli nor Ritah.
As We walked out people ullulating and smilling at us, I kept looking through the clouds .
“Hey my love” Daniels patted my hand as soon as we got in the car.
I turned to face him and he smiled before asking.
“You okay?”
“Yeah sure. Never felt so happy ” I smiled back making sure he could see the joy on my face even though my mind was not at ease.
Yet again I let my mind slip back to Ritah as Daniels kept talking to some relatives through the window.
Ritah was called from the house by her cousin the time I arrived. She walked out with a smile which drastically changed when she realised who the friend her cousin had called her for was me.
“What the hell!” She screamed stepping back like she had seen the devil himself.
“My Jesus! ” she raised her hand above her head as though mentioning Jesus’ name was going to make me disappear.
“Hi Ritah!” I sighed ignoring her dreadful stare. I noticed she swallowed hard before speaking.
“What the hell are you doing here? Who told you am here? Why are you here?” She asked one question after another making me smile for a second noticing how stupid she was sounding.
“This is funny for you huh? Get out! I don’t want to associate myself with …. ” she started and before she could fill in her last word, I raised my hand at her.
“If you know what I am, why the hell are you trying to provoke me?” I snapped making sure I sounded as cold as my heart was feeling with everything going in my life.
“What have I done? I have nothing to say to you so you can leave now. Killing my brother was not enough now you want to feed me to that snake or whatever it is you have?” She shook her head.
“Hm” I breathed out trying to stay calm and avoid the thought of strangling her for her altitude and reminding me of things I wanted to forget.
“If you know what is good for you, don’t come to my wedding. I told Pamela this and am telling you for the first and last time.” I paused making sure she got all my words accurate and clear.
“I have been, no,” i paused,
” I go through hell and the only person that keeps me going is Daniels, I will not let anyone, anyone, take him away from me.” I paused again.
“Hmhm” I shook my head.
“That will unleash the evil in and out of me, so I came to make sure you get me right. Stay away, better still never come near Daniels, his family or even mine.” I spoke calmly looking at her.
“I was invited by Dee’s parents and I will not turn down those good people’s invitation. If you want to know,” she made a face popping her eyes at me.
“Am not scared of you Felicia, you might have fooled every one but not me, I know you in and out and I can assure you, am not any bit shaken nor frightened by you” she shrugged folding her hands.
“Hm. You ought to be” I remarked nodding my head.
“Get out!” She shouted this time making her cousin rush outside to us.
“Get out you witch!” She yelled angrily. I looked at her cousin asking what was going on and back at the yelling Ritah, not wanting her to create any more drama, I shook my head and walked away looking back at them one more time before leaving the yard.
“I know my message use clear” I nodded at her.
Since then, I had hoped with everything I had she never showed up at my wedding and now that I was officially married to Daniels I felt some relief.
“Felicia!” I heard Daniels call my name snapping me from my thoughts.
“Yes love, am okey we can leave now” I responded smiling widely .
“Am glad and so happy you are my wife Felicia, I dreamt of this day since we were in high school” he leaned forward kissing me ignoring the the driver who looked back at us smiling.
“Look ahead brother” Daniels laughed hitting his brother who was driving us in the head.
All went well until we were in the middle of the aftermath crebrations. People where dancing and laughing on the floor as we sat down taking a break after opening the dance floor.
In the corner of my eyes I saw Ritah walking in dressed in a long black dress like she was coming for a funeral. She made sure I saw her before walking over to the table where Daniel’s parents and a few other relatives sat.
.
Immediately I wanted to stand to go and make her leave. But i couldnt get myself yo do it. I thouhgt of what everyone would think of a bride to walk away from the front table to the audience. I crenched my hands below the table feeling all sick again.
“My love” I whsipered patting Daniel’s thigh, I held my head feeling stressed out. It wad like there was no enough air in the hall. I tried to ignore the banging pain in my head but it was impossible as the images around me started looking blurred.
“What is it babe? Are you okey? ” He panicked seeing how pale I suddenly turned.
“No, I don’t feel well. I need some air, I feel like I will black out. Take me outside will you?” I whipered my eyes closed.
“Oh God, is it what you were feeling in the morning again” he held my hand.
“Yes, but how did you know about that?” I managed to ask.
“The matron told me. Come on, let me hold you up” he moved up bending to hold me.
“Can you walk?” He asked immediately he supported me up.
I looked around and noticed people where starting to get attracted to what was going on. I caught Ritah’s face from the audience and she was smilling like an idiot.
“No I don’t think so” I responded sitting back down. Inmediately blacking out.
.

To be continued

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