Till Death Do Us Part- Episode 8

8

Jeff always knew what he wanted and went for it with his whole heart. That is just the kind of person he is. He did things even when he felt scared that they could backfire or should I say despite the fact that they could backfire and for me, that was the second thing that made me fall in love with him. The first was his pretty smile... 

The day he asked me out was quite an uneventful day. The skies were not any bluer, and neither were the grasses any greener. In fact, it seemed like a pretty normal day but then, the whole situation with Stan happened. 

Stan has continued to call with different numbers since then and as expected, whenever I realize that it is him, I hang up because... what nonsense?! It almost feels like he has a radar he uses to detect when I am happy so he can tell exactly when to rear up his head and ensure I remain in perpetual misery.

Well, I won't even let that bug me because, in a few minutes, I'm having dinner with Babe😍.

***

When we got done with dinner, Jeff held my hands, but I didn't think that was anything because he seems to have a thing for my hands and sometimes unconsciously searches for them when he drives, But then he started;

Look into my eyes, Jess. Ever the playful one, I respond with a snide comment. 

Why so serious abeg? He smirked but his eyes didn't lose their seriousness. 

Jess, having you as my girlfriend, friend, and partner these past months has been interesting. I bless the day that I laid my eyes on you. You are definitely the answer to my prayers. And today, I want you to know that you'll always be mine and I will be yours,  now, tomorrow, and for always. I'm in for the long haul. I'm not taking breaks, I'm not giving you space and I am definitely not changing my mind. 

Before you freak out, this isn't a proposal. I'm giving you a promise ring as a sign of my pledge to you.  It is a promise to keep being your friend, to keep being intentional about us, and finally, it is a promise to always be your safe place. You may not know this Jess but, thinking of you keeps me awake; dreaming of you keeps me asleep, and being with you keeps me alive. 

***

I decided not to drive today so that Babe would drop me home. I'm still reeling from the idea of a promise ring and the entire concept really. Truth be told, I had always loved promise items, rings, bracelets, necklaces, etc. I just never pegged Jeff as one with such "mushiness". But you know, never say never!

Pulling into my street, I hear Jeff call me:

Babe. He says. 

Yassss Bebe! I say in my usual playful tone. 

I'm just going to go straight into it and say what I have been thinking. I think you should give Stan a chance to speak to you. Before you argue, hear me out. 

You have always wanted to know the reason behind the actions he took, plus I believe that listening to him will give you the chance to close that chapter once and for all. Now, I know that this isn't what you want to hear but I also know that it is the truth and overall, it would be to your own benefit. 

Babe, I have seen you grow through various situations you thought would bring you down. I have watched your love, devotion, and intimacy for Abba grow, but babe, if you do not forgive, doesn't all that mean balderdash? 

Think about it, my love. I would be here through whatever decision you take. He stops and I continue to stare at him.

I wanted to cuss out, I wanted to scream and I wanted to feel betrayed that he could even tell me to "forgive" Stan! But a little part of my mind saw the truth in all that he had said and tbh, it was very exhausting to stay angry at a person. I would rather have it done with and move on to the next level. 

***

Having decided to get it all over with, Jeff dropped me off at Mambaah Cafe - a very public place and promised to be at the parking lot waiting for me. Being an early bird, I see that Stan hasn't arrived and I am left alone for a few minutes with my thoughts and I run through all the activities, events, and moments that have molded and led me to this place that I am. 

Being with Jeff has changed me. It has changed me for the better and I feel so much lighter than I have in a while. My shaky relationship with Jesus has been put on the right track, my mind doesn't feel clouded anymore, and overall, I am happier. 

Hi. A voice said and interrupted my thoughts. I looked up to see that Stan had arrived and he was standing. I don't bother to stand up, I only gesture for him to seat and I say;

Hello Stan. 

Thank you for agreeing to see me. I know that it wasn't easy and I do not deserve your time. I--  I interrupt him. 

Just get to the point, Stan. You asked for my time, you have it now. Use it wisely as time is already passing by. I say. I know it is rude but, come on!

***

I briefed babe on all that had transpired on our way home. Now in the solitude of my bedroom, with the rain pelting against my window, I replay all that Stan had said and I cannot help but feel pity for him. Yes, I had always wanted revenge, but it seemed like life had dealt him a very hard hand since the last time we met. Like I always say, we don't necessarily have bad people, just people who do bad things.  

Stan explained how sorry he was and that I didn't deserve all that happened bla  bla bla. I told him that no one deserves it. 

Apparently, the year I got the Arbitration court ruling, he got caught by a senior executive in the company he was in, he got arrested, lost everything he had managed to gather and was deported. He also explained the reason he got into the entire "scam" in the first place. 

Apparently, he had challenges in Nigeria and while that isn't an excuse, It was why he was doing all he could to get money- legally or illegally. His dad had died a few years before he came to the States and left his mom in trillions of debt, debtors wanted to kick them to the streets, have his mom locked up, and take his brothers who were still in uni to Cotonou to work. All that was going to kill his mom who had a health issue and needed constant care so he brokered an agreement to pay 1 million US dollars per annum- at a frequency as determined by him. That was ₦420,640,042.00 yearly! How was he to get that being a regular staff? He fell in with the wrong crowd who first planted this idea in his head, and being a smart individual, he fine-tuned it and got to work. After he lost everything and got incarcerated, his brothers tried and made some payments and presently,  he has paid more than half of the said money and has been able to get the debtors off their backs, at least in the meantime.

He has started all over again, he isn't where he hopes to be but God has been helping him. He rededicated his life to christ, met an amazing young lady, and has a start-up business. He was also in therapy and had been advised by his therapist to face all those he wronged. Apparently, I was the last on the list and he felt like he needed to get to me before he could fully enter the next chapter of his life.

I forgave him, told him that while I am happy he is okay and that life is beginning to look up for him, I hope we never have to see each other again and I ended by wishing him the best before I got up and walked to the parking lot to meet Jeff. it definitely felt like I had dropped a huge piece of luggage off my chest and I was moving forward with no baggage.

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Hey guys,

It's another Thursday so... here goes!😌😇

Some people will come for me sha 😅 

Love Always, 

Princess 💕