Sept 2nd 2012.Virgin Island, Rudolf Farms, Scotland.
Chichi watched Caroline help her brush her hair and gently apply powder on her face. Chichi looked quite troubled, she was in an embroidered, white wedding gown. Her wrists rested on her laps and both women looked at the mirror. Caroline was about tying Chichi’s hair into a bun, when she noticed her frown. Her bridesmaid was bothered. She sat beside her,
“Chi girl, what’s the problem? Talk to me.”
Chichi looked into her eyes,
“I had a bad dream yesterday night.” Caroline’s eyes widened. Chichi turned to stare at her knuckles.
“It was a dark cold night,” she started. Caroline held on to her hands, as if she could understand what Chichi really felt. “I could see myself running wildly in a wedding gown, I almost lost balance. My heart raced, my feet ached, when I couldn’t run with the stilettos anymore, I threw them off and continued running.” She sighed. “The farther I ran, the more confused I felt. The darkness was getting thicker, I could barely breath. I felt ‘empty’ and confused, but I kept on running. Then I stopped because I couldn’t go any further ...”she blinked. “I-I started screaming, I kept on screaming Joseph’s name at the top of my voice.” Caroline took a deep breath.
“What happened next?” She voiced softly.
Chichi pursed her lips. “The second dream.” Tears welled up in her eyes. “…This looked worse. In it, I was walking with Joseph and leading him to...” the thought of what Chichi was about to say, made tears roll down her cheeks. Then she tried to wipe it off with a napkin. Caroline held her tighter, trying her best to console her. Chichi blinked, “…to the grave.” Caroline was taken aback by shock. In frustration, Chichi clenched her napkin still in tears.
“I don’t know why I’m just seeing bad luck- I never really-I don’t understand…”
“Ssshh,” Caroline voiced. “…let’s pray. It’s okay.”
The two belles were humbled to prayer, hands in hands they prayed whole heartedly and after wards, Caroline put a hand on Chichi shoulders,
“You are a virtuous woman; don’t let anything wear you down, mmh? Come on, I want the usual Chichi.” Chichi laughed, “I’m always here! I just couldn’t get that off my mind since last night.”
“It’s past now; God has taken care of-”
She was interrupted, as a petite lady walked into the room. The lady’s outfit gave the ‘obvious’ impression that she was the chief bridesmaid of the event. She stood akimbo, wearing an offensive pout, and then she swung her Malaysian hair proudly to her shoulder, looking stern and defiant.
“Oh! Not again.” She pursed her lips and shrugged. “Caroline you are too preachy.” Then she put on a pretentious smile, “No one is a sinner here.” Her phone beeped. She took a glance at her cell phone, and loudly exclaimed, “Oh! My baby boy! Chuks, can’t you even stay a moment without me? Oh!” She turned to both of them, “The church is waiting.”
“Okay.” Chichi said. Bisola, her chief bridesmaid forced a smile and went outside to receive her call. Chichi turned to Caroline,
“Bisola can be such a ‘pain’ at times. Do not give her much attention.” Caroline smiled and Chichi hugged her.
“I wonder where I would have been without a friend like you.”
“Come on, you can always be in Joseph’s arms!” Caroline joked.
They were both outside now. Joseph was standing before on oak tree, looking as handsome as ever. Chichi smiled and walked towards him. He held her hand affectionately,
“Beauty, how’s it going?
“Handsome, it’s all good.”
The husband-to-be who was in a perfectly tailored suit, raised a brow at his bride.
“Dear, are you ready for this?”
Chichi pursed her lips. Then she looked into his eyeballs,
“Yes I am.”
As they walked down the aisle, the congregation clapped joyfully. They were both holding hands now. Joseph sighed and looked at her in an unbeatable masculinity. Chichi leaned closer to him and smiled. The place was filled with much love; it looked more than a wedding. It looked like an unbreakable bond.
Few steps into saying ‘I do,’ some minutes before entering into ‘oneness’, five seconds before the stepping on the altar, they were both anxious-that anxiety borne out of true love. Both love birds couldn’t help but stare at each other. Marriage is really a beautiful thing, but it’s more beautiful, when you marry the right person.