Marvelous Tales #11 - Runaway Bride

“Breathe” Lade told her.

Chioma was pacing, she was anxious and Lade was doing all she could to calm her down.

“It’s just wedding jitters, its normal.” Lade continued.

But was it? Chioma felt she was about to make the worst decision of her life, and Lade dismissed her feelings as ‘wedding jitters’. Chioma didn’t feel right, but this was not the time to protest, the man she was to marry was already waiting in the chapel. Maybe Lade was right.

She took in deep breaths as she sat down. Lade handed her a bottle of water.

“You’ll be fine. He is a fine man, and it doesn’t hurt that he’s filthy rich too.” Lade said.

Chioma smiled before drinking from the bottle. She was right, Chike Gregory Nzowuro, son of Engr. Emeka Nzowuro the oil magnet. Their pockets ran very deep indeed, but was that all she needed?

“What’s taking so long” Vivian said bursting into the room. “Daddy is getting inpatient; you know how much today means to him.”

Vivian was Chioma’s younger, less pretty sister. She was always jealous of Chioma’s looks and believed it was the reason she got all the nicer things. She might have been right.

“She’ll be right down, just little pre-wedding jitters.” Lade replied.

“About to become an instant billionaire and you’re here having jitters.” she shook her head. “If you don’t want me I want o, madam drama queen.”

“Thank you ma, you can go now.” Lade said as she shooed Vivian away.

“That your sister is a handful.” Lade said after closing the door.

“Tell me about it.” Chioma replied seeming a little more composed.

"Okay hurry up now, before Chike decides to marry her instead."

---

The ceremony was underway, the bishop had given a long sermon about marriage and standing by God in the midst of today’s many distractions. Chioma’s anxiety had disappeared. She wondered why she was so worried, Chike was a fine man and many wished to be in her position.

Soon it was time to exchange vows, and as the couple stood to walk towards the altar Chioma caught a glimpse of a very familiar red rose lapel. It couldn’t be, he wouldn’t be here she thought. She turned her head quickly to confirm and to her utmost surprise it was Banji. What was he doing here? She had sent him an invitation because it felt wrong not to, but she never expected him to show up. Her heart was racing.

“Do you take Chioma Marianne Kachukwu as your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to….” The bishop began.

He was looking into her eyes but he couldn’t read them, he never could. She was not with him anymore. Her mind was with someone else.

“I do.” came Chike’s vow.

Chioma was looking flustered now. She turned and saw Banji looking at her, his eyes pierced into her soul and made her weak all over again. Why wasn’t he the one up there with her? She had wanted that more than anything in the world, but he was Yoruba, and not rich, her parents did not approve.

“And do you take Chike Gregory Nzowuro as your lawfully wedded husband…… ” the bishop began again.

It was happening too quickly, she was torn. She looked again at Banji, the man who had given her his heart which she broke so suddenly. He was still there, he still wanted her, and she wanted him.

“Chioma?” Chike said bringing her out of her thoughts.

The bishop was waiting on her response. Everyone was looking; she just had to say the words. She looked again in Banji's direction. He was leaving. Why was he leaving? She couldn’t just let him leave.

“Chioma??” Chike called again starting to look worried.

“I’m sorry.” she said as she dropped her bouquet and ran after Banji.

“Get back here.” Her father barked as she ran past his pew. “Chioma!.......Chioma!!”

She wasn’t listening; all her senses were leading her in one direction. Banji received her outside the church, he hugged her dearly.

“I was starting to think you would come.” He said.

“I wasn’t going to leave you twice.” She said as she looked again at the red lapel she had given him shortly after they met.

They rode away towards the horizon on his motorbike. She loved the way the wind ran through her hair whenever she was on his bike.

The joy and relief she felt from holding Banji again were indescribable. She had let him go once. She wasn't going to make the same mistake again.

---

This is my entry for the Marvelous tales contest for this week

Thank you for reading.

If you liked this do drop a comment, I like getting those. Feel free to upvote and resteem as well, that would be rad.

Image courtesy of pixabay.com

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