to wed?

It was a ten minute drive from her father’s house to the church where she was about to get married to Kuuku. Enyonam was looking very beautiful. The wedding gown and its accessories were all imported. Her hair and makeup was done by the best in the city. Everyone cheered in excitement as the bride made her way to the limousine assisted by her bosom friend Mary. Enyonam’s parents had spent a fortune on the wedding just to make sure their only child had a memorable day.
As the limousine took off, she turned to look in Mary’s eyes and noticed her disapproving look. Mary did not have to say anything for Enyonam to know what she was thinking.
The two girls had been friends since childhood and spent a great deal of time together. They were inseparable as they opted for and attended the same secondary and tertiary schools. Both families had accepted the girls as sisters. They kept each other in line and valued each others advice.
Mary had been against the relationship with Kuuku the moment she got to know that Enyonam was two years older than him. Enyonam insisted on dating him because he was the first man to approach in three years since her ex broke up with her. With time Mary accepted him because he treated Enyonam very well and showered her with so much love and affection. He never hesitated to spend on her though she was from a very rich family and lacked nothing. Above all Enyonam was happier than ever.
The red flags came up when Mary kept meeting him in town with different women. Enyonam refused to take heed because she was so much in love she couldn’t care about his’ other friends’. Mary was more alarmed when Kuuku started to date a lady in her office. She arranged a meeting with the lady and Enyonam where the lady admitted being in a relationship with Kuuku.
Enyonam was severely beaten when she confronted him only for him to come begging the next day.His sweet talks won Enyonam over again and their relationship continued.

As much as Mary disliked Kuuku she tolerated him for her friend’s sake. Unfortunately, Enyonam got pregnant. Kuuku was elated and insisted they got married. He met her parents who had a funny feeling about him and were reluctant to approve the marriage but knowledge of the pregnancy made them give in. She also never mentioned his age.
The wedding preparations started earnestly with Enyonams parents bearing most of the cost. They were desperate to hide the fact that their daughter was already pregnant.
A week to the wedding, she stopped by his apartment to conclude a few wedding details only to hear the most heartbreaking words just before she could knock. Kuuku was in his room chatting with a lady.

He was professing undying love for the girl saying he got Enyonam pregnant only to have access to her father’s money. He promised the girl that even after marrying Enyonam, he would employ her in the company of Enyonam’s father, since he would be a manager there and they would still be together. He assured the lady inside that he was going to beat her up till she lost the pregnancy. The girl also adviced him never to grant a divorce so that he could access the wealth her parents would leave her.
Mary was furious when Enyonam cried in pain as she narrated what she had heard. The next day, she lost her eight week pregnancy. Mary insisted that she cancelled the wedding but Enyonam was adamant. She feared no other man would love her again and clinging to the love she felt for Kuuku, she decided to get on her knees yo pray for a change in him. Enyonam didn’t tell her parents she lost the pregnancy and prevented Mary from doing so.
Enyonam looked outside and realised they were already at the church. She was minutes away from trapping herself with a cheat and a wife beater who had no respect for her. She saw him a distance away looking so innocent and handsome as he walked into the church. She felt disgusted and nauseous and couldn’t stand his sight. She wasn’t ready to invest her prayers in him, she would rather pray for a God fearing man, no matter how long it would take.
She ordered the driver to take them away from the church. The driver was confused as he had opened his door ready to usher the bride out. Mary was ecstatic as she shouted at the driver to get them away from there. She called her parents to cancel the wedding and went away to heal her broken heart.

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Days later, her parents celebrated the cancellation of the wedding, praising God for the ten minute drive to the church that opened their daughters eyes.