Jennifer sat Infront of the mirror, with her make-up kit on the table in front of her. Her head was down and her feet were tapping the floor as though it was dancing to the tune of her mind, her fingers repeatedly mimicked the tune by tapping restlessly on the table, while her body vibrated in full expectation of what is to come.
She couldn't believe what was happening to her, it had only been a few months since she graduated from the University of Law, and now she experiencing such a tragedy.
She had spent the last few days of her school life planning her future, and none of her plans included this sick game that life tossed her directly into.
Jennifer loved reading and she loved school. The only thing better than school and books to her were the church and the holy bible which she cherished more than life. But today her whole life was about to change and there was nothing she could do about it. All the books in the world couldn't save her, she was completely alone, covered deep in the pool of worry, so much so, that her faith In the bible faded away like a lit candle placed in the center of a stormy wind.
She began to wish upon the stars and the moon that she escape this dreaded fate that life is rolling her into. But the day of reckoning had arrived and still nothing.
Oh! what a twisted game fate had played on her, the life she trusted betrayed her by giving her a feminine body. Her beauty set her up for failure, and her family only encouraged it by agreeing to society's wishes.
Now, what would become of her school?
Her plans for a better tomorrow appear to have been flushed down the toilet. And now she's been offered a replacement in form of marriage.
Jennifer continued to wander off in her thoughts until she was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Your highness, your groom awaits...."
Jennifer came out slowly and gracefully, as the royal maid picked up the leftovers of Jennifer's gown which was flowing freely behind Jennifer as she walked the path to confront her new destiny.
Jennifer made her way to the king's Obi, a building in the palace which was constructed without walls. Instead, it had metal polls which help to support the weight of the roof. The king love this part of his home because it was the only place in his compound where he could sit and be baptized by fresh air.
The distance between Jennifer and King's Obi which is located close to the entrance to the Royal Palace could now be gauged, so much so that, she could see what was happening from where she was.
And with the eyes of an eagle, she spotted him, the man who ruined her life, Jide. She remembered how he usually came on to her and whispered sweet nothings to her. And she would always turn him down with a deliberately sharp remark she conjured for such occasions. "How could I have let him do this to me?", she pondered.
Her continuous staring at him made the hatred she had for him build upon one another. She slowly approach the King's Obi and could now hear what was being said about her by the king and his council of elders. None of them were of any good to her as they all perched around her beauty and her elegant dress.
She stopped for a brief moment to courtesy before entering the Obi properly. As such are required of women in the land of Obiagu.
She could feel her life force drain as she stepped into Obi, she knew deep within her that she didn't hate Jide. It was quite the opposite, she loved everything about Jide. From his black curly hair to his sparkling blue eyes. His beautifully carved body as though he was a descendant of the ancient gods, his dazzling smile, and his hypnotic voice. Everything about him was perfect, the only wrong thing about him was that he got her pregnant, and thus, he ruined her life.
It has never been heard of before, that a woman bore children out of wedlock... And her father, the king, was not going to let his family be the first of its kind.
As she stepped into the Obi, silence dawned upon the Initially joyful and noisy environment.
She proceeded to sit but was then interrupted by Jide who sprung into action, going down on one knee and sandwiching her right palm in-between his. And with a blaze of emotion, he began...
" Jennifer, I am sorry..."
Almost immediately, the wall of hate Jennifer built around Jide, tore itself down. She began to have a moment of clarity. One that included her pregnancy as a blessing.
After all, it was out of love that she conceived the pregnancy.
Jennifer happily proceeded with the marriage rights and in turn was surprised by Jide with a visa, passport, and ticket.
They would be traveling outside the country where she would complete her master's degree.