KEPT

PROLOGUE

"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

The crowd erupts in ululations, whistling and the loudest clapping of hands as my husband and I seal our forever union with a kiss.

Right...

This isn't how love stories begin, right? This part right here happens at the very end, or towards the end at least.

In all normalcy, boy meets girl, he proclaims his undying love for her, she maybe gives him the run around and he chases just as fast until he catches her and she gives in. They face a couple of, if not a lot of hurdles along the path that they have chosen, there may be a break up or two and a couple of tears shed too until they get to the alter and they look back and think of how far they have come and how much it was all worth it.

... but that isn't the case for my husband and I.

My husband...

A man I have only known for twenty-eight days, gone on two dates with, just had our first kiss in front of our families and the Reverend that was smooth talked into officiating our marriage by my parents because neither my husband nor myself have set foot in a church in many, many years. We only met him four days ago when he conducted a couples counselling to make sure we were ready to be joined together as one. We must have been convincing enough if he went through with being our officiator.

We hardly know each other, but we have achieved quite a few things, my husband and I. In the past twenty-eight days, we managed to get a house we could call a home, we fully furnished it and we have adjusted our lives to fit this new life that we have both just signed up for. I'm not blind to the fact that all of this was possible because he is filthy rich and knows people.

When we turn to face the crowd, I see my parents seated on the first row alongside my big sister, her husband and their eldest son. On the opposite side I see my new family, my in-laws. My mother in-law has an elated look on her face and it truly does warm my heart, even though I have known her for lesser days compared to my husband, she has been more than welcoming to me. My father in-law proudly looks at my husband, his first son. He really has made him proud. Next to him sits my brother in-law who also serves as the best man and my sister in-law whom I have nothing to say about.

The rest of the church is filled with relatives and church members who came out to support my parents and everyone rises as my husband and I make our way out of the church.

I feel exhausted because this wedding started three days ago and I have not gotten any rest since Thursday.

He gets the door for me and he gets in after me as our driver takes us to where our reception is being held, the same place where we will be taking pictures before joining everyone else.

"It's done," he says looking at me and I nod at his words.

I find myself wondering what a normal couple would be doing right now. Just after saying their 'I do's' and on the way to celebrating their union. Would they be making out right now? Gossiping about the attendees maybe or simply cuddling and basking in their hot flamed love.

I guess I will never know.

This day was one of the requests I made when we were sorting the agreement. I had always dreamed of a day like this, one where I would dress up in my beautiful Tsonga traditional and bridal themed dress. I love how they now make them using traditional cloths rather than having them in plain white. I wanted to experience this, the rush of planning, the joy of seeing it all come together, everything. I may never get to experience what it feels like to be married to someone I consider to be my best friend but I will always remember this day and hold it dear to my heart.

It will always be, my wedding day.

"It is, " I smile looking out the window "When do you think the awkwardness will wash off?"

"That depends on us, after everyone has left and we enter our new home. It will all be up to us to make our marriage work,"

"And you are still sure about this?" I ask him, needing some reassurance.

"Just as I was when I asked you to marry me," he says confidently. This would be so romantic if it were coming from someone who used to be a boyfriend, a lover or even a male bestie at this point but even though he has been none of those things, I still find comfort in his words.

We arrive at the venue, pose for so many pictures, sit through the speeches and eat while accepting well wishes from our guests. The party starts and the master of ceremony makes sure that everyone has the time of their lives accompanied by lots of laughter. This is exactly how I imagined my big day would be and he has given that to me, he has delivered it, exactly how I asked for it.

Sitting here and looking at everyone, I find myself thinking about everything that has happened in the past twenty-eight days. How I woke up one morning to attend an  acquaintance's wedding with just the thought of celebrating her big day with her. I never planned on meeting someone, I never even counted on it either because that wasn't what I went there for but just as fate would have it, or whatever it is forced us to look in each others direction and now we are here.

We are sitting in the midst of our wedding reception, all dressed up, wedding bands weighing heavy on our fingers and a bunch of mixed feelings that we have to work through. If anyone would have told me a month ago that I would be here I would have laughed at their face in full savage mode. I could have never seen this coming, not with the bad luck I've had when it comes to love, I could have never ever seen this coming. And now here we are, here I am...

A married woman.