Human Nature A T'Challa Udaku Short Story

Epilogue

I like livin' this way
I like lovin' this way
-"Human Nature" by Michael Jackson

"You look great. You are going to do great love." T'Challa smiles at his wife as she fiddles with her graduation cap off to the side of the stage. They'd been married for around six months and life couldn't be better. Not that they hadn't had their rough moments, but they'd stuck it out. Most importantly they'd stuck together. Naomi had settled into royal life relatively easily. The Wakandan public was welcoming, and most of the drama had come from the United States press. It was nothing a few defamation lawsuits couldn't handle. Soon, everyone knew not to mess with this family. A young family that was soon to welcome a new member.

Today marked Naomi's eighth month of pregnancy. The king smiled as his wife ran her hands down the front of the graduation gown that was pulling slightly to accommodate the extra body inside his wife. They both looked beautiful to him, and Naomi was absolutely glowing. He walked up to pull her hands away from her cap. "You both look beautiful. Both of my girls."

The Clark Atlanta Alumna's grin spread across her face, "How do you know it isn't a boy?"

"I don't, but I keep imagining a little girl who as brilliant, compassionate, eloquent, outspoken, and beautiful as her mother, and you always told me to manifest my dreams by speaking them over and over," T'Challa pressed a kiss to his wife's forehead and she grinned, "So, Mrs. Udaku, I will shout from the mountaintops that there is a little princess on her way, until it comes true."

Naomi's smile faltered, "Will you still love him, if it's a boy? Or will you be disappointed," she looked down as the last sentence fell from her lips. T'Challa's heart broke. "I could never be disappointed in either of you love. Either way, you have both outdone my greatest expectations. You and he, or she, are absolutely breathtakingly perfect." T'Challa reassured.

"Your majesty, we are ready for you to join the other faculty on stage," A member of the staff informed her. "Great, and please, Mrs. Udaku is more than fine." The young woman nodded and waited respectfully, as the husband and wife duo hugged one last time, as much as their little one would allow at least. "I'll be right here waiting," T'Challa waved as Naomi walked up the small ramp, with security guards waiting to assist her if need be. Once she was on stage, the graduates began to process their way out onto the field. The energy and excitement were palpable as T'Challa watched the young students fill their seats. Some crying, others jumping, some holding their phones recording this moment, and others eagerly looking for their family that was seated somewhere in the stadium.

T'Challa's mind wandered to what his wife would've looked like marching into this stadium, was she crying, recording, looking for her family, or was she simply in awe. He would never fully know, but what he did get to see, was his heart swelling with pride as he watched his wife wobble to her feet to join in the celebration with the students. She was clapping, her hands around her mouth screaming her excitement along with them. He knew that the family she had described on this campus was true. She loved her school, and by default, she loved anyone who walked the same halls and grounds as she did. They were all rooting for each other.

Once every graduate had entered, was seated, and introductions had been made, it was time for Naomi to make her way to the podium. On her way there she paused and struggled a little to unzip the gown. One of the guests on the stage ran over to assist her. His queen smiled her thanks and exchanged some words and laughs with the woman before making her way to the podium. "I hope y'all don't mind, I'm getting a little comfortable." laughs filled the audience as Naomi continued, "I'm just so glad to be back home and If you hadn't noticed, I'm just a little bit pregnant." Naomi smiled as she laid her speech out on the podium. More laughter followed as she looked back up, "Just a little bit," she laughed holding up her fingers in a pinch.
"In all seriousness, eight years ago, I sat right in those chairs where you are now. Sometimes in the audience, and finally as a graduate in 2012. And before any of you all try to start doing some math, yes I'm twenty-nine. Yeah, I know how y'all do," the queen teased looking out at the graduates.