Flowers of Desolation

Valerie’s POV (Whiskey-fueled ceremony) As I sat at the bar, nursing my drink and trying to drown in my sorrows of being abandoned by my boyfriend of a year and half, the man I gave my pride and dignity to, I had become so comfortable around him, tears streamed down my face as I thought. I gave him the whole of me, but he chose to abandon me for a richer girl. “How could he?” I whispered under my breath. “Because he doesn't deserve you,” a familiar female voice echoed in my head, the sound coming from behind. I turned to see who it was with blurry eyes. I recognize the voice owner to be my best friend. “Diana?!” I called. “How…how did you find me?” I stuttered. “I have told you, Val, no more drinking, you have been drinking and wallowing in tears for the past three days now,” “Do you want to kill yourself?” she asked with so much concern in her tone and pity glaring all over her face. I quietly looked at her. “What am I living for, the only man I ever knew, the one I gave my all to, has chosen to abandon me for a richer girl,” I said in a sobbing tone. Diana took my hand into hers, giving it a gentle, calm squeeze. “In the midst of life storms, drinking is not the only way out, Valerie, you are a beautiful woman, I'm sure a more reasonable man is out there for you,” she said with a soft tone. “Enough of the drinking, let's go home,” Diana has proven to be a very good and supportive friend over the years, since the tragic demise of my parents two years ago, I lost everything including the roof over my head, when the bank officials came claiming the house, because my dad used it as collateral for the loan he took from them, with nothing to show that he did with the money from the loan he collected. I became homeless with nowhere to go. That was when I met Diana. She took me into her apartment and since then she has treated me like her own, she is like a sister I never had. She grabbed my hand, pulling me out of the seat, “Let's go home,” she said, tightening her grip on me to prevent my drunk self from falling to the ground. I tried to loosen my hand from her grip, but it's obvious she was stronger. “Diana, please, let's have a few more drinks. I really feel consoled by the atmosphere in here,” I said in a soft tone, She looked at my pleading face, and smiled softly, “This face, you know, I hardly resist, but don't worry. I will soon create immunity against it, it's obvious you are using it to make me do things I don't want to do, which is more like blackmail, you know?” She has said these same words a million and more times that she will create immunity, but it's obvious she can't. “Before you create the immunity, allow me to enjoy it while it lasts,” I teased. “Whiskey please,” she said, snapping her fingers at the bar man. My purse fell down, and I leaned to pick it up. I couldn't help but notice the commotion at the table across from me. A group of friends were laughing and cheering, and one of them caught my eyes. With his charming smile and piercing blue ey, he was holding court, regaling his friends with stories and boasts. His lips looked succulent as he spoke, my gaze glued to his lips and my mouth became watery, my ever alive hormones came racing out of my glands, every fiber in me was shivering at his sight. “Val, Val,” Diana called. I startled, “Hey Diana, don't worry, drink as much as you can, bills on me,” I said, with my gaze and undiluted attention still fixed on the man. “Are you okay?” She traced my gaze to the table. Holy goodness! Diana exclaimed. “I am pregnant,” she whispered into my ears. I chuckled, knowing that she didn't mean that she was literally pregnant, it was just an expression she was using to appreciate the beautiful and luxurious creature her eyes were beholding. That table screams luxury, from their outfits and jewelry down to the bottles that were sitting innocently on the table. We both watched how mesmerized they all were as they chatted. They didn't look like they had any problems because their laughter danced all over the room and chatted sneaked. I wished that I could hear whatever it is that they were saying, the few words that sneaked their way into my ears i couldn't connect to get the message. Whatever it was that he was telling them must really be an interesting one, they all seemed to be drowned in it. He stood up, and suddenly my breath seized at the sight of his well-built body, gotten from a good gyming time. And for the first time in the past three days, I forgot that I was mourning my year-and-half-old-just lost relationship. Hope came rushing inside of me, after I had lost all hope. Suddenly, my hope rekindled stronger than it ever had been. His friends cheered him up, daring him to prove it. And then, his eyes locked onto mine, and he strode over to me with a confident swagger. My eyes were still fixed on him, I froze and time seemed to stop ticking as he approached us, his heartwarming scent lingered in the air. OMG! I breathe deeply. "Hey there, beautiful," he said, his voice low and smooth. "Want to get married?" My eyes opened wide into his sparkling blue eyes. I cannot believe that dreams could easily come true in such a spot. My mouth opens in awe alongside every other organ in me. Shivers came gushing down my spine. I laughed, thinking he was joking. But he just smiled and produced a sheaf of papers from his pocket. "My friend here is a barrister, and he's drawn up the necessary documents. What do you say, Valerie? Want to take a chance on me?" I swallowed hard, trying to push down the lump that was hanging in my throat. For a moment I wondered how he got to know my name and why would someone in his right senses want to marry a girl he had just met at the bar. I was taken aback, but there was something about him that drew me in. Maybe it was the alcohol, maybe it was the thrill of the moment, but I felt a spark of attraction that I couldn't ignore. “Yes, yes, yes, I will marry you,” I said with excitement flowing from my inside. I couldn't hide my feeling of achievement and excitement. “Yes?!” he asked for assurance. “Were you expecting a no?” I whispered under my breath, giving him a sly grin. No woman would miss a chance with him. “Yes, I will marry you,” I said in an excited voice. “What?! Val, you can't do this, it's inappropriate for you to marry a stranger you just met. Let me remind you that you don't even know him,” Diana's voice echoed in my head. “You cannot make such a lifetime decision while drunk.” “He is no stranger, friend, my heart beats for him,” I said with my gaze still fixed on him. “Val, can you hear yourself?” Diana whispered into my ears. “Very loud and clear,” I answered, displaying a sly smile on my face. “Hey Mr, she's drunk and I'm sure you wouldn't want to take advantage of her current vulnerable state to trap her for life,” Diana's voice echoed in my head as she spoke to the stranger who wants to marry me. “Because this paperwork in your hand looks legal,” She added. “Diana stop,” I yelled. And immediately I rekindled the smile on my face and stared at him with a mixture of affection, lust and fear welling up in my eyes. His eyes were dazzling with confidence. He handed me the papers. And so, with a reckless abandon that I'd never felt before, I signed the document. It was crazy, impulsive, and maybe even a little stupid. But at that moment, I didn't care. I just wanted to feel alive, and the structure my eyes were beholding at the moment was making me feel that way. As we exchanged our vows in a hasty, whiskey-fueled ceremony, I felt a rush of excitement and trepidation. What have I just done? And what did the future hold for me and this stranger, my new husband?