The Longest Period Of Longing.

When it's sweet it's bleak

"Thank you love”, Uche was saying over the phone to her fiancé. She was finally getting married, Roseline thought. Uche the stubborn, strong-willed woman is finally tying the knots to a MAN! It was laughable. But she dared not laugh knowing Uche would stretch the matter.

“ Uche, that dress is yours!” Roseline said, tired as hell of helping to pick wedding dresses. Uche was being indecisive and discontent, it was getting out of hand. They’ve been to five different wedding garment factories and have tried all the dresses, like practically all the dresses available, except the plus sizes. If not Uche would’ve tried them on. In fact she saw one she liked and tried it on, it was a beautiful plus sized dress and she held onto the back fabric and asked the fuming designer if the dress can be cut and mended to fit her shape. They later left the store because Uche complained that the designer was being nasty to her. Now here they are in another store trying more wedding dresses to a smiling manager that might soon get upset at Uche’s clumsiness. Roseline sighed heavily as stood up to help Uche zip up the wedding dress before she rips it and causes another fight here for the both of them. The thought of it made her chuckle.

“What?” , Uche stared at her new best friend Roseline from the window while checking out an imaginary loose fitting on the hip side.

“ This one is okay Uche” Roseline slowly advised.

“ You just want to go home”

Roseline smiled knowing why the statement was made

“Not that” she said

“ I believe you”, “hey your bestie is getting married officially next month and I don’t yet have a dress, Roseline, I don’t have a dress!” Uche looked at the mirror again, this time in anger as she looked at the dress desperately trying to find a fault.

“ Godwin is godsent” Roseline said. “ it’s a wonder how God can send you someone that fits you perfectly” she said as she stared admiringly at Uche in the dress.

“You think?”

“ I know” , “ he’s very gentle with you, the way he talks to you, he’s like a man that has seen a lot in life and has chosen to be gentle” said Roseline

“ You two complement each other, you fire for fire him…

“ water for water” they both said and laughed.

The manager stepped in started making small talks and adjustments about the dress.

Roseline took this time to watch them, she watched as Uche turned to whichever direction the manager asked her and nodding where she wants an adjustment.

Roseline remembered how she met Uche. She started talking to Uche at their church women’s group meeting. But before then she had always seen her around, at the estate, at the mall and mostly in the church on Sundays. Uche has this presence about her, she is that kind of woman other women hated at first sight, not just because she’s pretty but because she’s very beautiful in a way that makes other women subconsciously look for a glass or anything to check how they look. Not the beauty queenly beautiful, but the smug w***e kind of beautiful and she dresses and makes up like she knows it too. So women generally kept to themselves around her. Her shape varies depending on her dieting or exercise regimen, but she has a slender and moderate curve with an unnecessary fat at the buttocks. While she often complains of not having enough at her front she ignores the weight she carries on her behind. Most times she smiles or speaks broken English to lighten people, as the locals around find her too intimidating when she speaks in fluent English. It was always tiring for her. That day she came late to the meeting and asked me about the discussions, as the meeting continued I quietly began to see her as a very down to earth woman, and we started chatting. She later told me she never liked me before she knew me because I seemed too friendly, that women who seem easy to help or please others are dangerous as friends. She said that and I laughed. I wouldn’t say we are best friends, because Uche has a terrible trust issue. Matter of fact she doesn’t trust. You walk on a trust eggshells when you walk with her. You’re in a probation. But she has a genuinely kind heart and has a very soft way with children. Children loves her and gravitates towards her always. She was real always. Never gossiped bad about anyone, but I would still say that after two plus years, with the drama, bonding and chaos, Uche wouldn’t trust me fully. Never will.

But this is her wedding and I’m here to support because she has proven time and again to be there for me, and only me, because she chooses who to be nice and icy to. She was not an easy person.

Roseline remembered Godwin again. He was really a prayer answered for her, any other man wouldn’t even make it past one week. She needed to be loved and loved slowly.

She’s one of those people that’s scared of living normal life.

“ I’ll take this” Uche clapped in joy

“ I told you it’s yours”.

Roseline checked for the time and reached out to Uche’s phone, it was unlocked. She clicked the screen and the picture of a man, and his face was proportionately zoomed on it. Under the pics was a name, Oslo Nwachukwu.