Breaking Free

APRIL .

Climbing down the stairs , her eyes met with  persons smiling warmly at her and so she smiled back. She approached her mom who held her by the hand , bringing her to sit beside her at the table.

"What's going on Mom?" 

She asked with a smile.

"Oh nothing.. have you seen Dave? He's been looking for you. He has an announcement" 

Mrs Smith replied, smiling so uncontrollably.

"An announcement? Ok… where is he?"

April asked .

Just then she heard the sound of a fork drumming on a glass in a bid to have all the attention and soon everyone had their heads turning towards the direction to see who it was, and there she saw him, Dave.

"Good evening gentlemen and beautiful ladies.. as you all know, I am Dave Macoy.. glad to be here in the midst of you wonderful people and also in the presence of my most beloved April Smith." 

He spoke, fixing his eyes on her.

..."We are all gathered here today to celebrate her decision to grace us with her lovely presence after a long while, so from me and everyone seated here today , we say welcome home.."

He added raising up his glass . Every other person chorused ;

"Welcome home"  as they lifted up their glasses in one accord flashing smiles at April which made her shy.

.."However…"   He continued.

.."Of everyone here today I can say I'm the happiest ..."  

The guests hummed jestingly.

.." Yes yes.. I am indeed. It's normal for couples to fight, to wanno snap each other's necks at some point, it's normal for one to get tired of the thorns along the path to happily ever afters, but even life doesn't give us all roses… " 

He went on as he slowly paced towards April's table.

..."I know I haven't been the most perfect man you wished for. But I cannot live my life without you in it, living makes no sense without you, I don't know if I am saying the right words right now because I have never been good with them, but this i know…"

He said ,descending on one knee before her  as he locked his eyes in hers . The female guests blushed and giggled from their seats, the men smiled as did Mr Macoy and his wife. Mr and Mrs Smith held onto each other's hands on the table delighted by the scenario .

.."I want to spend the rest of my life with you by my side  , every second, every minute, every hour, always and forever , I proposed before now, and I wasn't ready, but now I am, so ready… "

He said bringing out a ring case from his pocket and as he opened it up before her , she could see It was a beautiful ring made of pure silver . 

..." April Smith, Will you marry me?.."

He finally asked. 

SILENCE..

Everyone was expectant . She looked at her parents , saw how joyful they would be if she gave the response they both would want. Her mom and Dad smiled, shaking  their heads in agreement. Her mom was already almost tearful. She looked across the room and saw Ava in a black dress. She folded her hands chewing on a gum . Then she thought of Stace, and she smiled.

"No"

She voiced.

The guests murmured. 

"No?"  Dave asked

"Yes. No.."  she affirmed.

"What are you doing?!" 

Mrs Smith spoke upset With her teeth closed in April's ears.

"I can't marry you. I don't love you Dave" 

She said to him.

Mr Macoy sprung up on his feet in anger approaching Dave. The guests seemed to be up too to get a clearer picture of what was going on.

"Up at once !  " Mr Macoy ordered Dave  pulling him up by the arm.

…"How disgraceful " 

He added looking disappointed at the Smiths, he turned to walk out followed by his wife. Dave remained,  lost as he stood staring at her.

The Smiths tried to calm the guests but they all stood up to leave . Mrs Smith held April by the arm dragging her up the stairs to her own room.

______

"What has come over you? What sort of embarrassment have you brought upon us?!"

Mrs Smith yelled.

"Let go of me !" 

April yelled back, retrieving her hand from her mom's grasp.

"You are a disgrace, should be ashamed of yourself!" 

Mrs Smith barked in her face.

"No mom. You should be ashamed of yourself for wanting to sell your daughter off into a family just to maintain the Smith's Status !" 

She yelled back. 

Mrs Smith landed a hard slap on her left cheek which made her lose balance and fall to the floor. 

"How dare you?! " 

She asked furiously.

…"If not for the decisions I made a long time ago, you wouldn't be anything worth what you're worth today being a Smith, you and your sister aren't so different after all. You both are just so foolish. You disappoint me the most . You just threw away an opportunity to be a Smith and a Macoy , you threw all that power away and have divided both families all because you choose to act like a sixteen year old girl , putting fantasies over reasoning !" 

"You are wrong" 

April spoke from the floor. 

…" I put my happiness over money and power , something you should have done a long time ago , then maybe you wouldn't be stuck in a marriage to a man who is impotent !"

She added getting back up on her feet. She saw shock written all over  her mom's face .

"Yes. . You think you were being smart? You thought it would forever be a secret? I read the letters , I followed you ,  You allow yourself shamelessly be f*cked by a pretty boy just because you chose to make the wrong decision! You keep making the wrong decisions! Because you are so power crazy! " 

She continued.

"Shut your mouth! "

Mrs Smith warned.

"Don't mess with me Mom, I am not Ava. If you try to come in between Stace and I , then with one truth, I will make you lose everything "

She threatened. She saw her mom tremble .

" You disgust me , you lost yourself a long time ago and refused to be found ! And now you consciously want to make me live with the same consequences having made a similar decision , all for power? I am nothing like you!  If dad could see you right now, I bet even he would have wished he never met you , you don't deserve to be a mother" 

She said with her eyes buried furiously in her mom's.  Mrs Smith's eyes blinked uncontrollably.

"No mother would be anything like you" .

April added and stormed out heading back to her room.

____

Next day, evening.

____

Approaching his apartment, she pressed on the doorbell . She noticed there was no response. It was a cold evening, she reached for her phone from inside her bag and dialed Stace's number .

"Hey love.. thank goodness you finally called"

Stace spoke over the phone.

"Don't you dare give me that. You just went ghost mode on me , I told you to wait for me but no ,you left without a word" 

April retorted.

"I wrote you a letter and dropped a phone for you to reach me. I called you to explain but you were too angry to take the calls , I thought it best to give you some time" 

He said.

"How thoughtful" 

She spoke sarcastically.

..."Bring your ass down here and come open up the door, or the doorbell ain't ringing in your ears?"

She added.

"Door bell? Where are you?" 

He asked keenly.

"Am at your house durr-hurr , come open up , it's freezing out here. "

She replied to him.

Just then she noticed the door open up from the inside and she met with a lady who maintained a straight face.

"Oh , hi.. I'm April "

She said with a smile  ending the call and placing the phone back in her bag.

"Hi "

The lady replied.

…" I am Freya , Stace's aunt ". 

She added eloquently . She had her eyes fixed on April .

"Okayy… it's nice to meet you, Stace told me alot about you, he is in I guess" 

April said.

"Oh did he? Isn't that lovely? Well sorry hun, he isn't home yet, he should be any moment now though" 

Freya replied, faking a smile.

"Oh okay  May I come in to wait for him then?  It's rather cold " 

April asked, tucking her head in her shoulder .

"Oh of course you may, come on in, I'll start the fire"

She replied, opening the door wide enough for her to go in. 

"Thank you" .

She said rushing into the apartment .  Freya stared at her , showing her the way to the living room. 

"Have your seat"

She instructed.

..."I would be right back. Would you like some tea?" 

She asked her with a smile.

"Oh yes please, I would really love that" 

April replied with a smile. 

"Alright love, I won't be long" .

Freya said to her as she walked away into the kitchen. 

"Such a lovely  lady" 

April voiced in her head as she relaxed her back on the sofa taking in deep breaths. she felt at home. she felt comfortable. it was warm inside. she soon began taking off her gloves.