Chapter 10

I deleted Faith's number from my phone, I didnt need a soothsayer to tell me she and her friend's were just out of my league and their presence will only add salt to my injuries.

I thought about the mistakes I had made in the past.

Am I being punished for everything, I said with a shrug as I prepared for work the following day.

On my way to work, I had sat on a taxi with a girl.

As she laughed to something on her phone, I could see her up and down gap tooth.

She looked up and our eyes met.

'Good morning' she said with a smile.

'Good morning' I said looking away.

On reaching Emerald Hotel that morning, and as I alighted from the taxi, The girl came down too.

'You work here'? She asked.

'Yes' I replied walking towards the gate.

'Oh, My Dad is Mr Daniel' She said, walking after me.

Mr Daniel is the Manager Director of the hotel. I had never met any of his family member.

'Wow' what brings you here today? I asked as I stopped to look at her.

'My name is Mercy' was her response.

Mercy had come to check on the event Hall, her wedding was in few months and she had come to make preparations.

She would come to me to ask questions, make complaints and seek my opinions.

She acted like we had known ourselves before now.

This made the other staffs jealous and I loved it.

But somehow, maybe out of the jealousy words had gotten to Mercy that I was embarassed few days ago for sleeping with someone's man.

'I dont know why they gossiped that to me, but you should becareful' she said.

Even though I was ashamed, I stayed calm as I saw she wasnt bothered about it.

For 2 weeks. Mercy continously came to Emerald, preparing and decorating the event hall for her wedding.

We talked alot and had become friends.

One day she came over to my place.

'It's shocking to know you are single' 'You are such a beautiful and amazing woman' she said as she devoured the indomie I had served her.

'It is a long story' I said.

'Please tell me' she pleaded.

I narrated my whole experience to her, From Frank to Femi to Emma, then Jide and Rico.

'You are just a product of the wrong choices you made, you broke the heart of the ones that loved you and became a prey to the ones who didnt'

'You should have explained things to Frank, You should never had cheated on Femi, Having a one night stand and giving a man an easy access to your body will only make him see you as a cheap and easy to get kind of girl'

'Jumping into a relationship with Jide just because you guys were close was wrong too, you can be close friends with a guy without having to date him, you didnt allow yourself to heal from your trauma's'

'That Rico, He may have enjoyed your company but he hasnt healed from his girlfriend' you should have confirmed that before agreeing to date him in just a month'

'You have become so desperate and you see every relationship with a guy has 'bonding' and worth dating.

Mercy said.

Tears dropped from my eyes as I listened to her.

'What do I do now?' I cried bitterly.

'Pray and Heal' 'Forgive yourself for the decisions you made when you didnt know better and stop being desperate' she said as she got stood up to hug me.

'We have all made mistakes, Nobody has lived perfectly, Give yourself a second chance to live better' 'There is no deadline for marriage, you can meet the right person for you at any time' 'Do not let the pressure from society and your family make you feel sad or desperate, God's time is the absolute best' ' I am getting married at 33' she added.

If Mercy is getting married at 33 and my step mother married my father at 40. There is still hope for me. I encouraged myself.

From that day, I stopped regretting, worrying or letting the pressure to bother me. I prayed more, got hobbies and became better.

Even the times I saw Rico, I would smile and greet him.

Mercy too helped with powerful messages on living better and self worth.

I began to read my bible and prayed to God often, I started attending church service with no desperation of being approached by a man and it felt so good.

I was no longer feeling desperate or lonely.

Life became more beautiful and worth living.

One day, I dialed Frank's number and when he picked I apologized to him for all that happened.

'It is all in the past' He said.

I asked about his mother and sisters and he also told me to not miss his wedding that he never got to see my face.

I didnt had Femi or Emma's number, I didnt bother trying to get it, I just hoped they had forgiven me too.

On Mercy's wedding day.

I was her chief bride's maid, It was such an honour for me.

I couldnt stop thanking God for crossing path with her.

'I think the best man likes you' she whispered to me, I will put in good words for you, be nice and friendly but play hard to get too' she smiled.

I smiled too.

Mercy has become my best friend and advicer and had made a great impact in my life. she is such a sweet 33years old.

Truly, the best man, who was Martins acted really nice to me.

After the whole wedding, he came and asked for my number.

'I dont give my number to strangers' I smiled walking out of his presence.

But when I got home that evening, I got a message from a strange number and It was Martins.

'I had to go extra mile to get your number' 'You have been on my mind' was his messages.

'Oh thanks' I replied.

Martins was a handsome tall guy, I admired him too and I had butterflies in my stomach the moment I saw his messages.

We conversed really well and went on dates. which was really new to me. The old me would have just jumped into a relationship with him.

With Mercy guiding me on every step with Martins.

Things got really sweet by July.

And on Martins birthday in August he asked me to be his girlfriend.

Martins is every woman's dream, He worked as a senior doctor in a public hospital.

'Yes' was my response to his proposal but this time, It was a Yes to being a better girlfriend, Yes to being a faithful and committed girlfriend, Yes to being an honest girlfriend.

I attended Frank's wedding with Mercy.

As I stared at Frank and his bride, I hoped in my heart to have something as beautiful with Martin's.

And the moment Frank recognized me from the crowd, he smiled and I smiled back.

5 months into my relationship with Martin's, It was already January 2025.

My brothers wives had given birth.

Mercy too was heavy with pregnancy.

Rico had packed out from the compound.

My 1 year working at Emerald.

I had just ended a call with Martins when another call came in.

As I picked, the caller said my name.

I recognized the voice.

It was Femi.