THE SURPRISE
When she got tired of her movies, she decided to take a lazy
stroll in the neighbourhood. As she strolled, she thought of her exciting
lover, Dale. She longed for his presence with her that evening, holding her
hand, smiling with her, and making passionate love to and with her at the end
of the stroll… She sighed longingly. Dale. He made her forget her past. She was
a better person when Dale was with her. Dale was like sunshine on a typically
cloudy day. That was the greatest reason for which she could not stay away from
him – he was her opium.
But tonight, she just wanted to enjoy her own company in her
lonely home. A tinge of sadness swept all over her. No, she was not going back
to that part of her life. She was moving on, she told herself with doubt. Was
she really moving on?
As Cathy rounded the last bend and headed toward her house,
she felt a strong sensation. She shivered. The last time she felt that way was
when Zach, her husband, had given her the surprise treat of coconut water and
biscuit. She had been swept off her feet then. They had hugged for an
indefinite period of time. Zach had then carried her all the way home, put her
in a chair in the kitchen and had prepared the most romantic dinner. He had
pampered her that night. Cathy had been blissfully content; nothing could go
wrong in her marriage. But Fate was not in agreement with her for as they were
going to bed, Zach had collapsed. With panic, she had called for the ambulance
and they had rushed Zach to the hospital. Dr. Coleman had taken charge
immediately. He had diagnosed Zach of a brain seizure. If he came out of coma
after a month, he would be fine. If he didn’t, there was nothing they could do.
For the time being, he would be kept at the hospital for monitoring. Tubes had
been put into him. Cathy’s heart bled for her love. She had wept an ocean that
night and the entire month. She had prayed to all the ninety nine gods of her
land to come to her husband’s aid but it seemed the gods had taken a break from
human affairs. When the month elapsed, she begged the hospital to allow her to
take her husband home and watch him there but they would not agree. She was
sent home. She was only informed that her husband’s body had been disposed of.
She went livid: she had not even been allowed to say goodbye!
Recalling with a tinge of guilt as Cathy neared her home,
she struggled to get through the sudden demise of her beloved husband. She took
to hanging out alone at the beach. It was on one of those days that she literally
ran into Dale. He had also gone there to relax. They had spent the rest of the
day together, exchanged contacts and met frequently later. One day, and six
months after Zach’s demise, Dale proposed a steady relationship. Knowing that
her family would not be happy about her new relationship, she proposed a secret
affair. That was accepted by Dale. They had been together for eight months now.
She did not regret. Dale had been with her the whole time. She made sure he did
not find out that she was (or had been) married. They had a great time
together… her thoughts ceased midstream as she realized that the lights in her
house were on. She was sure she turned them all off before she went out. She
checked her time – 8pm. Which burglar stole with the lights on?!
She entered the house with caution. Her fear rose when a
familiar aroma wafted through her nose. No! It couldn’t be! Her mind was
playing fuzzy tricks on her because she had been thinking of him that night.
Then, as in the movies, Zach emerged. He stood there, tall and handsome. She
stood facing him, rooted with shock. Then, as if powered by a bolt of energy,
she ran into his arms. He lifted her in a powerful embrace, and time seemed to
stop. When he put her down, she held his face in her hands and looked closely,
confirming that her mind was not playing mental tricks on her. Her husband was
there in the flesh and she thanked her stars that she chose to stay home that
night. Dear God, what explanation would she have given if she had come home the
next morning? How would she even explain the situation?
She was happy her husband was back alive but she could not
look him in the eye. As they conversed, Cathy realized that she was wearing the
customized rubber band instead of her wedding ring. She tried to hide her hand
from Zach.
Later that night, after Zach had gone to bed, Cathy searched
frantically for her wedding ring – she remembered she kept it in her jewelry
box, but she could not find it there. The ring was not in her side drawer
either. She sat on the side of the bed. Her eyes went to her husband and she
sighed. Here he was, virile and alive. Where had he been, she wondered? Why did
he not contact her at all if he was not dead as the doctors and his family had
made her believe? Worse, how was she going to explain her predicament to both
Dale and Zach? Dale should know, but would Zach understand? Oh lord! Where was
her sapphire wedding ring?!!
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