Still the
present –
We went up
to her hotel suite to get ready.
Me: So,
who’ll be joining us?
Norah: the
girls.
I looked at
her, waiting for names.
Norah:
Dana, Maha, and Sally.
Me:
Alright, I’ll run to my room real quick to get my dress.
Norah: no,
no, stay with me, the make-up lady is here, at least let her do your make-up,
keep me company until the rest of the girls come.
Me:
Alright. So, show me your dress maybe?
Norah:
Yes!!!
She jumped
off her seat, grabbed my hand, and took me to where the dress was.
She stopped
in front of pearl white ball gown, the sleeves were off shoulder, with a
sweetheart neckline. The dress overall wasn’t busy nor was it full of beading
and embellishments. Ball gowns suit her best. The veil on the other hand wasn’t
as simple, it was beaded, and it was long, compensating for the dress’s short
train.
Me: Norah,
its beautiful, its perfect.
Norah:
yeah, it is, isn’t it?
I looked at
her and she started tearing up.
I went to
her and hugged her tight.
Me: no no,
no crying, I don’t think you want puffy eyes and a red nose on your wedding
day.
She
laughed.
Norah: No,
I don’t.
Me: Come
on, let’s go start getting ready, but wash your face first.
We headed
towards the bathroom, where she washed her face.
Norah: it’s
scary you know.
Me: what
is?
Norah:
getting married. I lived with my family my entire life, well, not during uni,
but even then, I never lived with a man before.
Me: but he’s
your husband.
Norah: no,
I know, but still, what if he only showed me his good side and his bad side scares
me? Changes how I feel about him?
Me: Norah,
you love him. Even if he has a bad side, I think you’ll love it too, it’s a
part of him, it makes him, well, him.
Norah sighed,
and looked up at the ceiling.
Norah:
yeah, you’re right, I hope.
Me: you’ll
be okay.
We stayed
quiet for a couple of minutes, each of us lost in thought.
Norah: he’s
coming today.
If we were
in a cartoon, I’d have question marks all over my face.
Norah: you
know who.
It hit me,
I kind of clung onto the hope that I won’t see him today, but here’s to the
crashing sound of all hopes.
Its funny
though, how she refuses to say his name.
Me: Oh,
well, it’s been years, so it’s okay.
I lied. It wasn’t
okay.
The make-up
artist, Serine, walked into where we were and started scolding us.
Serine: We
are running out of time. Come on, we have to start.
I looked at
Norah, and then back at Serine.
Me: come
on, let’s go.
She started
with me.
She went
with shades of light browns and pinks for my eye make-up, but all the colors were
subtle, nothing too loud or vibrant. She lightly contoured my face, showing off
my cheek-bones. She finished my look off with a slightly dark lipstick. My dress
was in black and ivory, so I think I needed some color on my face, or anywhere.
Norah: you
done?
She walked
in, eating chocolate.
Me: Yeah.
I turned
around and looked at her, the rest of the girls were with her too.
Dania:
Gaia, you look gorgeous.
Me: you
think?
They all
nodded, I shrugged it off, and looked at myself in the mirror.
Dana, Maha,
and Sally were Norah’s friends more than they were mine, we were and still are
on good terms though.
Me: alright
then, I’m going to head to my room to get ready. You guys have fun.
I was really
lost in thought, I wanted to get this day over with. I knew I was going to see
him, but I didn’t want to, I really didn’t, but I also kind of did. I was pretty
much stuck in a cross-fire.
I got up,
said my see you later’s, hugged the girls, and then went to my room.
Back to the
past –
A week had
passed, and things with Ibrahim were going well. Homecoming was few days away, and I was
getting excited, I enjoyed school parties.
Ibrahim:
hey, morning.
Me: Hey,
what’s up?
Ibrahim:
not much, by the way, I don’t think you met Dania.
Me: nope.
I extended
my hand to shake Dania’s hand.
Me: Gaia.
Dania:
Dania.
She was
slightly dark skinned, with sharp facial features, dark eyes, and full lips. She
was somewhat tall.
Dania: we’re
heading out to the supermarket, join us?
Me: Yeah
sure.
She drove,
and had a car here. So, we headed out to the parking lot and the 3 of us had a
small chat. She was the youngest of 4, she’s more into music than she is into
political science, but she didn’t know what to major in.
Ibrahim:
Shotgun, and I get to pick the music.
Dania: shut
up.
They
clearly knew each other pretty well.
Ibrahim: I
called it.
He grabbed
her keys, and ran to the car, to get the AUX.
Me: So
which supermarket are we going to?
Dania: it’s
like 10 minutes away, it’s close.
She looked
ahead only to see Ibrahim getting into the driver’s seat.
Dania:
Ibrahim, get out, you won’t drive my car.
She ran to
him and pulled him out of her car, like I said, he’s tiny.
I was
heading to the car, and then I heard someone yell, asking us to wait.
-: Guys,
wait up.
I look back
to see a guy coming towards us.
To the
present –
I got to my
room and laid down on the bed.
I grabbed
my phone and found a text from my mom.
“Don’t
forget to send us pictures”
I sighed,
and put my phone away.
I still had
to do my hair and paint my nails.
I sat in front of the dresser and started doing my hair, I couldn’t
curl it because the curls would fall flat in mere seconds, so I decided to put
it up in a crown braid then pull out a few strands.
It took a good 20 minutes, and then I painted my nails in dark red,
almost maroon, waited for them to dry and then put on my dress.
My dress hugged my body perfectly from the top, and started to
slightly flair out after my mid-thigh, maybe a tad higher; it had layered,
somewhat ruffled sleeves that reached right above my elbows.
I slipped on my 4 inch heels, put on a bracelet, a necklace, earrings,
a watch and a ring.
I stood up, sprayed on some perfume, well, a lot of perfume, took a
deep breath in, grabbed my clutch and headed out.
And just to
my luck, my lovely luck, I open the door, only to see him coming out of the
room across. in a navy, blue suit, a pink shirt, with his hair groomed
perfectly, smelling great, and looking better than ever.
And I’d be
lying if I said a tear didn’t fall, and time didn’t stop, and I kept breathing.
