The Encounter
*********************
It was sunset, the sky now the sea of Elegushi as the stars and the moon reflected on the body of the water. Calm and peaceful was the beach, cold and embracing breeze hover around the surface like a wandering spirit. Through the coconut trees and the serene seashore of Elegushi was a soft melodious cry of a lady, she was laying on the sandy shore faced up staring at the magnificent sky which was decorated with stars that twinkled in the silvery night. She was a beauty to behold, a definition of Ebony beauty. Her skin was infused with rich melanin, shining and glittering under the half-moon, her plumpy lips echoed a sweet melodious cry, which almost sounded like a sweet a cappella song, the span of her hip so wide, you can see the blueprint as she lay on the sandy surface. Her name was Jennifer.
"Why Mark? Why?"
She cried in a soft tone, sniffing like a cry baby.
"How can u do this to me? Why must u break my heart to this extent?"
Mark was her boyfriend, or fiancee as she prefers to refer him. They had been in a relationship for quite some time. They met each other in college during their fourth semester. Mark did Business Administration and Management, while she studied Accountancy. They usually met when they have some combined courses. They dated all their remaining days in school, and their mutual friends especially Rachael called them love birds. They dated after school, they kept the energy going, although distance became a threat to their relationship, Mark had to go to Abuja where his family home was, while she went to Lagos.
"Distance is never a barrier"
So she always told her friends. During the National Youth Service Corps
NYSC
, they often visited each other. Even after service Jennifer still kept her love for Mark strong. It was three years after school, the love birds are already working class when Mark wrecked the ship. He doesn't love her anymore, he was going to marry someone else 'next month December'.
He called her while she was at the office to give her the heart disturbing news, she never believed him, she thought he was only playing his usual prank.
"Call me back when you have something to say."
It finally became apparent to her that he was serious after she saw his post on Facebook where he was publicly inviting friends, both old and new to his wedding by December. It was no one else but her best and parrot of a friend, 'Rachael,' who asked her to go online and see what mark posted.
She cried, grabbing and squeezing sand from the shore, gnashing her teeth, giving the look of a venomous viper. Love had just kicked her in the face: Mark had taken his leave, his umbrella, and her heart with him.
"To the extent of posting the invitation of your wedding with another girl on Facebook, even before officially breaking up with me."
She wept to scrub her feet against the sandy shore.
"You hurt me, Mark, you did, and I'll never forgive you."
She said as tributary tears ran down the sandy ground through her eyes down her ears.
As the horizon closes: the breeze increased, wave and current also did. The sea washed the bank, softly climbing towards her feet. The wave echoed, almost like it said a word, the water caressed her legs like to say: 'the water had hands'. The sea now appeared like it began where the cloud drifted, enfolding the hills with thick moisture, the water ran wild dancing like an excited child. The vibration from the waves was like the wild dreams of a prisoner longing for freedom. The wave was so close to her that as they broke, drops of spray ran down her face.
"Go ahead! Wash me down, take me with you, I've got no reason to stay alive."
So she said to the wild running wave. In no time the wild running wave, the current, the breeze, and the splashing all became calm. The current, the pulse, the flow, now so slow, soft and mild, speaking to her emotions, whispering things only love could comprehend.