In a poignant narrative of love, longing, and the tumultuous journey of self-discovery, meet Serwaa a young woman whose pursuit of a brighter future leads her down a path of regret, heartache, and unexpected twists. After turning down a marriage pro...
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Layla handed me my room key with a concerned look. "Hey, are you okay?"
"I'm fine," I replied, mustering a nod as she winked reassuringly.
"You should get some rest, big day tomorrow."
"Sure," I responded, my voice barely above a whisper as I opened the door to my room.
The decision to have Layla and me in separate rooms didn't sit well with me, but there was little I could do about it now. Once inside, I dropped onto the soft, silky bed and buried my face in the pillow, my thoughts racing. Why was I letting Kofi get to me like this?
I lay there for a while, stewing in my own frustration, before dragging myself to the bathroom for a shower. The hot water was soothing, but it did little to wash away the confusion and tension.
Afterwards, I sat in front of the mirror, absentmindedly touching my lips as I replayed Kofi's kiss. His words echoed in my mind: "Don't get too excited; it was just to shut you up." How had he shifted so swiftly from intimacy to indifference?
Restless, I returned to bed but sleep eluded me. Kofi's scent seemed to cling to my skin, and no matter how I scrubbed, his presence lingered. I tossed and turned, tried every sleeping position, but nothing worked. Finally, I reached for my phone and began scrolling through Henry's messages. His words brimmed with frustration, and rightly so. How could I explain my actions when they seemed indefensible even to me?
The room felt unusually warm despite the air conditioner humming quietly in the background. Overheated and overwhelmed, I removed my hair bonnet, released my hair, and stepped outside for some air.
The night was dark and still, save for the distant sound of laughter from two women downstairs.
"Serwaa?" Layla's voice startled me. She approached in her white pajamas, face oddly powdered. "Why are you still awake?" she asked.
I turned to her, relieved to recognize her voice in the dim light. "Just needed some air," I replied, trying to smile. "Why the face powder at this hour?"
She chuckled softly. "Old habit from my hostel days. Freaky, right?"
I nodded, grateful for the momentary distraction from the chaos of my thoughts.
"Just needed some fresh air," I responded, hoping she would buy that and leave me alone.
"I saw him kiss you," she replied, and I felt a wave of shame wash over me. I turned away, not wanting to face her scrutiny. The last thing I needed was for Layla to see me in a certain light, and I definitely didn't feel like explaining myself.
"Listen Serwaa, I know you still love him, but that man is engaged, and so are you. All I want is for this whole issue between you two to have some sort of closure. Don't jeopardize what you have with Henry; he's a good man, and he doesn't deserve this."
