The Void Between Hearts ~~ongoing~~

45. THE AFTER PARTY

Tee takes Mina's hand and leads her to the dance floor as the violinist begins strumming a low string of 'Calum Scott's, You are the reason.'

'There goes my heart beating,
Cause you are the reason.
I'm losing my sleep
Please come back now.
There goes my mind racing
And you are the reason
That I'm still breathing,
I'm hopeless now.
I'll climb every mountain
Swim every ocean...'

Silver chandeliers dangle from the ceiling at varying heights, casting dim hues of rich gold, twinkling dreams and sparkling memories.

The reserved seats and tables covered with luxurious silver sequins are all filled with excited guests, some of whom cannot get their minds off the couple's hilarious march-in-dance.

For some others, it is the lip smacking aroma of continental and intercontinental dishes, from hot firewood cooked Jollof rice, to sizeable wraps of hand pounded yams, to various traditional soups, the kalabari native onunu and fresh fish stew, to delectable french and Italian desserts.

Inarguably, every person present, including the couple is swooned to awe by the towering wedding cake. Eight revolving tiers of rich white goodness. Expertly decorated with ribbons of regal style, and rhinestones of edible silver, all glistening under the dim light of the chandeliers.

Boma had the desired chore of picking flavours, and she had chosen a mixture of sweet vanilla bean, with chocolate butter cream, not forgetting to request a favour from the baker, asking her to make the last tier to be of soft red velvet with cream cheese frosting.

Boma looks on, stargazingly, as her mother dances with her husband. It feels like forever since she wished for this; still, it seems almost unbelieveable that they are finally here, together, newly married not to mention them having exchanged the most beautiful vows.

At this point, she's a bit frozen in time, but still of lucid thoughts. Wasn't it only like yesterday, her mother introduced her to the handsome man who lived in America?

Now, today, watching them dance, watching him hold her, watching how she lets go of everything, how she smiles like she's never ever cried, how she flows in his arms, it is only the slow stream of tears on Boma's smiley face that can tell how much of a treasure this moment is.

Nobody knows that a few minutes before they danced into the hall, Boma excused herself to the bathroom where she was allowed to feel everything. All the happiness, but mostly the fear of being away from her mother.

She reckoned that they hadn't discussed their honeymoon plans with her, because they didn't know how to. So in the silence of the bathroom stall, she cried slow quiet tears, then wiped her eyes and left, but not before whispering to herself, "I'll be fine. I'll always be fine."

"Hey." Melanie's beautiful face floats into her visual field, bringing her back to the violinist's low strings and the dancing couple.

She wipes her eyes and smile.

"I get the tears, them happy tears right?" Melanie asks. Her african-american accent always makes her seem more excited than she truly is.

"Of course, " Chinny says. Nudging Boma's shoulder and winking, making her smile more.

Frida sips her wine. "I think she's a bit jealous, I mean who wouldn't be? Her mom is getting married, and now she's going to have to share her with someone else. "

"That's not it." Chinny states, rolling her eyes already.

"I'm sure you have all the answers, Chinny." Frida says. A dash of mockery in her thin voice.