I worked through the night and the next day after was my birthday, a day I had looked forward to with excitement, but I was far from happy and excited as I couldn’t shake the heaviness in my heart. I had chosen not to retrieve my phone from David’s house, l didn’t want to face him, I wasn’t ready to face him. A part of me was still angry with him, I felt betrayed.
Suddenly, there was a knock at my door, interrupting my thoughts. I remained still, holding my breath, wondering who it was. I wasn’t expecting anyone and I was in no mood for socialising. Ugochi’s voice, soft and muffled through the door, reached my ears. “Chioma, I know you’re in there. I just wanted to check on you. Please, open the door.”
I rolled my eyes irritatedly. Of all people to knock on my door at that time.Ugochi was the last person I wanted to see, she was part of the reason that my birthday was ruined. I imagined her standing there, her face filled with concern, her hand hovering over the door handle, waiting for a response that wouldn’t come. I made up my mind not to let her in, so I remained quiet, pretending that I wasn’t home.
After a few minutes of knocking on the door, she gave up and finally decided to leave.
But deep down, I knew that this avoidance couldn’t last forever. Sooner or later, I would have to face the truth, confront the uncertainties, and find the courage to confront both her and David.
Hours crept by, each minute heavier than the last, as loneliness enveloped me.There was another knock on my door, this time it was Ella. She knocked on the door screaming my name excitedly. I knew I could definitely do with some company as I was currently having the worst birthday I had ever had. I opened the door, and there stood Ella, with a warm smile, holding a beautifully wrapped gift.
“Hey there, birthday girl,” she said, sounding like her usual cheerful self.
I managed a faint smile, though the effort felt like lifting a heavy weight. “Hey, Ella” I replied, stepping aside for her to come in.
Ella stepped inside, her presence filling the space with a burst of energy as she handed me the gift she was holding. “Thanks for this” I said, giving her a hug as she stepped in chatting away excitedly.
“What are you doing at home by this time? I almost thought I wouldn’t meet you here” she asked,looking at me suspiciously, “shouldn’t you be out with David having fun or something?” she asked, “David is caught up with work today” I lied, not wanting to have a conversation about David. He hadn’t bothered to look for me the whole day, especially when he knew my phone was still stuck in his house. I was trying very hard to hide my disappointment in him.
“On your birthday of all days?” she questioned looking confused, “That’s part of being an adult, I guess” I replied rolling my eyes, “can we talk about something else please?” I added.
“Ok” she replied, shrugging, “You seem to be pretty jobless at the moment, I was hoping you’d be able to come with me to the movies. That movie we’ve been waiting to watch is premiering today.” she added excitedly.
“For real?” I replied, my eyes suddenly lighting up. I had been dying to see the movie for the longest time, I had been so busy that I had totally forgotten about the movie premiere.
There were only a few hours left till my birthday was over and I didn’t want to remember it with sad memories, so I decided to make the last few hours count.
“Let’s do it,” I said, getting up to change my clothes.
Her face lit up with joy, and she hugged me tightly. “That’s the spirit! You won’t regret it, I promise.”
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As I got dressed, I felt a flicker of anticipation. It was a strange sensation, one I hadn’t experienced in a while. Maybe Ella was right. Perhaps this movie night was exactly what I needed to lift my spirits, even if just for a little while.
We made our way to the cinema, the bustling atmosphere and the scent of freshly popped popcorn enveloping us. Ella’s enthusiasm was infectious, and for the first time since the previous night, I found myself looking forward to something.
It took forever for me to get dressed, by the time we reached the movie theatre, the commercials for the movie were already playing, the lights had been dimmed. I was finding it difficult to see like someone that had night blindness.
Night blindness medically known as nyctalopia is the inability to see well at night or when there is poor light such as in a movie theatre. It is usually associated with an inability to quickly adapt from seeing in a well-illuminated to a poorly illuminated environment.Night blindness is not a disease, but rather a symptom of an underlying eye problem. Some causes of night blindness include Vitamin A deficiency, short-sightedness, diabetes and glaucoma. Night blindness requires medical attention. Treatment depends on the cause and may include getting a new eyeglass prescription where necessary. You can prevent night blindness by eating foods rich in Vitamin A such as carrots, milk, eggs and spinach.
Ella and I hurriedly rushed to find seats, the back rows were filled, there were some empty seats somewhere in the middle, but we didn’t want to disrupt the movie for others, we weren’t ready to receive any bombastic side eyes, so we settled for the nearest seats we could find in the front row. For the first few minutes, I allowed myself to be swept away by the interesting movie trailers. In those moments, I forgot about the pain and confusion that had plagued me.
The cinema was dim, and the previews of upcoming movies had just ended, transitioning into the opening credits of the film we had come to watch. As the first few scenes of the movie began to play, an unexpected interruption startled me. The screen flickered, and suddenly, an unfamiliar scene started unfolding before us.
It was a video, clearly not part of the movie, and my heart raced as I recognized David’s face on the screen. “What on earth is going on here?” I thought to myself, trying to make sense of what was happening. The room fell silent as David began speaking, his words pouring out in the most heartfelt and romantic manner. The sincerity in his eyes was evident, even through the screen.
“Chioma,” he said, his voice soft yet filled with intensity, “I can’t help but think about you every moment we’re apart. You’ve become the very essence of my thoughts, the reason behind my smiles, and the warmth in my heart. I’ve cherished every moment we’ve spent together, and I can’t imagine my life without you.”
My head was starting to spin, I was confused, I tried to understand how David’s face could be showing on the screen of a movie premiere, or was I dreaming? Was I seeing things?
As I continued to battle with the thoughts in my head, the recording continued, “I know I’ve made mistakes, and I’ve hurt you in ways I never intended. But I want you to know that you mean everything to me. I want to be the one who makes you smile when you’re feeling down, the one who holds you close and never lets you go. Chioma, I love you more than words can express.”
The cinema lights brightened, revealing David on one knee by the side of the screen. In his hand, he held a small, velvet box that I immediately recognised, it was the same one I had stumbled on while I was making his bed.
I looked around only to see familiar faces – friends, colleagues, and even family members. They all wore knowing smiles, their eyes filled with anticipation, as if they had been a part of this secret plan. It felt surreal, like stepping into a dream orchestrated by destiny.
David’s gaze was unwavering, his eyes locked onto mine, a mixture of nervousness and profound love evident in his stare. “Chioma,” he began, his voice carrying over the hushed whispers in the room, “I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you make me the happiest man on Earth and marry me?”
Find out what happens next tomorrow in episode 23 #checkwithdoctoro
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