BN Prose: The One by Atoke

I have been told that when you meet that one person who is meant to be your partner for life, you would just know. Everyone else around you freezes then you and the other person are in a slow-motion scene. Very picturesque I must say.  I was told there would be soft music playing somewhere in your head and the requisite butterflies would flutter in your tummy. It is said that the moment when you’re supposed to know is when your eyes lock in a lingering gaze. That one gaze that in reality is a few seconds, but to you lasts forever. In that instant, you see the life you are going to have with that one person, and it is a rich, beautiful one in the full colour of spring; everything is bright and fresh. That priceless gaze speaks of a promising life ahead.

I know what to expect when it finally hits me; so when I walk into the room with my sister, tummy tucked in from both anticipation and the extremely snug dress I have on, I’m waiting for the telltale signs that my one true love is in this room. The horoscope signs Anabel showed me this morning said “Today, you will meet the ONE“; all in a bid to convince me to get out of the house. I snigger at the memory of it as I do a quick scan of the occupants of the little room. I make a conscious effort to suppress the cynic in me while I try to nurse the hope that I’d have that out-of-body experience. It is not happening, so I meander through the crowd to the bar, or at least the table where the drinks are lined. I take another quick sweep of the room to locate Anabel; this cocktail is after all her idea. I can’t afford to lose sight of her just in case I need to be rescued.

I catch a whiff of cologne; I’m intrigued but not particularly interested in finding out the source immediately. I hold up my wine glass to savour the rich fragrance of fermented grapes and I’m haunted by a mixture of the smell of the cologne and wine. I feel something stir within me; I turn around and standing right behind me is a tall, light skinned man. He is very easy on the eyes and I tilt my head up a little slowly to meet his gaze. Nothing in the world prepares you for that loud thump you feel deep within you. It feels like I am swimming in the depth of the pool of his eyes. I usually don’t like fair skinned guys and this man is extremely fair. He is speaking to me- I know he is because he is moving his lips and has a smile on his face but I can’t hear a word. I am transfixed by his gaze.

This is ridiculous Rosie! Get a grip.

“Hey Richard, I see you met our family recluse”

My sister’s boisterous voice snaps me out of my reverie. His eyes are hazel. He is probably of a mixed race- the complexion, the eyes and the slightly curled hair.

“I’m Urhobo. My mum is Dutch but my dad is from Ughelli”

I smile foolishly. I have not spoken but he’d heard me.

I find my voice, finally.

“I didn’t ask”

“Oh you did. Your eyes did all the asking”

I see the teasing glint that lights up his eyes and the playful tone of his voice is music to my ears. My heart is beating unbelievably fast but I like it. It’s exactly like in the movies and it’s actually happening to ME! I cradle my glass of wine and smile. The tarots were right. I hear Anabel’s voice again and I look up. This time she is engaged animatedly in a chat with another woman. They begin to walk in my direction and I move towards them; I see Hazel Eyes is heading in their direction too. I find myself being drawn closer to them, this time it is because I don’t want to lose sight of Richard.

“Temi, meet my sister Roselyn. Rosie, this is Temi. She’s Richard’s wife”

I steel myself from the wave of shock and disappointment that goes through me. There is no such thing as “The One”

Photo credit: kindnessgirl.com

Tags: Atoke, bn prose

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