The Anniversary Night

Who would have thought that the fifteenth of October, at exactly 10:20 p.m. would be her worst moment ever?  No one could decipher that she was coming to face the piercing truth that night, not even her roommate, who prepared her for the anniversary night, assuring her that Jayden would propose. Through the long drive in the bustling city, Angel could dream of nothing less than walking in to find Jayden on one knee, a box of a glittering diamond ring in his palm, the ambience and dim, warm lighting of the eatery enough for her to rush him with a kiss. At 7:45 p.m., she stood at Ama's Treats, her stunning reflection glittering in the sliding glass doors. She fished for her iPhone in her purse; there was a text from Jayden. *Go in, get settled. Table five. Everything is set. I'll join you shortly.* Smiling sheepishly like an infatuated high school teenager, she let the clinking sounds of her silver heels lead her in an elegant walk through the entrance, oblivious to everything else. It was their night, that was all that mattered. Angel almost gasped at the sight of the full course on table five — two covered dishes with spicy fried rice scents wafting through her nostrils, a bowl of fried plantain beside it. A bottle of Veleta wine at the corner, two glasses placed beside it. Her eyes continued. A two-inch velvet cake with the inscription, Happy Anniversary, sat beside the dessert. Angel's eyes were almost misty, alas, her dream was coming to reality. She pulled out a chair and sat, having a mental note to applaud Jayden for his exceptionality tonight. Twenty minutes passed by, and Jayden was nowhere. Angel found herself shifting uncomfortably. Her palms turned sweaty every second, and she wiped them with her handkerchief. She darted at the entrance again, biting her lower lip. “Jayden definitely wants to play a stunt on me,“ she believed. “At least, it's better this way, than to give in to fearful thoughts building up within me.” Fifty minutes passed, and Jayden was nowhere to be found. Angel's phone almost became a part of her body. If she wasn't dialling his number, then she was checking his last text message. All these she did like her life depended on them.  Tossing her phone on the table, she pulled off her shoes. And she arose, adjusting her wine-colour corset pencil gown. Oblivious of the activities around her — waiters and waitresses ticking menus, placing courses on tables, pouring wine, the chic groups and couples in various tables, and a few others stealing curious glances at her, Angel paced back and forth, slowly, barefoot. At exactly 10 p.m. her phone buzzed. She rushed back to the table and stared. Another text from Jayden. *I'm sorry for keeping you waiting. I'll soon be there*. Renewed hope somehow sprang from within her as she smiled. He was worth more than the wasted time. Angel returned to her seat and picked up her phone again. Some minutes later, another text came in. By the time she clicked on it, her eyes widened at the messages that poured in after the other. *It's 10:20 p.m., the same time, two months ago when I heard the most heartbreaking news: my woman is cheating on me.* *Shattered? Betrayed? Broken? I don't think you're currently experiencing an inch of what I've felt ever since.* *For God's sake, Angel, why did you choose to betray me with my best friend? What did I ever do to you?* *Don't dare say it was a mistake. I have pieces of evidence that I can't bear watching. Maybe you can. Underneath your napkin is a flash drive containing the file.* *Once again, happy anniversary and goodbye for life. Oh, you can have every meal there — I was kind enough to pay for everything. When you're done, you can put on your silver heels, pick up your silver purse and go home*. *By the way, you look stunning tonight.* *Happy anniversary again, and have a lovely evening.* Outside Ama's Treats, Jayden, a young man of twenty-seven, dressed in a casual white T-shirt and black trousers, wiped out the remaining tears from his eyes and sent the last text. *You have made your choices, now it's time to make mine.* With his tinted glass wound up, he started the ignition and sped off. A drop of tears landed on Angel's screen before she realised her eyes were welling up. She opened her mouth to speak but only a sigh of grief came out. She dialled her roommate's contact. “Evelyn, my... my life is finished!” She poured out. “Oh my God! He didn't propose?” “That would have been better.“ She coughed, swallowed, and resumed. “Jayden ended things.” There was a brief moment of silence. Evelyn's tone rose. “Wait, don't tell me...” “He found out! See, it was a mistake, but how do I explain things?” “You know what? Stay there. I'm coming to pick you up.” The call ended. Angel, for the first time, glanced at a couple exchanging a kiss, and wished she had been more careful, more faithful. She lay her head on the table, thinking of how life would be without her lover. ___________ *All images were generated with ChatGPT*