Perpetual

Its true what they say about time moving fast when you are having a good time. The days have been quickly turning to weeks and weeks to months. Very soon Pearl and I will be clocking three years since we started dating and I must say it has been the best three years of my life and this is why I have decided I don’t want to wait any longer. My business is going well, Pearl is doing fine in her events décor and we are happy; there is no reason for us not to tie the knot.

‘It’s just a proposal, you don’t need to make a big deal out of it.’ James says laughing. I don’t know why he is finding this funny. I have been pacing about the room for minutes trying to think of the perfect way to tell Pearl that I want her to do life with me. I already have the ring made and it will be delivered by the end of business day but I am still stuck on how to go about it.

‘How about you take her to her favorite restaurant then you ask the chef to put the ring in the cake or dessert or something?’

‘You know that’s cliché right? Plus what if she swallows the ring?’

‘Okay what about going on a vacation? You could do all the things that the two of you love to do and you have both been working too hard I think you deserve a vacation.’

‘I am not sure we can afford to miss work right now, a vacation means a lot of planning until then we need to make do with what we have.’

‘You know what, all the best planning and when you finally find the way in which you will propose please tell me so that I don’t suffer when my time comes.’

I just shake my head in disbelief. How is he using my situation to his advantage?

I have just settled down when my phone starts to ring, it’s a number I can’t recognize.

‘Hello.’

‘Hello good morning.’

‘Who is this?’

‘There was an accident, we found your business card in the purse for one of the ladies that was injured.’

‘Accident? Where? How? What happened?’

‘There was a head on collision between two cars, both drivers have been rushed to the hospital.’

‘What hospital?’

The man on the other end of the line tells me the name of the hospital. I thank him and tell James about the phone call. He offers to drive me because I am not in the right state if mind now. I feel like this is the slowest car ride I have ever been on and I keep looking at James but he is trying so hard not to look at me because of my impatience.

‘Can’t you driver a little faster?’

‘No.’ he says and I just sigh hard. I have been trying to call Pearl’s line but it’s still off. From the description of the cars on the accident scene one of them was Pearl’s. We finally get to the hospital, James insists that I don’t do any talking because of the state that I am in. We rush to the reception and James asks the lady there about Pearl. I am already walking as fast as I can to the ward even as she’s still giving directions. I feel my eyes well up when I look at Pearl. Her left arm has bruises and there is a bandage wrapped around her head.

‘Hey you.’ She says with a smile immediately I enter the room.

‘Oh my God babe, what happened?’

‘Some stupid driver decided to be on his phone and look where it has landed me.’

She is trying to humor me but I can’t laugh, instead tears fall.

‘My word babe I was so worried, I didn’t know what to think.’

‘We have a life time together remember? You honestly think that I am going to go lights out on you without warning? I am here for the long run.’

‘I was so worried.’

‘Stop being worried, I just need a plaster on my arm and I will be out of here.’

The doctor walks in. He looks jovial and the smile on his face shows that both he and Pearl are acquainted.

‘I see you are still awake and you have a guest.’

‘Babe this is Doctor Bwalya, he has been very kind.’

‘I see.’

I don’t know if that’s a pang of jealousy but I was there worrying whilst these two were getting cozy.

‘We just need to put the plaster and monitor her for a day or two then she will be out of here.’

‘And the bandage?’

‘It was a little cut on the forehead, nothing serious.’

‘Babe you should see the other guy.’

I laugh, I don’t even know why Pearl is making all this light. But I am glad she is fine because I got so worried I don’t know what I would have done.

‘I will leave the two of you alone but I will be back when we are ready to put the plaster on.’ The doctor says.

‘Okay.’ Pearl and I respond at the same time.

‘Should I get you anything to eat?’

‘I am fine babe.’

‘Let me call your Aunty and tell her that you are here.’ I say standing up.

‘Okay babe.’

‘I will ask James to come in, be safe for me okay?’

‘Sure.’

‘Should I call Sasha?’

‘Don’t.’

‘Okay.’

‘I love you.’

‘I love you so much.’

…

Kwenje’s Girl

Winnie

🙇🏾‍♀️