Now I have a whole new life. The
crippling pain has faded, the tears long gone, and the memory? I wish I could
say I have forgotten everything that happened. I might not have forgotten what
had happened, but I didn't let that define my future, neither will it determine
the lives of my son Adam and my husband Levi.
Now I am a mother of a three years old,
and the wife to a loving man. What more could I ask for? Not the beautiful
career I already have. The one that has taken me places, to face people and
teach them my craft, how to make their craft more human, loveable, and
relatable. Writing.
For the past few years, I have written
books that luckily for me were appreciated by many – if not all. The last book
I wrote, 'Black Butterfly,' which I recently released got the attention of many
people, and I had one of the numerous opportunities of sitting in front of my
fans and answering their questions.
"Hi ma'am, firstly I'd like to
congratulate you for your book, and thank you for writing something as
beautiful as this "
"thank you so much," I replied looking at
the curious narrowing of his eyes.
"Black Butterfly is a good story but I
can't help but there are a few plot holes I want you to address"
I took in his words and calmly nod.
Majority of the audience had looks and murmurs of disagreement to his claims.
"Tarry, in Black Butterfly had a twin
sister in the beginning of the story, but as the story went on, she disappeared
in the narrative"
I understood where he was coming from,
but I was about to make him understand my motives for doing so, "What do you
think happened to tarry's twin?"
"She went on a trip"
"what do you think had happened during
her trip?"
"there are so many possibilities," he
says.
"If you give it a thought, don't you
think that would make a whole new wonderful story?"
He nodded, a smile comes across his face.
The audience watching me in awe.
"Maybe she went on the trip and fell in
love with a man and went to somewhere different with him. She navigates her own
life just like Tarry did. I told Tarry's perspective, It's left for you to
craft your own story out of it."
The man nods.
"Do you have another question?"
"I guess that's all," he returns back on
his sit thinking.
A woman quickly rises, voice sharp and
excited, "Are you going to write a book about Tarry's twin?"
My smile was unhindered, "I have no
comment for that."
The questions kept popping up and I give
them their replies as supposed. Including the woman who claimed that I stole my
story idea from her friend's book.
She first stood up, no greets – I never
expected one but , her question was abrupt, like a bullet.
"Did you by any chance read 'Riding Along
The Road?'" she added, "because almost everything that happened in this book
was in your's and this book was published by my friend Pauline Sanders long
before you did yours"
I let in all her words, labelled it as
one of the mere tests the devil send to me to poison my career. After a calm
thought about it -
"Sorry, who's your friend again?"
The woman looks embarrassed, the audience
glancing at her in disgust.
"Pauline Sanders"
"Why isn't she here? So we could have a
chat – how coincidentally genius we are"
The audience claps, overwhelming my
words.
"You are a good friend. I did not read
Pauline's book, I'd love to read it."
The session went on, stretched for hours
then my mind slowly drifted back home. I didn't cook for Adam and Levi. Levi
must be annoyed that I didn't cook. Probably watching me and thinking of how to
exert revenge on this his irresistable wife. He cannot be angry at me. Not when
I can swipe him of his feet with just a fleeting smirk.
"Cynthia?," I quickly jolted back to
reality. What in the world, was I missing home already? Another audience member
had been waiting for my answer.
"I'm sorry what was your question?"
I answered all questions, gave a few
speeches until the time was over. Cameras rolled out and people left the
premises.
Just a few minutes later, Levi calls. I smiled at my phone and
picked, "Hello honey?" I had to put enough effort in twisting my voice in such
a way that he wouldn't remember my offense.
"You did wonderful, you could've told
that woman to mind her business. Even the friend she was supporting didn't even
attend." I chuckled at Levi's remark.
"How is Adam doing?"
"He currently is sleeping"
"Sleeping? Isn't it too early? Has he
done his home work?"
"yes."
I
silently squint my eyes like I could see his cunning eyes and deceptive smile.
"Did you do his homework for him?"
"Cynthia, that out of every other thing
to say?"
"I mean, you have done it numerous
times," I fired back.
"You couldn't say something like "hey
babe, I didn't cook. You'd have to eat slices of bread with ketchup.""
He caught me unaware, "Sorry, I had time
to do it but I was just thinking of the session all through."
"no worries," he says, "how are you
doing?"
Silence, I let that question travel
through my ears, thought and nerves. I never knew I needed the question until
he asked. Especially when I was already happy.
"I'm good… I just want to come home and
cuddle"
"come home then." He says, dismissing the
romantic dialogue that was going to take place.
"eheh?" I exclaimed, "if you knew I could
drive home in three seconds why did you call in the first place?"
"Cynthia, just come home. I might sleep
and not hear to open the door for you."
"I have a spear key," I shut him up.
The phone counts in seconds in his short
silence, he sucked his teeth, "know what? Leave my phone," he declared.
"see you later, love you."
The goes silent again, the phone counting
2,3,4,5…
"I know." He ends the call.
I couldn't help but laugh.
I had a few discussions and book signings
to do before leaving.