She couldn't believe her eyes. The sight of Naomi stumbled back with a broken heart. Her feet weakened beneath her. She placed a hand on the wall beside her, steadying herself. She refused to allow herself fall.
She nodded her head in acceptance. With a heartfelt sigh she returned to carry the bottles. Her eyes shutting momentarily as Anthony's name crossed her mind. He would never treat you this way. A voice whispered in her head. And she pushed it out of her mind just like she did to the pain and loneliness.
~~~~
A knock on the door broke her out of her thoughts. She dumped the plates back into the sink, drying her foamy hands with a cloth beside her.
She opened the door and watched as a tall, slim woman pushed her aside and pushed her way through. Naomi stepped back and closed the door. The woman turned to her a tight smile gracing her face. "Naomi. So its true that you're back. It's been long."
"Sasha. What are you doing here?"
"I came to meet your mom. Is she in?"
Naomi sighed, "Yes. She's asleep. But since when have you become acquainted with my mom?"
"Since you left." Sasha's gaze shifted to the upstairs "Do you know when she'll be awake?"
"No Sasha I don't"
"Ok then. I'll be on my way. Tell her that I came to see her, will ya" dumbfounded Naomi nodded
"I guess"
Sasha smiled, "Thanks. You're such a star. Oh, and before I forget. I'm not sure if your mom told you... I'll tell you anyways. I would love to see you at my wedding. I'm getting married in two weeks time. Your mom would tell you all the details."
Naomi blinked "M-married? You?" Naomi pointed at her, jabbing her in her belly "Wow. That's amazing. Congratulations. Sasha I'm really happy for you" Naomi said as she stomped towards the door, snatching it open for sasha to leave. "I'll let my mom know that you'd come. Bye bye" she smiled, ushering Sasha to get out. She couldn't care less of Sasha's upcoming marriage. James' betrayal was already enough of a burden
Sasha grinned, her perfect set of teeth on display "Thank you so much Naomi. I really appreciate it."
Naomi giggled, it sounded like a pig squealing. " You're welcome." She forced another smile, her patience running thin. She opened the door wider "You may leave now. Tell the bridegroom I send him my congratulations. Bye bye"
"Oh James would be happy to hear it. He's really excited for this marriage too." Sasha squealed as she hopped up and down, clapping her hands together. Naomi's face scrunched up as she watched the spectical being displayed before her.
"What are you doing? You're embarrassing yourself. Stop it."
"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. It's just I'm so excited"
"Feel free to take your excitement outside with you. I was busy before you came. May you please exit the premises. Thank you very much. Leave."
"Naomi. You don't understand. I'm going to become a Mrs Johnson. People will start calling me Mrs Sasha James Johnson. I've waited for this all my life"
"Wait? Mrs... Mrs Sasha James Smith?" Naomi's face paled as it dawned on her "How? Wait what. Sasha? You're getting married to James. James Smith?"
Sasha smiled a proud smile "Yep, unbelievable right?" She giggled "And it's a matter of time you think of getting married too. You're not getting any younger Naomi. As beautiful as a rose can be, it still fades away and loses its petals"
"James Smith? Sasha, you're getting married." Tears welled up in her eyes but she refused to allow them fall "To James Smith. In two weeks?! How?!"
"Yes. I'm getting married to James Smith. Is anything the matter. What is wrong with that?"
"How long have you known him for?"
Sasha's eyes glazed over, a loving emotion swam in her orbs "A year now. He proposed two months ago"
Naomi's heart dropped at the revelation "How?! Why?..." She scoffed, shaking her head in disbelief "Why would he do that?!"
Sasha's brow furrowed "What do you mean 'why'? Naomi shouldn't you be happy for me?"
"Oh my daughter. You're here?!" Naomi's mother's voice echoed across the walls of the lounge "Sasha. The bride to be" Naomi hid her face from her mother, not wanting her to see her tears
Sasha's face brightened as she ran towards Mary, embracing her wholeheartedly "Naomi told me that you were asleep"
"Yes my dear. I had just woken up. How are you?"
"I'm fine but I'm not happy with you. You hadn't told Naomi of my upcoming wedding"
"Oh. I didn't get the chance to. I apologize. How are the preparations going?"
"Amazing. Just that..." The ringing of a phone stopped her from continuing, she reached into her bag and pulled out her phone "My dad is calling. He must be worried about me; I've been out for long. I have to go now." Sasha embraced Mary once more as she walked out the door that Naomi held with shaking hands.
Mary finally took notice of Naomi, who stood by the door, she seemed lifeless as she stood stagnant staring into the distance. "Don't even try to hide those tears. I see them and I am happy. I am happy that you're crying. At least you have some remorse for yourself. Your mates are getting married while you're here letting your life slip between your fingers. Do you know how humiliating it is, you've passed the age for marriage but here you are staying in your parents home. At your age I had given birth to Chris..." Mary stopped, the memory of her son piercing her heart, slowly she blinked the tears away "You should be ashamed of yourself, no suitor has come to seek for your hand in marriage. I don't know why the heavens had curse me with a daughter like you" Naomi's eyes stung and with one last sigh she closed the door and walked past her mother, her mother words like daggers dipped into lava piercing at her heart "I hate you. You've ruined my life. Why can't you just die. I hate you. Just jump off a cliff!" Mary screamed after Naomi who ran up the stairs, tears clouding her vision.
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Naomi sat crossed legged on the cold ground of her bedroom. A napkin held tightly in her grasp, drenched by her tears and snot. Her breathing hitched from time to time as she tried to calm her racing heart and thoughts.
Her eyes rested on her window, she watched silently as the sun set and darkness overcame Helslip. The sound of a hooting owl and a chirping cricket reached her ear. The sound mellowed with the silent groanings of her heart leading her deeper in the pits of her sorrow. She sniffed and brought the napkin up to her nose, blowing into it for the thousandth time. Moths danced around the lamps' flame and Naomi's gaze settled on them, her gaze was blurred by the tears that ran down her cheeks. She didn't know how she still had more tears in her system but they kept on flowing. She had no epitome of strength to stop them. Her shoulders were hunched over, her head hung low. The urge to scream, clawing at her throat.
'It couldn't be possible.' She thought 'It must be someone else45Please respect copyright.PENANAfDbFrmWnGi
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James would never betray her this way.'
She tried to comfort herself with these words that she knew deep down weren't true.
Her eyes stung, a minimal reflection of the pain that soared in her heart. It was impossible that he was getting married. In two weeks, for heaven's sake. And he didn't even have the decency to tell her.
Her mother hated her and the only person that she thought loved her was to be married in a week's time. Married to another woman, Naomi sniffed once more. What was the purpose of living. Maybe her mom was right. Maybe she should just jump into a cliff. Her gaze shifted once more to her window. Slowly she got up and walked up to her it. She sighed, inhaling the Helslip air. Her eyes darted into the distance, into the darkness. The only source of light were the street lamps that scattered themselves across the neighborhood. The moon stood in its fullness up in the sky, the countless stars in the sky embellishing it.
Another sigh escaped her, as her thoughts darted to Rockville. Was Anthony thinking of her? She wondered how he had reacted when he had walked into her room and saw her bed empty. Was he worried, did he even care. Or was he just like everyone else, who lied and deceived just to get what they wanted. He said that he loved her, was it true?
Agatha's face showed itself to her. Naomi smiled, a sad smile. Agatha's warm embrace, the scent of baked fresh bread, the scent of home that always seemed to give her peace. She missed it. Naomi just realised how similar Mama Theresa and Agatha were, a smile touched her face, a sad smile filled with longing and with sadness.
Naomi's door snapped open and she jotted backwards. Naomi turned around, her heart dropped as her eyes landed on her mother.
Mary stood at the door, her eyes shooting daggers at her daughter. "Sit down." She commanded "I want to speak to you"
Naomi's heart raced "What happened? Did... Did I do something wrong?"
"Sit down" Mary walked into the room and closed the door behind her. They both sat down, the moths that danced around the lamp the only witness to their meeting.
"What's wrong mommy. What happened?"
"Naomi. I want you to listen to me very clearly. What I'm about to say is very important"
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"Ok" Naomi whispered, nerves kicking at her head.
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