Derick had awoken to the sound of a call to his phone. When he noticed his girlfriend wasn’t in the room with him, he started checking around within the room and then came out the hallway to see if she was downstairs at the living room.
As he approached the entrance to his father’s bedroom, he began hearing moaning cries coming from there. His heart pounding in his chest, he crept closer to the door and, through the small crack, saw Marcus and Zina in an intimate way. He opened the noiseless door a bit wider. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing: his father – and more importantly, his girlfriend – in a sexual act. In shock and confusion, he reached for his phone and began recording their activities without their knowledge.
The two were unaware that they were being watched as they continued their passionate session, not easing up until they both reached simultaneous climaxes.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Zina pulled away from Marcus and stumbled back to Derick’s bedroom. But it was too late – Derick had already seen all that had gone on between them. Yet, he pretended he had seen nothing.
The following morning, Zina awoke with a tired and swollen face. Derick noticed the change in her immediately.
“What’s wrong?” He asked, concern lacing his voice. “Are you okay? You look so…tired. Were you able to sleep at all?”
“Yes, I did sleep”
“Did something happen during the night to keep you awake?” He pressed further.
Zina hesitated before answering. She knew she cannot be caught in such act as she was always careful with all her escapades with the man. And she did not want to tell him the truth and risk his anger or hurt feelings. Taking a deep breath, she finally spoke.
“I just didn’t sleep well last night,” she said softly, avoiding eye contact with him. “It was nothing major, just tossing and turning.”
Derick narrowed his eyes at her but then looked away in silence. Zina could sense his frustration but still breathed a sigh of relief when he turned away from her without another word and began getting ready for work.
That night, Derick came home and demanded Zina follow him without any explanation. Fear clawed its way up her spine and her heart raced as she followed him into his bedroom. He reached for his laptop and his expression became unreadable as he gestured for her to come closer. With a heavy heart, he slammed his laptop open and a deep dread settled in the pit of her stomach as Derick pressed play and she realized what was on the screen. The entire night before unfolded in explicit detail. All of their passionate moments was caught raw.
Derick rose, eyes blazing with rage, and pointed an accusing finger at her, “I saw it all,” he snarled with unchecked venom. “How could you do this? How!” Derick asked in a voice laden with pain. “God! And with my own father? I thought I meant something to you.”
Zina felt shame and guilt course through her veins like a raging fire as it brought tears to her eyes and it began to flow uncontrollably. She tried desperately to explain her actions, but the words stuttered and stumbled out of her trembling mouth.
“Please, Derick, can you forgive me? Please forgive me. I never meant for this to happen,” she begged desperately, her voice cracked with tears and shaking with fear.
Derick sadly shook his head and heaved a deep sigh of disappointment. His gravelly voice pierced the air like a knife, “I don’t think I will ever be able to trust you again,” he said with a defeated voice. “There’s no more marriage or anything. It is over between us.”
Zina felt her heart breaking in two upon hearing this.
“Derick, please!” Zina begged, “it was a mistake and I’m so sorry. It was never meant to hurt you.”
Derick looked away from her, “I thought I could trust you and now all of that is gone. It’s like our relationship never existed. Now I don’t know what to think anymore,” his voice cracked as he spoke.
Zina slowly walked towards him, reaching out for his arm but Derick stepped back out of her reach before she could touch him. She felt a deep sorrow fill her chest at the gesture and gasped slightly as the realization set in that they were truly over.
Without another word Derick turned and left the room, leaving Zina alone in a world of shattered dreams and shattered trust.
Zina felt her world crumbling around her as the heavy weight of shame settled on her shoulders. She was left completely broken and alone. She realized the gravity of what she had done; Too late. Guilt and regret ate at her soul and she knew that repairing the damage would be an uphill battle. It would be no easy task.
***
It had been a month since Derick and Zina had split and the time apart had done little to ease the ache in their hearts. Every day, Derick felt a crushing wave of sadness wash over him as he remembered all that he had lost in a single moment of betrayal.
Zina also missed Derick dearly and found herself unable to move on as she replayed his rejection over and over again in her head. Her heavy heart ached in pain and she knew that if ever there was a chance to make things right, it lay with Derick.
One night, Zina trembled with fear as she dialed Derick’s number, hoping to reach him before her courage failed her. Sweat dripped down her back and her heart beating like thunder in her chest; this was the most important call she’d ever make. She waited anxiously on the other end of the line, her world drifting away with every second that passed.
Finally, Derick’s voice reached out of the receiver like a winter chill. The coldness in his voice made her shudder and yet, beneath it all, she could sense a shimmer of warmth – A fragile glimmer of hope.
Swallowing her fear, Zina mustered up every ounce of strength she had and poured out her apology to beg for another chance.
“Derick,” she said with a trembling voice, “I know that I have no right to ask, and you have no right to forgive me but please hear me out. I am so sorry for what I have done and all I can say is that I love you so much and I can’t bear to be apart anymore. Please don’t let this be the end of us. I want us to be together again. Please.”
There was a heavy silence on the other end. Then, eventually, Derick spoke, his usually confident voice wavering and thick with emotion.
“I-I don’t know how to express my hurt,” he began.
Zina felt his words cut like knives through her chest. She remained silent in her shame.
“But… I’ve missed you so much these last few weeks,” Derick continued. “And yes, I forgive you. Even though I don’t know if I can ever forget.”
Tears streamed down Zina’s face as she listened to him, his words echoing in her soul with every beat of her heart.
“Thank you, thank you so much,” she said, quivering lips barely able to form the words. She took a deep breath and regained her composure.
“Can we meet up in person? Maybe tomorrow evening?”
“Yes, we can,” came the instant response.
The next evening, they met up at a nearby restaurant where their reconciliation began anew with hugs and laughter.
“I’m so sorry for everything,” Zina said with a quiver in her voice.
He paused for a while, taking in the emotion of the moment before answering;
“Me too.”
The two embraced for what felt like a long moment, their tears of regret streaming down their cheeks in unison.
They talked for hours about everything that had happened between them and all of the feelings that had been hidden for so long.
“I should’ve done better to show you how much I care,” she said regretfully.
“And I should have believed in us no matter what,” he replied apologetically.
“Let’s make a promise,” he said. “Let’s promise each other to never break each other’s trust again. Can we swear by it?”
She looked into his eyes solemnly, “Yes, I swear by it!”
By the end of the night and despite all the hurt that passed between them, all wounds had been healed and they left the restaurant with a new sense of peace. Their bond was stronger than ever knowing that they were finally on the path towards having a wonderful wedding with a beautiful love story.
***
Zina scurried down the hallway of an hotel with a silent desperation, her heart pounding like a drum amongst her ribs. She rounded the corner with reckless abandon until she saw the door she was looking for. She took a deep breath while her right fingers rubbed on the wedding ring on her finger. It’s been a blissful marriage with Derick for the past two months.
She steadied her nerves and opened the door. Once in the room, a heavy masculine voice bellowed from within.
“Give me some sugar, babe.” his voice reeking sheer lust.
“I’m pregnant, Marcus.” Her back leaning against the wall with despair written boldly all over her face as she added,
“for you!”