“One day I’m going to leave this job because it’s not paying my bills and I have a daughter to take care of,” Jasmine blurted out as she pummeled into the leather cushion beside Toyosi.
“Well, at least, you have a job in the United Bank of Africa,” Toyosi said with a faltering smile.
“I didn’t mean it like that Toyo. The job is stressful and I don’t get enough time to see my daughter. Instead of me to go home and meet my child, I’m here because even you girls don’t get to see me often. I’m tired ladies!”
Emmanuella gulped down the contents of her glass and sighed. Toyosi on the other hand just held her cup but her gaze was fixed on nothing. Amaka scrolled through Instagram thoughtlessly.
“This is not why I asked you ladies to come out. What kind of atmosphere is this?” Emelda scoffed.
“What did you want to discuss love?” Jasmine asked, remorseful.
“I’m sorry,” the others spoke and fixed their attention on Emelda.
“I’m filing for divorce.”
Jasmine and Toyosi looked genuinely surprised while Amaka was indifferent.
“Why?” Emmanuella questioned sharply.
“He has been hitting me for two years now and he has prevented me from getting a job. I’ve lost three pregnancies in the space of two years and the doctor said I have broken ribs that may lead to internal bleeding if I am not careful,” Emelda said and broke down in tears.
Jasmine gently embraced Emelda who was weeping with snots.
“This is another reason why I’m not even stressing myself about marriage. It’s futile. So you gave up your career for a man, Adam?” Amaka asked bluntly.
“Shhh, this is not the time,” Toyosi said and smacked Amaka’s back.
Amaka simply hissed before turning to Emelda who was still weeping.
“I second the divorce. Leave the bastard and get yourself a life. It’s painful that you don’t listen, I warned you. A man that is always speaking badly about your friends and trying to separate us. No wonder you said you wanted to meet us. Things are bad and-”
Emmanuella slapped Amaka as she was still speaking.
“What did you do that for?” Amaka barked as she glared at Emmanuella.
“You have never been married, all you know is Sugar Daddies yet someone is here pouring her heart out and the first thing you know to do is say ‘I told you so’? Okay, you have said it and we have heard, stop causing her more pain.”
“Emmanuella, you are mad o! You slapped me for saying the truth? Something this girl should have done after the first time we saw the swollen eye. It’s my fault I came here now. I nor blame you!”
“Calm down babe,” Jasmine said as Emelda continued crying.
Amaka stood up abruptly and walked away with her purse. Toyosi ran after her but she shrugged her off.
“Emelda, when did you make up your mind?” Jasmine asked as Emelda pulled away from the embrace.
“Since last week, I had been contemplating but today, I decided to go ahead with it and I contacted Ellah to get started on the process. She’ll be my lawyer.”
“That is a nice idea. For once, you made a decision on your own and followed immediately with action. I’m proud of you.”
Emelda managed a smile as she cleaned her eyes with the back of her hands.
“And don’t mind Amaka, she’s only expressing her opinion. You know she was never in support of this union although she never said why. Don’t be upset with her, please,” Emmanuella said as she held Emelda’s hand.
“The reason I have always been against the union is because that simp you married dated my sister, Ihuoma, in the university. He used to sleep around like a dog and he was hitting Ihuoma too. One time, my sister was rushed to the hospital and she nearly lost her life. But she lost something that day, the ability to carry children,” Amaka said as she sat beside Toyosi.
“When I realized he was the one that wanted to marry you, I tried to warn you but then, the accident happened and I was in coma for six months. I woke up and you were already married. You didn’t even date the bastard for a year before you jumped into marriage. I’m tired of straight women, you people center on men too much.”
Everyone looked at Amaka like she was wearing rags.
“What?” Amaka shouted.
“Are you a lesbian now?” Emmanuella asked with concern.
Amaka threw her head back as she laughed.
“So you are now part of the LGBTQ community?” Emelda scoffed more than asked.
“No. I love men, I like the thing that dangles between their legs. However, it now has an imitation that I can easily buy in a shop so if any man stresses me, I can pull out John Thomas from my drawer and have fun.”
“Then why did you sound gay just now?” Emmanuella asked, still surprised.
“Well, most women tend to want to do things for men more than they should do for themselves. Me, I learned the hard way and I became selfish. Plus, I’m just twenty-six, I’m not jumping into marriage because I want it to validate me. Emelda has always been weak when it comes to men. Instead of you to learn from Madam Jasmine who doesn’t even bother about men again since that masquerade abandoned her with a child and traveled to Europe. Focus on yourself because men are selfish.”
“Amaka, please, don’t come with this your feminist nonsense. Agreed, Emelda should focus on becoming a better version of herself but marriage is not a bad thing and not all men are selfish. I’m married with a child and my marriage has been blissful. Everybody is living in their own reality so don’t create the wrong idea,” Toyosi said with a serious tone.
“Hmmm!” Amaka sighed before turning to Emelda, “if you need a place to stay when you finally leave his house, my doors are open to you babe. I hope your decision is something you will stick with to the end.”
“Emmanuella has already started the process,” Emelda said firmly.
“Finally, today is Day One!” Amaka laughed.
“What is day one?” Toyosi asked.
“You know how Emelda was saying she would leave him when the beatings started?” Everyone nodded. “She was always saying ‘one day’ but today, she made a decision, stuck by it and started action immediately and here we are drinking to celebrate her decision.”
“Ohhh,” Emmanuella said as she nodded her head in realization.
“So instead of ‘One Day’, today is her ‘Day One’!” Toyosi said and chuckled.
“Let’s toast to success ladies,” Jasmine said and poured everyone a drink after which they lifted their glasses and clinked them together, “To success!”
Emelda’s eyes filled with tears as the weight of her choice sat heavy on her shoulders.
****
