Starting Up A New Relationship

“How could you do this to me, to us, Marcus!” I shouted at him as I glared at him, “Why did you leave me at the altar?” Marcus didn’t respond, he stood there emotionless. He stared at me without any hint of guilt or remorsefulness. Then he finally spoke. “Maybe you should as your best friend, Paris.” Marcus taunted me. My eyes widened in shock and confusion. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. My hands shook, I shook my head, kept repeating the words “No, No. It couldn’t be true.” My best friend, Paris. My tears coursed through my body. I was confused and heartbroken, and betrayed. Before Marcus left, I gathered all the strength I had to ask him this last question. “Did you ever or even love me?” Marcus looked at me still emotionless and replied, “No.” With those words, I shook my head in disbelief, with that I just let the tears flow. I couldn’t believe I what I just heard. Was everything a lie? I thought to myself repeatedly. I kept playing scenes in my head like a puzzle trying to make sense of what happened, but unlike a puzzle, I couldn’t put the pieces together. My cousin, and best friend, Yasmine me sitting on the side of the wedding venue, in my now ruined white dress, that I was supposed to wear. She saw how hurt I was. It’ll be the wedding the wedding that I always will remember. “OMG, Girl let’s get in this car.” Yasmine said as she helped me in her car. I couldn’t breathe nor could, I think. The puzzle I formed wasn’t forming wasn’t even forming a puzzle. Yasmine saw how heartbroken I was. “I knew the heifer was trifling, but for her to sleep with Marcus behind your back, now that was low, I want to hurt ha but don’t worry, boo. She gone get hers.” Yasmine said. I was in the state of shock, I heard Yasmine talk, but I couldn’t respond. How could Marcus do this to me. I kept thinking to myself. Yasmine saw the look on my face, she knew exactly what I was feeling. I was betrayed and heartbroken. Yasmine brought me home before I got out, I gave her a hug. “Thank you so much.” As my voice cracked a bit from crying so much. Yasmine hugged me back, with her voice soft as a kitten she said, “Of course girl.” I left her car and went inside my empty apartment. I grabbed the unopened bottle of champaign and began to drink from it. The bitter taste of champagne filled my mouth, matching the bitterness in my heart. I set down the bottle on the table and sank onto the couch, the weight of disbelief and betrayal pressing down on me. I didn’t know what I was going to do. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, trying to calm my racing thoughts. Awhile later I decided to take a shower, hoping that the hot water would wash away some of the pain and confusion I was feeling. I went into the bathroom take a shower, as I entered the shower, I let the steam of the shower comfort me and allow my mind to momentarily escape the turmoil of reality. Yet the memories of my so-called best friend sleeping with the man I love behind my back lingered in my mind, refusing to fade.

Once I was out the shower and got ready for bed, I saw I got a text from the very person I couldn’t believe had betrayed me. It simply read:

“Hey Nyla. I am sorry about everything that happened today. I hope you can forgive me. Marcus and I started seeing each other two months after you two were engaged. What started off as a fling, it turned into more, when I feel for him as well. I wanted to tell you, but I was scared. I really am sorry Ny.”

~Your bestie Paris

“My bestie Paris!” I yelled out.

She slept with my fiancé, and she had the nerve to call me her bestie and ask for forgiveness. I was flabbergasted or should I say p’d off. There it was right there in my face. Marcus and Paris have been seeing each other behind my back, and I still can’t believe she ended the message as her bestie. I broke down on my bed trying to suppress everything that happened tonight. My mom called but I just couldn't bring myself to pick up. I was too hurt and confused to even speak to anyone, especially after what I had just discovered. So, she left a voicemail:

“Hey baby. It’s mama. I was wondering if you need anything. I can’t believe that happened to you. Anyways, mama loves you.”

I heard the soft compassion in my mom’s voice and the tears just flowed out of my eyes. I just couldn't hold back the overwhelming of emotions that I was feeling. My heart couldn’t no longer take the weight of this betrayal. It felt like my whole world had shattered in an instant, and I didn't know how to pick up the pieces. I drifted off to sleep after crying all night wondering if I could forgive Marcus and move on.

Next Day

I woke up drained and reached for my phone and saw that I had a missed called from the bank. I glanced at the screen, wondering what the bank could possibly want from me. I dialed the number back and a lady from Times Union Financial Services picked up. “Hello, this is Gemma Blake from Times Union Financial Services.” “I said, Hello, Did anyone tried to contact me?” I asked confuse about what was going and hoping this lady could provide me answers. Gemma said in reply, “Is this Nyla Chinasa James, I’m speaking with?” I said, “Yes, this is she.” “Well I was calling to inform you that your accounts that’s associated with has been closed due to insufficient funds. Do you know anything about that, Mrs. James?” I wasn’t understanding what was going on because how could I not have money in my account. I said, still confused while I paced back and forth on the phone, “Which accounts are we talking about?” There was a brief silence, “Let me check, Mrs. James?” Mrs. Blake responded politely. As I was on a brief hold I kept biting on my finger nails, because all this wasn’t making since. If I didn’t have any money how was I going to take care of my bills. I didn’t even have enough to pay for my rent. Gemma Blake came back from having me on a brief hold, Gemma said, “We checked the accounts, and it seem the accounts that was affected was the savings account you shared with a Marcus Jerome Johnson and a checking account that ends in 0783, also owned by you and Mr. Johnson, it seemed that Mr. Johnson been transferring large amounts of funds to a private account.” I nodded my head taking everything in, now things were starting to make sense. Marcus made sure to leave me with nothing left to my name. I scratched my scalp , trying to come to terms with everything, I laughed bitterly at the irony of it all. “Are you there Mrs. James?” Asked Gemma who was very concerned. “Yes I’m here.” I said. I took a deep breath and then replied, “It's just a lot to take in, thank you for letting me know, Gemma.” “I’m sorry for the inconvenience but if you need any further assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to us, Gemma added sympathetically. “Thank you for banking at Times Union Financial Services.” I ended the call and laid back down after crying even more because of the situation I was in.