“I can’t do this,” Charles said as he stood before sofia after making the last toast as a single man.
“I...I...I don’t understand what do you mean?” Sofia’s eyes grew heavy as she tried to deny the words that eagerly slipped out of Charles’ mouth.
“ I’m sorry Sofie I can’t marry you,” Charles felt as if the world were crashing down in a simple moment he realized he couldn’t subject Sofia to the secrets that would soon be revealed. Yet, it was suicide watching the look on his fiance’s face as it slowly killed him.
“I....I don’t understand,” was all she kept saying.
“I know Sofia, but....I just can’t, I’m sorry,” and with that apology charles took his cue and left Sofia, waiting for an explanation she will never have.......
Chapter 1
“Sofia? he has never called me that,” Sofia thought to herself as she watched charles take each step out of the door.
She and Charles had endured everything, from the loss of a child to her cancer, to his mother being diagnosed with Alzheimer's, if anything their love was meant to last forever.
“I ....I just don’t understand,” she kept saying to herself, “I don’t understand,”
“Sofia boo! you okay?!” Moments ago Sofia’s maid of honor and linesister had just professed how deep their love was,” Sofia?! Sofia.....” her linesister kept saying her name.
Her linesister approached her and immediately recognized the look of horror on Sofia’s face , “ O my God,” was all she could manage to say,
“ I just....I just don’t understand E...I...I don’t get it....” Sofia’s daze continued she hadn’t realized that the wedding party all gazed upon her wondering what just happened.
An hour ago Sofia had just watched Charles speak of how their love was unbreakable, a legacy, something rarely seen and envied, yet she still couldn’t understand.
“ What happened?” her linesister asked as she gently guided Sofia to the day room.
“ I....I don’t know...one minute he’s professing our love...the next...he’s telling me he can’t do it...I just don’t understand Erica I don’t...I don’t get it.”
“ It could be cold feet girl...you know how men get...one minute they are living it up the single style then BOOM tomorrow you are getting married, did he say anything else?”
“No....nothing...” Sofia said to Erika. Sofia and Erika had been best friends since her freshmen year in college, after two years of friendship they became life long linesisters and pledged the same sorority.
“ I’ll call him girl...he probably just needs some tough love,” Erica gazed upon her phone searching eagerly for Charles’ number, there wasn’t a ring as his phone went straight to voicemail.
Hey Charles this is Erica I just wanted to check on you if you want me to send your boys over to talk let me know, we are just wondering what’s going on?”
As Erica left her message Sofia continued to stare into the venue that now had became a a blur of nothing.
“I....don’t understand....” Sofia said again and again.
“C’mon girl let’s get you home, “ Erika motioned the valet to retrieve her car.
“What the fuck is going on on?!” Gayle asked as she stormed into the day room, “ Where the hell is Charles?!”
“Not now,” Erica said, “ Gayle just entertain the guests for the night everything is fine.”
“Alright,” Gayle said hesitantly as she eyed Sofia. As she turned to walk back into the dining room she said, “ Sofia...just let me know if I need to beat a nigga’s ass,” and with that she walked into the dining room reassuring everyone that everything was fine.
“It will be better in the morning,” Erica said to Sofia as she clutched her sister and guided her to the car.
The ride through San Diego felt like the longest road trip Sofia had ever taken.
“I don’t get it E...” she kept saying.
“I know boo...” Erica replied with the most reassurance she could fathom.
As Sofia watched the shores of San Diego pass by she thought about the past 6 years.
Charles had proposed to her on a whim. She had no idea, granted after year three they began the talk of marriage but Sofia didn’ t know when Charles would make the lifetime commitment.
But that night as they laid on the beach and watched the waves gently flow against their toes, Charles solidified his love to her.
“Bay....you are my everything, “ he started saying.
“I know as you are mine babe...” Sofia replied unaware of the serious turn the atmosphere had taken.
“ If I asked you to be with me forever...would you?” Charles asked as he stared into the ocean skies.
“ Of coarse,” Sofia had replied.Charles had this same conversation when Sofia was diagnosed with Cervical Cancer. After two months of treatment and her cancer went into remission. She knew that she couldn’t have fought through it without Charles.
“ I’m serious bay,” Charles said into the night sky.
“I know,” Sofia whispered. The waves provided an acoustic sound as she and Charles shared the most intimate moment they had had in years.
“ So will you...spend the rest of your life with me?”
Sofia turned to gaze into Charles’ eyes but she was met with a four carat diamond and immediately the butterflies had returned.
“ O my god YES!!! YES!!!” Charles slipped the ring on her finger and they spent the night celebrating their life long love. She had given herself fully to Charles, that night he finally took what he had been waiting for...her entire being. It was the best sex they had ever had.
As Sofia reminisced on the moment she still hadn’t imagined Charles uncertainty.
“ i really don’t get it...I just don’t,” she said into the darkness.
“ I promise you it’s cold feet,” Erica kept reassuring her.
As they pulled into the driveway Sofia noticed Charles’ space remained empty.
“ He’s just scared right now...you know how men get,” Erica kept reassuring her.
As Erica unlocked Sofia’s door the house leaked the feeling of emptiness it was no longer a home.
Erica guided Sofia to her room and gently undressed her and slipped on her night gown. She laid Sofia in her bed and grasped her her hand hoping to feel some type of life, but her hand was cold.
“Sofie, don’t worry... I promise you its cold feet Charles loves you...” Erica held on tight to Sofia’s hand, yet something deep inside told Sofia that it may be over.....
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