MY HUSBAND’S BROTHER

INVITE ME TO YOUR NEXT WEDDING

Maizah bids her goodbyes to her family while Amare patiently waits for her beside his car.

As she ascends the staircase, her hands run over the old photographs hanging on the wall. Some of these pictures go back to the 90s, while some are even older. One of the photos shows two young girls in the company of two grown-ups, a man and a woman.

"I miss you so much." She says, talking to the pictures.

"Me too little dove." Aunt Masara's voice stapes her out of her skin. She turns around.

"I was looking for you; I didn't want to leave without seeing you."

"I was just finishing up payments, ohh my dove. I will miss you."

"I will miss you too, Bambi," Maizah replies, unable to hide the sadness in her voice.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't do anything to stop this from happening." Says Aunt Masara, brushing Maizah's cheek.

"No, don't worry, Bambi. What's done is done. There's no point in crying over a spilled beside marriages like this happen more than we can admit. Well, not like this, but arranged marriages are common for people like us." Maizah replies

"Still, I can't help but feel like I have failed."

"You didn't fail. You are a strong woman, Bambi; don't forget that."

"Strong women don't feel helpless as I do right now.

"A strong woman knows when to disengage. She knows that she can't meet every challenge life throws at her. It means you can't always be strong and don't cling to the myth that strength means never retreating, never being wrong, and never feeling weak."

"Okay. I hear you, but that doesn't mean I will stop fighting for you. I will find a way to free you, my little dove." Says Masara, looking at Maizah straight in the eyes.

Maizah smiles and hugs her tightly. "Bambi, you have already done enough. No one held you at gunpoint; you chose to help me and be my side all this time. Now, I only ask you to take care of yourself, first buy a TV so you won't be bored. Work on craft and sewing projects. Have fun, do what other grannies do."

Masara exclaims, "Hey, I'm not that old. I still have a few years left before that." She responds, chuckling.

Maizah chuckles, too. "Okay, okay, but please promise me. You will take care of yourself. "She says with a concerned look.

"For you, my little dove, I promise I will do anything, including tearing down those big walls and taking you back the second they make you cry." Says Masara, holding Maizah on both shoulders.

Maizah giggles, hugging her with one arm. "Bambi, I'm talking about you."

Masara sighs "Fine, Fine. I will take care of myself, I promise." She says, giving her a warm smile.

"Thank you. I love you, my Bambi."Says Maizah, embracing her aunt one last time.

"I love you too, my little dove." She whispers, holding her tightly.

Masara walks out Maizah. The music in the backyard is still playing, with people screaming their lungs out as they imitate the song playing. Maizah chuckles as she sees a few cousins happily singing the wrong lyrics while walking toward her.

"This is the best cracking s**t I have ever been to. Please, cousin, invite me to your next wedding," slurs Mike with hiccups.

"Me too, this is sick!" says Rasha as she jumps to hug Maizah, almost causing them both to fall. Luckily, Maizah regains her balance.

"Wait, are you leaving now?" Rasha asks as she notices the bag in her hand.

"Yes, I am," Maizah replies softly.

"Can you please share your location with me? I will visit you tomorrow!" Dina exclaims.

"What?" Maizah panics mentally as she chuckles lightly without responding.

"Don't tell me just because you married to a rich family, you want to abandon us." Says Diana, seeing that Maizah is hesitating to answer her.

Maizah is not the type to speak up to avoid hurting someone's feelings. She is easily offended and feels drained after social gatherings.

People like Dina are the ones she usually avoids. Dina is an energy vampire. She feeds off other people's emotional energy. She lacks empathy and consideration. She's addicted to preying on the vitality of others in an attempt to heal her inner suffering.

It's not even surprising that Maizah doesn't have friends, it's pretty lonely if you think about it too much, but to her, it's peaceful.

"Yeah, me too. I want to have fun," slurs Mike

"We will all visit you tomorrow but don't worry. We will leave Matt behind. He has already pissed himself twice." Says Rasha, grinning at Maizah.

Maizah mentally gasps as she looks at her cousins with wide eyes.

"No, one is visiting anyone tomorrow. Maizah just got married, so tomorrow she will be too tired to worry about you goons." Says Nadia, oh, thank God! Finally, someone with a brain, Maizah, had a long day.

They typically don't return home until all the drinks and meat have been consumed. Where the hell are they going to get the energy to visit Maizah tomorrow?

"Right. She's getting it tonight!." Rasha responds, smirking at Maizah, but Maizah looks at her confused.

"Getting what? Rebecca never said anything about giving me something after marriage ?" Maizah thinks as she smiles slightly at her cousins.

"How can I forget? You are going to have seeds right in your hand."

"Seeds?" Maizah asks

"Yes, you are going to get banged. So you know when the guy.."

"No, No explaining. Maizah, please leave. I will take care of these idiots. Travels safe," Says Nadia while glaring at James.

"Okay, Goodbye Nadia, Goodbye to you party animals." Says Maizah, waving at them with a smile.

They all respond with different words, with Jack looking like he's having a seizure or maybe he's just trying to impregnate the air.

Maizah finally arrives at Amare, who is irritated by how long it took her to say goodbye. It's not like she was digging their graves and burying them or anything like that.