Best friends

Evelyn's POV

When I reached the gate, putting my bags in the car trunk with Mariam's help, my aunt's car drove by and it appeared to me that they would be celebrating another family union.

The former me would have wished to belong but not anymore. I've decided and realized that I needed to start a new life. The freedom I've always wished for had finally been given to me. To think that I thought my pregnancy would reunite me and my husband.

Now I'm glad that I never told him about my baby and I also don't plan to abort my baby.

I wanted to remain single for the rest of my life and make my child my only family.

Mariam touched my shoulder as I looked at the building behind us. “It's over now,” she reminded me calmly.

“I know. I just can't believe that I chose to be in bondage all these years because I wanted them to like me. It was never worth it.”

“You are right and I'm happy about the decision you made.”

“To be honest, it wasn't easy,” I drifted my gaze to my friend. “I loved Nathan so much; I wanted him to be proud of me like he was of Rachel, but when I looked into his eyes, I saw the truth and what he truly felt about me. Now I'm free.”

Mariam gave me a tight hug. “Guess what? I'm very proud of you.”

Her words brought warmth to my heart. I never thought I needed a hug until she held me in her arms. “Thank you, babe,” I accepted her gesture and let out a sigh of relief.

Afterward, we entered the cab. “Could you believe what Nathan said to me?” I told Mariam everything Nathan said to me at the court and as expected, Mariam laughed out loud. I didn't know how funny it was, but when she started laughing, I found myself laughing hard as well.

We spent our time in the cab talking about how foolish Nathan was and what he had lost. We also talked about how slutty Rachel was. She entered Nathan's life because she was tired of being single and Nathan was growing very well in the industry.

Well, Nathan is already a past tense to me.

When we entered Mariam's house, I went straight to the kitchen to cook something delicious out of the ingredients we bought from the store on our way to her house while Mariam headed to her room to arrange my belongings and adjust hers so there could be more space for my things.

After everything was done, we celebrated my freedom by eating and drinking. However, I didn't drink alcohol but Mariam surely did.

“I'll be having a party next week,” Mariam informed me.

“Don't worry, I'll stay in the room because I won't be interested.”

But she only smiled and fell asleep beside me. After some time, I fell asleep too.

Days went by but I could still not find a job. My application was either insufficient for what they were looking for, or I never received a response from the company.

I was disappointed so I decided to start designing clothes like I used to three years ago before my husband killed my passion. I had to start all over again but it wasn't as hard as the first time.

Mariam, on the other hand, had been behaving strangely, and when I asked her about it, she'd only shake her head. I wondered if she was angry with me.

The day she planned to have a party eventually arrived so I helped her with the decorations and asked her about the purpose of the party.

“You are my best friend but you don't know the purpose of the party,” that was her response.

“But you didn't tell me what it's about,” I was confused.

“If you don't know then forget about it,” she walked away from me while I went to our room to get back to designing the dress I was almost done with.

I grabbed my phone to check something important online, but upon unlocking my phone, I saw that I had a notification.

Oh no, it was my best friend's birthday. My calendar reminded me. How could I not have figured that out or recall when she told me she was throwing a party?

I allowed myself to be caught up in my situation and forgot about the only person who cared about me.

I felt terrible when I found out and began to wonder how I was going to make it up to her. How could I have been so clueless?

I began to think of a present for her as I checked my savings account and saw that I had spent three-quarters of the amount of money I initially had. What was I going to get for my best friend?

I started to search for the best gift online, but I had it at the back of my mind that I needed to finish the dress.

Then it dawned on me that I had a dress that I was working on. I wasn't sure but I believe it would fit her perfectly.

I spent two hours finishing the dress and glanced at my masterpiece for a while before laying it flat on the bed. After that, I went to the living room where Mariam would have the small party. I searched for her for a little while and found her behind a decoration.

“I have something beautiful to show you,” I grabbed her arm but she aggressively pulled out.

“I'm still very much busy,” she said and got her hands busy.

“I know you are upset with me but you really need to come with me.”

Mariam walked away so I followed her. She went straight to our room and I was right behind her.

“What do you want to show me?” She asked me immediately we got to the room so I ran inside the room and grabbed the dress.

“Happy birthday, Mariam!” I believed I celebrated her. “I was thinking that…”

Mariam unexpectedly came to me and threw herself at me. She must have forgotten that I was pregnant.

“You forgot my birthday,” she uttered.

“How could I have been so dumb?”

“You are dumb sometimes. Like when you…”

“Please, do not say it!”

“Like when you choose Nathan, that jerk!”