Lindiwe exhaled. It had taken her a long time to get here. To get to a point where she felt so comfortable with her body. She was now able to smile a genuine smile because she felt a genuine sense of peace and joy, especially when looking at herself in the mirror.

“Are you okay?” David asked softly.

She glanced down at the man seated on the bed gazing at her with so much adoration. She’d honestly never thought she would find someone who would love her ever again. Especially not as much as David did. She’d known on that fateful day when they met while she was window shopping at a jewelry store that she loved him.

“Do you like what you see?” A cheerful and friendly voice had spoken behind her. Glancing up, she could ascertain that she definitely did, but David was speaking about the diamond earrings she’d been staring at for the past couple of minutes. “They’re one of kind. Suitable for a one of a kind woman.” He said and stared into her soul.

“I’m just looking. I can’t purchase them at the moment.” She said.

“Why should a beautiful woman have to buy her own jewelry. That’s a man’s job.” 

She blushed. “Oh, I’m not really with anyone. I’m divorced.” She raised her ring finger at him but instantly regretted why she’d told she was divorced. That would probably scare him away.

The look in his eyes relieved her of her worries. “Oh, well I don’t know your ex-husband but I’m assuming he’s an idiot.” They both laughed. “Although, I’m relieved I won’t have to battle anyone for your attention. Although I’m pretty sure you have a ton of suitors waiting in line.”

She smirked. “Is it in this store’s policy to flirt with customers?”

“If it’ll get you to buy our jewelry.” He joked.

She giggled. “In that case, they should hire only female employees. It’s the man’s job to buy the jewelry, right?” 

He laughed. “You have a point.” 

Their conversation had played over and over in her head for the rest of that day. Even though she felt awkward about giving him her number on their first meeting, which was something she never did. He never gave her a reason to regret it. He’d eventually asked her out on a date, and several dates turned into a relationship. Which led her to that dreadful moment of having to share what had now become her secret.

“I’m a cancer survivor.” She told him one day as they were sitting under a starlit sky late in the evening. The sympathy in his eyes was comforting, but she remained quiet for a long moment as if to signal him to brace himself for what she would tell him next. He got the hint that there was more. “They had to surgically remove one of my breasts.” She’d expected the shock in his face but not his next action.

He tightly embraced her, refusing to let her go until she felt better. How had he known that this was what she needed? It was what she’d needed for so many years. “There’s nothing you can tell me that’ll ever change the way I feel about you.” He said.

Why was he not running away as fast as his feet could carry him? That was what her previous husband had done? He’d already resented her for her inability to bear children even though he refused to check with doctors if he wasn’t the one with the problem. The cancer was the last straw. He’d packed up and left her at her worst moment. When she needed him the most.

Every single day, she waited for David to change his mind about her. She’d be disappointed, but she wouldn’t blame him. She’d taught herself not to expect unconditional love or acceptance. She wasn’t worthy of it, is what she told herself. 

The day finally came. He was claiming to be busy the entire day and couldn’t even speak to her on the phone for a mere 2 minutes. When he invited for dinner that evening, she thought this was it. He wanted out. That evening, he put a diamond ring on her finger that matched with the earrings he’d bought her several weeks after they met.

She finally nodded, having been reflecting on the time they’d spent together, including their grand wedding at their favorite venue on the coast. He reached out his hand and brushed the huge bump on her belly. Everything he felt about her was written in his face, and she felt the exact same way, if not more.