It was late at night and the clock had just stroke 11.30pm. There were two of us in the lounge, deep in an emotional conversation . Cindy my best friend had agreed to stay with me for the night to help me get over a break up with my childhood sweetheart, Tom. An open bottle of Vodka, two half-full glasses and a plate of fried chicken wings lay on top of a dark mahogany table. The sound of a ringing doorbell interrupted us. I tiptoed into the kitchen wondering who it might be at that time of the night. Cindy closely followed . She had tried all she could to help me get over the break-up. Unfortunately for me little did l know she knew what was happening. After all, how could I suspect a friend I had known throughout my entire life. My name is Riley and this is my love story.

In a wink I had reached the main door. At the door steps stood the person I wished to see, especially at that particular hour :Tom. He had been my boyfriend since our primary school days, back then at St Louis high school. The man who had meant my World. The typical Romeo and Juliet fantasy love story seemed to perfectly suit us. In the eyes of many we were the definition of a perfect power couple. Tom was tall and mascular. He was a reserved, God fearing man. Career wise he had just finished serving his two year articles of clerkship with Mayo attorney’s, whilst I was a medical doctor. I stood there for a while stunned by his presence. He perfectly read my mind, because he didn’t say a word . I wanted to hug him as I had before, but it was too late. My decision to leave him for good was non-negotiable.

“What do you want? ” I asked him trying to shed a pool of tears that had formed on my eyes. “We broke up”.

Tom stared at me for a while without saying anything. He seemed to be struggling to find the right words.

” Well, Riley I came to get my staff”.

Weird as it sounds at that time of the night, it was a bit relieving emotionally. The sight of his clothes and other small essentials he had left at my place a couple of days earlier was just draining. It kept alive the old memories I was trying to flash off the files of memory . Without saying anything further I turned back, pushing Cindy sideways I hurried to my bedroom to get his staff. Little did I knew that as soon l turned my back, l had given initiative to the two to tango.

After l vanished l suspected that Cindy got out and greeted him . She had asked him to a proposing ring. I guess she offered to try it but, unfortunately for them it could not come out because as soon as I appeared on the door-way I could not believe what l saw. My best friend was eagerly trying to get out a ring that my ex-boyfriend had bought for her. That was the worst thing I ever envisaged. It was the moment l realised that what happens in movies was just a depictation of what sometimes transpires in real life situations. Silently placing a small suitcase on the floor I stood there watching. My presence had the two melting in disbelief. Cindy nearly jumped out of her skin in disbelief as fear chased on her facial features.

“Its not what you suspect Riley, l will explain everything to you!!” exclaimed Tom in disbelief.

Without giving Cindy the chance to say a word I forcefully threw his suitcase at him. The pain which I felt was unbearable so much that it was comparable to what l felt when I lost my elder sister at the hands of her abusive boyfriend. My negative conception that men were manipulators kept ringing in my head.

“I don’t want to ever see you again” I screamed at him.

Slamming the door behind me I moved swiftly towards the lounge. It was perhaps the most difficult hour of my whole life. As l lay there sobbing I realised that out of anger, I had forgetten to lock the door and Cindy had found a way back.

“You need to calm down Riley and listen to me. I will explain everything to you”. Cindy said assuredly.

The thing I wanted was to hear any word from her. I had seen it with my own eyes so explanations were irrelevant. That had to be the end of our relationship. I sobbed bitterly without saying a word.

“Cindy you betrayed me” I said finally ” You knew how I felt about Tom, the wedding plans, the kids and of course the future”.

“It’s not what you suspect Riley” Cindy insisted.

“What about the ring”? I asked.

Cindy looked at me for a while without saying a word. I had known her ever since we relocated to Masvingo when I was five and we had been best friends throughout our entire high school days. Whilst I went abroad to study medicine, she had stayed behind to pursue an electrical engineering degree, albeit we had kept our friendship intact through regular commination via Facebook and whatsapp. Based on her facial expressions and my experience with her I could sense her innocence.

However a dance with devil would last me forever. She had to leave my place and I had cut her off for life.

“What about the ring ?” l asked again.

The sound of my ringing cellphone interrupted our conversation. I had to hury to get it from the kitchen where l had left it in oder to recharge a couple of hours earlier. Whilst I was in the kitchen, I suspect that was when Cindy poured something into my glass. As soon as I returned, one sip from the glass and l blanked . I must have slept for close to six hours in a concussion state. When I did finally woke up, I was treated to the greatest shock of my entire life. I lay in Tom’s hands.

“Hey!!” Tom whispered lovingly. “Thank God you are awake”, he said.

Cindy sat on the opposite side. She tried to engage me in a conversation, but the memories of what happened the previous night flashed into my mind.

“I saw both of you yesterday”, I said finally. ” I am out of here”.

“Riley wait!!” Tom screamed as I rushed to the door.

In a wink I pushed the door wide open. I couldn’t believe what I saw. My parents and a few friends stood there in wait. My dad had a bottle of champagne and my mom a bunch of flowers. They were ready to celebrate.

“Are you going to say, yes?” my dad screamed.

“Wait, what is going on here?” I asked. I was confused about the whole thing but I knew I wasn’t dreaming.

Tom and Cindy appeared at once. The whole thing was just a planned affair. After all, Cindy had not betrayed me. She was helping Tom to give a fairytale proposal based on my favorite movie of all time “The sleeping Maid”. Perhaps it was unfortunate that I had seen the ring before the whole play got underway and my unbendable persona which was defined by quick to judge, did me little favors.

Tom kneeled in front of me, a ring in his hand.

“Riley Thompson will you marry me? “

“Yes”!! I exclaimed in happiness.

The celebrations had just begun. My family and friends were just happy for us and the new chapter that away us.

As l hugged and kissed Tom, Cindy played my favorite song of all time, “We found love”, by Rihanna. It was like a fairytale, but more importantly I had found two values that the majority in this world wished to have, but are experienced by the minority; true love and true friendship . As we hugged and celebrated I couldn’t just skip a bit thinking of Cindy. What a character of a friend she was. It was all because of her that my ultimate hour had come.

The end