A PROMISE

Ciara

“Are you sure you don’t need me to come with you to court?” Tina asked for the umpteenth time this morning. 

The first thing I'd done when I’d woken up this morning was shower and then get dressed in a pretty white gown; one I didn’t wear often when I was still “married” to Ryan. 

I’d spent an hour fixing my hair and doing makeup because today was the day Ryan and I finally settled our divorce in court and no, I wasn't trying to impress Ryan with the efforts I poured into my looks; I was just trying to hold up the best way I could. 

I couldn’t go to the court looking like I’d cried my eyes out all night now, could I?. Even if I only had a day to assimilate everything that has happened so far, I had to look strong, like my world didn’t just fall apart. 

Tina suggested I eat breakfast before leaving and I’d agreed.

In-between meals, I respond. “I can handle things for myself, Tina”

“I know. It’s just…I’m pretty sure Ryan is not going to be in court alone so—” Tina was cut short by the beeping of her phone. “Hold on”

I watched her expression for a while before speaking up,”Is that Ryan?”

Tina jolted up as if she’d just been caught doing something bad.”I didn’t respond”

“It’s okay. You should probably tell him that I’m alright”

To be honest, it irritated me how Ryan could act as if he cares about me after breaking me. Why was he so bothered anyways? Did he feel like he was doing charity work since I’d once taken care of him?. 

“But tell him not to contact you about me again.” All of a sudden, I’d lost my appetite.

Alighting from my seat, I say. “I best get going”

Tina got up abruptly ; standing in my front with her hands spread out wide by her side. “Wait! You haven’t even finished eating yet”

“I’m quite full, Tina. Thanks”

“But---”

“Tina” I called out sternly, “You really don’t have anything to worry about. I mean it” 

Tina let out a sigh of relief. “Then, can I at least drop you off at the court?”

I nodded my head, agreeing because I knew if I didn’t; Tina would continue to remain anxious. 

“Wait here while I go get my keys” Tina chirp, making her way upstairs to the bedroom. 

In a matter of seconds, she rejoined me and we made our way out of the house onto her red sports car as she drove off to the court. 

I was tensed. Never did I ever imagine that this day would come; that I’d get divorced or Ryan would cheat on me but it did come and now, I didn’t know how to face it. 

As the court became clearer and closer to view, I took in deep breaths chiding myself over and over again that I got this. 

“The audacity!” Tina cursed looking out my side of the car window, taking me by surprise.

Following her gaze, I saw the reason behind her sudden outburst; Ryan and his girlfriend were standing outside the court, her hands wrapped around his arms. 

I tried my best to act unaffected but there was no denying the fact that I was. Looking away from them, I turned to Tina with a smile. “It’s only natural she’s here,”

“She should at least have some shame!”

“And you should get going to work” I say unfastening my seatbelt. “You work under someone”

“Text me how it goes and let me know when you’re done so that I’ll come pick you up”

“What are you now? My chauffeur?” I joked with a light laugh. “I can get home just fine and besides, I doubt I’ll be going home straight. I need to live a little if Ryan is doing same”

“But---” I cut Tina off with a hug.

“Thank you for looking out for me, Tina. I won’t do anything to make you worry, I promise you so you should just worry about yourself, okay?”

Tina wrapped her arms around me, “Okay. Go on now”

I refrained from her, climbed down the car and waited until Tina’s car was out of sight before I turned around to head into the court; bypassing Ryan but he’d held me back. 

“Ciara, are you alright? I was—” I released my hands from his as if his touch burnt me and they did. 

I looked at Anne, “Could you keep your man under control? I don’t like strangers touching me”

Anne scoffed at me, “Ryan, go inside” she says, her eyes never leaving mine but Ryan didn’t move and this seemed to have heightened her anger. “Hurry!” She shouted, making Ryan spring to action and leaving she and I all alone outside. 

“You just called Ryan a stranger but yet you go texting him at night? How pathetic”

I quirked my brow, confused. “Texting him at night? Why would I?”

“If you didn’t why else would he be worried about you? About where you slept at night and how you fared?!”

Her anger were coming from a place called low self esteem. I could see it. She was anxious; anxious that perhaps Ryan was going to leave her just as he’d left me. 

“Are you scared?” I questioned, uncertain because she didn’t have any right to be. She had everything that was mine in a year under some few minutes so why would she be anxious?. 

She blinked taken aback,”What? Why would I be scared?” 

“My point exactly” I stressed out. “You have Ryan; who you’ve always wanted. So why do you look unhappy?”

Closing the distance between us, I whispered into her ears. “Don’t worry, I’m going to make sure to divorce Ryan and leave him with the worst memory possible in court today so that even if he decides to leave you, he won’t be able to come back to me. That I promise you.”