The Public Embrace

SOME KINDNESS IS SHARPER THAN A BLADE;

In my first life - this same woman had humiliated me endlessly.

Too poor in spirit. Too soft. Too weak in faith. She had once told me in front of the church members. “A woman like you should be grateful any man wants you at all.”

That day broke me. But this Amanda, is not broken rather, she breaks people.

-

I cross from where I stand slowly, every step confident. The crowd part without realizing it.

Marcus whispers “Mother, she's coming here.”

Mrs Blackwood straightens. “Good. I'll teach her manners.”

But before she can speak again - I open my arms and embrace her publicly… Tightly… Warmly.

Camera's flashes and gasps fill the hall.

“My beautiful future mother-in-law,” I said sweetly, loud enough for nearby guests to hear. “I miss you so much. It's been so long, mother.”

Mrs Blackwood freeze.

Her hands hovers in the air, uncertain, humiliated, trap inside a hug she never wanted.

I lean closer touching her black curly hair. My voice is low and dangerous. “You taught me so much,” I whisper. “Especially how to never be like you.”

Mrs Blackwood stiffens in rage. I pull away, smiling brightly.

“Attention,” I said turning to the crowd, “Mrs Blackwood has always guided me in faith and womanhood. Without her harsh lessons, I wouldn't be this strong today.”

Murmurs rise. Some nod in approval and others clap politely.

Mrs Blackwood face burns red beneath her makeup. She has just been praised using her own cruelty and she can't attack me without looking evil.

“How dare you embarass me like this?” Mrs Blackwood hiss quietly.

I tilt my head. “Embarrass you? I honored you. Isn't that what godly women do?”

Marcus steps forward. “Amanda, stop creating a scene -”

I turn to him calmly. “You invited me into your family once. I'm just returning the role you offered.”

“Stop pretending, Amanda” Judy said quietly.

I met her eyes. “Little sister, am not pretending. I'm performing.”

Then I turn to Mrs Blackwood and take her hand gently - like I cherish it.

“Please mother,” I said loudly, “come have a photo with me. I think people should see how close we are.”

The crowd turns to us smiling as cameras rise. At this point, Mrs Blackwood wants to scream but she smiles, instead.

Because she believes, queens do not scream in public.

The photo is taken. And in that photo, Mrs Blackwood looks like a loving, proud woman standing beside the very person she hate the most. Instead, she burns.

After the cameras moves away, Mrs Blackwood pulls me aside.

“You animal,” she whispers. “You think this makes you powerful? You're still nothing but a girl pretending to be strong.”

My smile fades - but my calm deepens. 

“I am strong,” I said softly. “I survived things you couldn't imagine. And this is just the beginning, Mrs Blackwood.”

Mrs Blackwood's eyes narrows. “The beginning?, you scyco. I will never accept you into my family, you'll never marry Marcus.”

I laugh softly. “That imbecile! Any woman that marrys Marcus, has just bought death with her own hard earn money.”

I step away, leaving Mrs Blackwood shaking with fury.

…

I stand in my table, sipping wine slowly. I reflects the incidence with Mrs Blackwood, I had just left her wondering…

Marcus stands in front of me. “You humiliated my mother - again.”

I sip the wine calmly. “And will you try to hit me again? Don't worry, Evan isn't here.”

“Your changing, Amanda,” he said. “I don't recognize you anymore.”

I lean closer. “That's because the woman you recognize is dead.”

Judy watches from a distance, her eyes full of hatred and fear.

I walk out into the cold night air, my chest rising slowly as emotion finally touch me.

“How did I do - did I go too far.” I ask quietly, as Evan opens the door of the black Audi R8.

“You went exactly where you needed to go.”

I look at the stars and said to myself. “In my first life, I begged that woman to like me. Tonight, I made her hate me more than ever. And, I've never felt more free.”

*****

Mrs Blackwood slams her bedroom door.

“That girl is poison!” She screams flinging her bag to the bed. “She will destroy everything!”

Marcus tried to calm her. “Mother -”

“No!” She snaps. “If she will not bow to me, she must fall.”

She looks at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes darkens with a dangerous resolve.

“This time,” she whispers, “I will not just fight Amanda Carter reputation. I will end it “