"I don't think I can do this anymore, I told Jemo as he was walking me home
"His confusion made me feel guilty. Is there someone else? he asked, stopping me in the darkly lit street, his eyes piercing into mine
"I hesitated. I didn't want to hurt his feelings. But again the pretense was killing me. According to him, he had the perfect candidate for a wife. I gave him everything a man could dream about
"But Grace was giving me everything a woman could ever need: security, peace of mind, space to be myself...
"I wasn't ready to tell him that, of course. And as I looked at him, I felt lost. He was such a good friend. Supportive. Always there for me
"Be bold, Grace had told me that morning. Break the closet and throw away the key, she said
"Yet here I was, looking at him with pitiful eyes, unable to construct a meaningful sentence. Was it that hard to turn down someone?
"Is it Evans, the Hotel Manager? He was hurting from rejection. I saw several of his missed calls on your phone. Poor boy
"I take both his hands, gently looking at his confused eyes. He waits with bated breath. There's always someone else, Jemo. Always
"No, its not Evans. Its actually Grace, my best friend. He looks up sharply at me, smiling sheepishly. You are joking, right? I wish I was
"Grace is telling you to dump me? After what, 4 years? No, she's not asking me to do anything. Am moving in with her from next month
Jemo is devastated. Completely shredded into a million pieces. He can't comprehend. He wants to tell me a thousand things but words just fail him.
"I love her, Jemo. Always have. Always will. And you will always remain a true friend for both of us
"He looks at me one last time and as he starts to walk away, I feel a sigh of relief wash down my whole body. His shoulders hunched, Jemo disappears down the street
"I walk towards the wine & spirit store. A bottle of champagne would be ideal..
"And so would be a call to my sweetheart Grace..."