#GOOD_ISNT_GOOD_ENOUGH

EPILOGUE

3|07|18

10:42PM

‘Everything looks beautiful when the sun comes up, or less ugly.’

*

‘Sir, so what happened to your wife afterwards?’ my brightest and most inquisitive student Marsha asked

‘The first few months were hard, and the months turned into years. She didn’t talk to anyone, it was like she was in denial but Paul’s words on faith were always my strength.’

‘Faith? That’s it?’ another asked

I laughed, these kids were intelligent and I could tell the hunger they had for wanting to learn and each day they didn’t make me regret starting up my own foundation where I would counsel youths.More interesting stories on Topster Stories App

‘Yes faith, I told myself that I would embark on a self-discovery journey except this journey also involved loving my wife all over again. With her flaws and demons.’

They laughed

‘So what happened next? The kids, how did you tell them?’ I paused

‘Now that was the hardest part, Matthew was only twelve and Jason Jnr was six. Lord I was broken for those boys and if ever I was both strong and weak it was at that point.’

I could see the blank faces

‘Strong because I had to be their hero and weak because I didn’t have anyone to be strong for me.’ I said and I could see the sympathy

‘Mr. Mtonga it had been ten years; why didn’t you let go? Why didn’t you move on, sorry to sound blunt but she was crazy and you’ she paused ‘You were a fine gentleman.’

I heard the girls agree with her

‘Each passing year I fell deeper in love with Melisa, she was never crazy. She was just fighting battles that were bigger than her.’ I said with honesty ‘Can we hear a word from her?’

I smiled and looked into the audience, Melisa stood up with the help of Jason Jnr and walked to the stage, the students stood up and clapped.

When she got to where I was I kissed her cheek lightly and she flushed with joy. The students sat down

‘I hate to be stealing the spotlight.’ She said causing them to laugh

I smiled, thanking God that we were here. Twelve years later we were both old but still in love and trying to be the perfect example to the younger generation.

‘A word from me?’ Mel began.

She paused then moved closer to the stage

‘Each time my husband came to see me I felt a tag at my heart, I wanted to reach out. To tell him to stop bothering himself, I wanted him to move on but each and every single day he still showed up.’

‘Yes he showed up each day in those ten years.’ She added

‘Some days I felt like it wasn’t worth it, that he should just move on. That I was being a burden to him but even when I yelled and cursed and fought him with every ounce of craziness in me he still stayed.’

She turned to look at me and held out her hand.

‘Marriage is a two way street, it isn’t a bus that you jump on and off on the next station. Once you make a vow to stick with your partner, you fight and work towards being good not only for yourself but for them too.’

‘From what is out there, you didn’t talk much in the years that you were put away, so how come you are here now?’ another student asked

Melisa smiled

‘I realized that Jason wasn’t going anywhere and I was tired of waiting on death whilst being in that place, I mean look at me at forty eight and still standing strong.’ She caused people to laugh

‘So in my eighth year I decided to make an effort, to try and make things work between us. My breaking point was relieving everything I had been through, I told myself that everything I had done wasn’t okay and so I didn’t have to be proud of myself. I had to learn to forgive myself and my father for everything.’

‘Your father, do you feel bad that he died the way he did?’ another asked ‘He is gone, I have made peace with my God. That is all that matters.’

‘Let us talk about your children, did you ever feel anything each time they came?’ ‘My children were what kept me going, most times I contemplated suicide but thinking about Matthew and Jason Jnr told me not to. They brought every report card, each achievement they shared with me. Boy they even told me about their dates and the girls that liked them; God I would never be more grateful for them.’ She said wiping a little tear from her eye.

‘There is a piece that is missing from your story, a piece that everyone seems to be afraid to talk about. Let us talk about Azure.’ A man who looked like a Journalist said

I smiled, so did Melisa.More interesting stories on Topster Stories App

‘Azure came to see me in the last month of my stay in the hospital. I would never miss that face, asking her to forgive me for what I had done to her was one of the hardest things I did because secretly I felt she was the one that took me to that place. But we are fine, she is happily married and has moved on with her life and I am happy for that.’More interesting stories on Topster Stories App

‘Would you two seat down for breakfast and pretend like nothing happened?’

‘Yes we would and she is writing my story. I wouldn’t trust anyone else with my biography than her. She is actually in the country with her husband and be sure to look out for the book soon.’

We closed the conference and walked out of the hall holding hands. Even after twelve years I still loved her, she was still the woman I wanted to wake up next to. ‘Who do we have here?’ Azure asked stepping out of the vehicle with her husband ‘Azure my darling.’ Melisa said embracing the lady

I looked at the two happily, this was a beautiful picture and I was just glad that we were all happy. The sun had shone on us.

Winnie

More interesting stories on Topster Stories App