FEBRUARY 14

A lot of people have personal days and dates of memory, could be 20th January, 30th February, 11th September, 1st October, 31st October, 23rd November or even the famous 25th December. It could be a birthday, wedding, holiday, day you found out you where positive, or escaped death, day you hammered, day your heart was broken, your first car, national disaster, or the day you die. Whoever you are, you have dates you never forget, dates which when they reoccur you either celebrate or mourn.
And so it is, I have one of this dates, one out of all the 366 dates possible in a human calendar, this date made me where I am today, this date changed my life forever, the date’s February 14………valentine’s day.
The time was 5.59am, and I was already awake but not out of bed, was waiting anxiously for the alarm to go off. It had become a routine never to get out of bed until I heard her voice on the alarm say “it’s time to get up honey, you don’t want to be late do you?”, the voice of the one I had planned today specially for. So I lay in bed waiting even though I had been awake for the past 45 mins.
6.00am and it went off, my goodness, that voice, it really was worth waiting for and waking up too. But soon it’ll be it would be more than just the voice I’d be waking up to, but her presence, touch and gentle sound of her breathing next to me, soon she was going to be my bride. I had picked today as the perfect day to pop the question. She couldn’t have my child without having my name.
The elation shot through me, I was to be a father and a husband…..soon.
So I jumped out of bed, did my usual 100 push ups, sit ups, had a bath, coffee glanced through the papers, finally time check was 7.30, she should be ready by now, ready to go to work. Good thing she was on duty this Saturday, that way I could make my plans with out expecting any intrusion.
Hey babe, good morning. Happy Valentines Day
You too hon, just about heading out for work
You don’t sound ok, what’s up?
The thought of going to work today is killing, wish I where with you
Awh! Don’t worry babe, you’ll be through by 6pm then we’ll have the evening and night. How’s my baby?
Which one, she laughs
The small tiny one
How would I know, doesn’t even feel like I’m carry anything yet, only been 2 months
Aight then, have fun, would miss you loads
You to hon.
And she was gone. Now I had to get everything set.
First of all send flowers to her office then, pink roses and tulips, her favourite coupled with truffels. That should keep her busy till we see.
Had to get to Cartier to pick up the ring, had to have it custom made to her taste.
Then the market, couldn’t believe I was actually going to cook, not that I couldn’t, just that I was going to out do my self today. Pasta, fish fillets, pork chops, grilled steak, garden salad, barbequed chicken, spiced potatoes, fro the wine it has to be a 1943 Coteaux de Layon, thought champagne but she wasn’t really a fan, but still a Moët would do perfectly for a night cap.
Time check now was 11.23am, right on schedule. What was left was the florist to pick up more flowers for my place, and then hit the mall for some scented candles; lavender and strawberries would be perfect.
Damn I had almost forgot to pick up dessert, so I picked up strawberries, ice-cream, fruit cake and whip cream for the after party. Oh man I had a wicked grin on my face, the thought alone put me in frenzy.
Got home by about 1.30pm, good timing I could get every thing ready before I went to pick her up.
Immediately I remembered we hadn’t yet finalised the plans and hadn’t found out if she had received my flowers and chocolate.
Why hadn’t she called? the delivery guys promised to deliver within the hour, that was like since 10 in the morning.
“The number you’re trying to call is not reachable right now Pl…….” that was her number; I tried again and still heard the not so sexy voice telling me the same message.
Oh well probably she’s busy, would call her later.
Called my best friend to let him know of my plans, his phone also was not available,
Really! This network couldn’t pick a better day to mess things up
Straight up I went to the kitchen to get started, I know I’m a hell of a cook but thank God for oven cooked meals, putting on my apron I went to work, started with seasoning the chicken then left it to marinate, put the pork chops in the oven. Everything took more time than I had anticipated but by 4.40 I was through
Went ached to set the table, lit the candles, made sure the cd was in the player, rose petals in the bath tub, checked for the ring again. After everything I look around, B.E.A.U.tiful was all I could think, “You’ve out don’t yourself my friend” I heard my self say. Quickly I went to get my camera, this was something our kids had to see, I spotted her Val gift, a matching Tiffany necklace and bangle, 5 carat gold with diamond studs, I really was out doing myself, but could I help it? I was crazy in love.
Nothing could mess the night up, or so I thought, it started going wrong right about 5.20pm,
I knew this because I was taking pictures of the whole setting, that’s when I realised something was missing, I left my carving knife at her place, Damn! Had to rush over to her place, good thing I had a key.
I called again but her phone was still not available, bloody network.
I had to make a quick decision,
Okay, I first rush over to her place, pick up the knife, then head over to hospital and pick her up.
Next wrong thing was the car, in all the whole rush I forgot to buy gas, it stopped almost as I was getting to her place. Good thing I was almost there, I could walk it
Was still picturing the night in my head when I got to her place,
Her car was parked in the garage, so! She was back from work, time check was 6.10pm,
From here I wish I made different choices, all I wanted to do was surprise her.
So I opened her door with my own key, why did I not knock? AARRRGH!
The whole house was pitch black, but I knew my way around
Normally I usually shout a greeting to know where she, I didn’t.
I fiddled my way round the sitting room pass the kitchen and dining, that’s when I heard it, could hear the sound of one moaning, and a man grunting, was she watching porn? I knew she said she had given it up but hey, anything to get the mood right. So I followed my ears till my eyes caught up with the light from the room, gently opening the door I saw what I had pictured, only this time it was not happening on the TV, it was happening right there on her bed.
What I say could only be seen in hardcore porn, she was been taking from behind…for that reason they couldn’t see me.
I really can say what I was feeling, I what came over me.
The love and elation I felt turned hate and madness.
I walked back the same way I came, to the kitchen, and poured myself a glass of scotch, then two, then another and another until I lost count trying to drown the sound and moaning coming from next door.
Don’t know how long I spent sitting in the dark, but I noticed the sound had seized. I heard the soft laughter I was used to, then her saying she need a drink, and something about calling me.
How could she be like that, after being screwed senseless, she was going to call me……… no sooner than 2 minutes my phone rang,
Do you hear that, she said?
Immediately my phone stopped ringing.
Then again it started,
This time I was walking back to the room, holding my phone and the carving knife I came for,
Oh shit! Get dressed she said, I guess she was too busy dressing she didn’t cut this time,…for some reason I was smiling inside, was happening just like in the movies, pity I couldn’t see her first reaction, but I got to see her reaction when I entered the room.
Em, hey, you didn’t say you’d be coming, why didn’t you cal…. Sorry my battery was dead…..you know this isn’t what it looks like.
She was going to play that card.
I looked at the son of Bitch she was with, only to realise it was my dick head best friends.
You bastard, I charged after him with the carving knife,
I guess he was waiting for that move, because I charged right into a knuckle blow.
Damn! I was counting my teeth,
This fool broke my teeth, with all fury I charged again, this time like an NFL quarter back going for the killer tackle, pulled him down, alone with the mirrors, the table and every thing on it. Up on him I rained punches, the more she was screaming for me to stop, the more it fueled my anger. All I could picture was this fool humping my wife to be, next thing I heard was her scream,
“He’s the father of my child”.
In shock I paused which gave him a chance to knock me over
When where you going to tell me? After I made a fool of myself by proposing to you? I fumbled for the ring in my pocket and threw at her.
“I was going to tell you today, I’m so sorry”
You bitch! I tried standing when I was knocked back down by my best friend.
Please don’t, leave him, she screamed,
But he was always one to show off and never back down, so he came after me, quickly I pick up the knife and swung,
And it hit home, only that something was wrong, right in front of me wasn’t him but her, how did it happen? I later realised that while I was picking up the knife she had jumped between us to stop our madness.
What have you done, had open his mouth to speak.
Call 911 you fool,
My hand all covered in blood; hold her as she began to cough up blood.
Don’t speak, just hang in there,
CALL 911 YOU FOOL! I screamed
I’m so sorry, please forgive me, I don’t know what I was thinking
No, I’m the one that’s sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you, I really….I really do love you……she coughs up more blood. I’m so sorry. And the lights fade out of her eyes.
My God what had I done? I looked around to see I was alone, next thing I hear sirens and see flashes of blue and red.
Moments later, I hear stomping feet, crashing doors, and then unclear words. I was drowning I oblivion.
LET ME SEE YOU HANDS!
DROP THE WEAPON!
STEP AWAY FROM THE BODY!
LET’S SEE THOSE HANDS!
ON THE FLOOR NOW! NOW! NOW!
So I was pushed to the ground and cuffed, I tried crying out for them to help her, but the words didn’t travel as far as my lips
Every thing else happened so fast, I realized the cops had been called by neighbours from hearing the noise. I was hulled outside into the dark night painted by the red and blue lights then into the black and white and from there on my who life seemed to diminish, my bloody shirt was replace with an orange two piece, my name changed to inmate 2005214, don’t remember the trial, because it didn’t take that long.
What happened to my pork chops, barbequed chicken, pasta, my Moët? My Val gift in the drawer? I guess the candles burned bright and out, the music played with no one to dance to it. Flowers dried up, ice-cream melted out. What happened to my well made home in anticipation of Valentine’s Day? I’ll never know
Its 2010 February 13, and my new cell mate asks,
You got anybody on the outside you would have spent tomorrow with
I rolled my back to him and say,
Wake me up when it’s February 15.