TABITHA

CHAPTER 22

Greg's POV

Looking at the smile that used to calm me feels so surreal.

Pearl white teeth and chocolate skin go so well together.

The contrast is just so mesmerizing.

Heck! Who am I deceiving?

She still affects me as much as she used to.

With the way her yellow floral top and stonewashed denim skirt complemented her flawless melanin, she was the true epitome of beauty.

I was foolish to have wasted all these years without her in my life.

After the shocking events that transpired on that morning Rita died, I needed to get away from it all.

My half-sister dying and my parents' divorce coupled with still trying to move on from my other sister's death made me go bonkers.

The time between writing our WASSCE and going to USA was spent with Tabitha almost to the point of choking her with my presence.

That was the only way I knew to deal with the turbulent emotions churning inside of me.

I don't know what it was in Tabitha that always made her presence calming to me.

She was the glue that kept my mind and body together.

I know she thinks we drifted apart.

What she doesn't know is that it was intentional on my part.

We were currently seated at a restaurant inside the mall, opposite ShopRite.

After she had paid for her purchase, I asked if she had time to talk.

To my surprise, she readily agreed.

I was half expecting some guy to pop up and say he was her husband.

I had complimented on her still being as beautiful as ever and that was what elicited the smile she blessed me with.

"I still can't believe that you're sitting in front of me, Greg." I heard her say.

Her shock was evident on her face.

I can't blame her. It's all my fault.

"I know. There are things you should know. I just want you to listen, okay?"

She bobbed her head in response.

Taking a deep breath, I started.

"I'm going to start by saying that I'm very sorry about what happened in the past.

I know it might not have seemed that way then. But it's true.

There were a lot of background forces driving my actions then.

I'm so ashamed about what I'm about to tell you, Tabitha."

I sighed, looking downwards.

Just like a tingle, I felt her place her hand in mine to comfort me.

This girl is just so kind at heart. Even after the way I hurt her, she still has the goodwill to comfort me.

I gave her a sad smile of thanks and started talking again

"Just like you knew, before I met you I used to drink occasionally.
It was just something I indulged in to get away from my problems.
I never really took pleasure in it.

That changed in my first year of college.
I met some very bad set of friends that led me down the wrong path.

Looking back now, I can't believe that I was so easily led astray.