It was Koshie's twenty-fifth birthday. Her mother organized a surprise party for her with the whole neighbourhood in attendance. The new neighbours put in extra effort to make her happy. It seemed like everyone who came to live there was briefed one way or the other about her situation. The neighbour's children were extra helpful and courteous and their mother offered to bake a cake for Koshie. Her eyes were wide open with shock when she entered her house after an intense training session organized to keep her mind off all the planning activities. She was ever grateful for the kind gesture. Thoughts of Odartey rushed through her mind once again. How she wished he was here with her to celebrate her day with her!
"Koshie!" yelled her mother. "There's a call for you! Pick it up in the sitting room." She could not tell who was calling until the caller switched to a video call on her cell phone.
"Hi Koshie," he said. "I hear today is your birthday. In fact, I remember it so well. I wish you the best of everything and keep being you."
"Odartey!" she screamed.
"Yes, Koshie," he replied
"Why haven't you communicated with me all this while?"
"It's a long story, Koshie. I have been bedridden for several years. I just went through physiotherapy…"
"And let me guess…You chose to heal yourself."
"How do you know that?"
"I knew it all along."
"I see. Anyway, I'll be coming for you…. and be prepared to marry me."
"You must be kidding, Odartey."
"I mean it! I made a deal with you. Remember?"
"How possible? I was so young?"
"Yes, and would have died had I not stood in the gap. If I don't, your father will come for you." Koshie took his assertions with a pinch of salt. Odartey could be pulling a fast one on her.
We were childhood friends, yes," he began, very jittery but gaining confidence with time. "I want to tell you that it remained so with no strings attached. However, I want you to consider this." He pulled out a paper from his pocket.
"Do you remember this?" he asked. Koshie peered at it carefully.
"No," she replied.
"Look carefully at the signature. Does it remind you of anything?"
"I don't think so," she said.
"That's your signature," he said. "With that, you promised to marry me."
"Why would I do that? Was I coerced into doing this?"
"Somehow, Koshie," he confessed. "I'm sorry about that. However, you have no obligation to comply if you don't want to."
"Hmmmm" she sighed, still peering at the piece of paper.
"I promised your father I would make you happy," he confessed.
"My father? Did you know him?"
"Somehow, Koshie. He would have taken you away with him a long time ago. He loved you so much." Koshie's heart missed a beat.
"So you've been protecting me all along?"
"Somehow, but that doesn't mean I'm coming back for my pound of flesh. I just want you to be happy."