Kessie.
I've been dreading this day since I learnt about it when I was sixteen.My marriage.
Our family has this ridiculous tradition where they marry their daughters off to the men of their choice. Arranged marriages has always been the most popular practice in our family, and they never stopped because apparently they always match you up with the perfect partner. Their choices are never wrong and every arranged marriage always turned a success.
Success, yes, but happy? None of them ended up happy. I've seen my sister and William. They're always so formal with one another, always arguing when they think no one can see or hear them. They look unhappy but put on fake smiles in public to please both their parents. I don't want to end up like them. I don't want to have to spend my entire life with a man I barely know, marry him in a hurry and then spend my life in unhappiness, fulfilling my duty as the daughter of a Baxter and wife of, whoever the hell I'd end up marrying.
I tried so hard to convince my parents to let me find the man I wanted to marry, to give me time, but my father has always been a stubborn man. At sixteen he had already informed me that on my Twentieth birthday, I'd meet my soon-to-be husband. The normal age for marriage in my family is actually Eighteen, but well, I'm my father's daughter. I fought for my right to finish college and did not stop insisting until he finally agreed. He gave me me two more years to finish school and told me nothing after that would move him from his decision.
So, here I am. On my birthday. The day that is supposed to be a happy day, but instead I am locked up in my room having a staring contest with my dress.
Father announced this morning that he is throwing me a birthday dinner party, and although he gave me permission to invite my friends and get to see them after a long time apart, I knew what the dinner really meant.
I would be meeting my husband today. Dear lord.
I breathe in and out, trying to calm my racing heart and pick up the dress. I make my way towards my walk-in closet to change, applying minimal make up and wearing the jewelries my mother had set out on my dressing table for me to wear today. I leave my bedroom feeling nauseous and uneasy. I really just want this night to end.
"There's the birthday girl!" My father calls out to me from across the room. I gulp, taking careful steps towards him. Mother's beside him, as well as my younger sister Nelly. Nelly is just thirteen so she still has five years before she starts to freak out about this arranged marriage thing. I let my parents hug me and wish me, I smile at the guests, many whom I have never actually met until today, and I act polite all through the night, desperate for it all to finally end so i can hide under my blanket in my bed.
"Come meet the Hendricks, Kessie." Mother whispers to me and pulls me with her. We reach a family, two older men, three younger women. I force a smile, just to be polite.
"Mr and Mrs Hendricks, meet my daughter, Keziah." Mom introduces me to them.
"That's their children, Darrion Hendricks, Danielle Hendricks and Kaine Hendricks." She turns to face me and smiles brightly. "Your fiance." My eyes widen, staring at my mother like she's gone bonkers because quite honestly, she definitely acts like she has.
She wants me to marry an old man?!