BIRDS OF A FEATHER

CHAPTER TWO | IT NEVER HAPPENED

I was out with friends, enjoying a rare evening of laughter and drinks. The kind of night that felt like a mini-vacation from life's chaos.

We were at our usual spot, a cozy bar with dim lighting and eclectic decor. Trinity, Sefa's sister-in-law, was at the center of the conversation, and as she sipped her drink, she casually brought up the fact that I had married Sefa when I was just eighteen.

"I can't believe no one knew you got married at such a young age," Trinity said, a teasing lilt in her voice. The attention shifted toward me, and I felt my cheeks flush.

Jade, one of my best friends, slapped my arm playfully, but there was an edge of incredulity in her tone. "How could you keep that from me?" she demanded, her wide eyes locking onto mine.

I shrugged, trying to downplay the gravity of it. "Because it got annulled, so there's no reason for me to talk about it," I replied, attempting to keep my voice light. But inside, I could feel old emotions stir—confusion, regret, and a hint of nostalgia.

"Wait, how did it get annulled?" Bianca asked, her curiosity piqued. She leaned in, elbows resting on the table, ready for a good story.

"My parents annulled it after they found out," I said, feeling the weight of the memory settle over me. "They found the paperwork in my room."

The group fell silent for a moment, the reality of my past hanging in the air. Then Jade broke the stillness, shaking her head in disbelief. "I don't think they should have been able to do that," she argued, crossing her arms defensively.

"But they did," I countered, the sharpness of my words surprising even me. The truth was painful, and I had buried it for so long that it felt strange to speak of it now.

"Let me ask you a question," Trinity said, her expression thoughtful. "What if they never annulled it, and you were still married to Sefa? Do you think you guys would have still been together?"

The question hung in the air, heavy and daunting. I sat back in my chair, contemplating. Would Sefa and I still be together if our marriage hadn't been annulled? My mind raced back to those dizzying days when we were young, passionate, and wild with dreams.

"Good question," I said slowly, twisting my lips to the side. "I think we would. But we'll never know what could have been." My voice trailed off, and I could feel a wave of emotions wash over me.

The laughter and chatter around the table faded as I lost myself in thought. Sefa had been my first love, a whirlwind romance that felt so intense at the time. We were young and reckless, convinced we could take on the world. But the world had other plans, and our brief union ended in confusion and heartache.

Trinity broke the silence. "It's crazy to think about, right? How one decision can change everything."

"Yeah," I replied, the weight of that statement hitting me harder than I expected. "I mean, I was so young. We both were. I can't help but wonder how different things would have been if we had stayed together."

Jade raised an eyebrow, skepticism etched on her face. "But would you really want to be married to someone at that age? I mean, look at what you've built for yourself since then."

"True," I conceded, but even as I spoke, I felt a pang of longing. The life I had crafted was fulfilling in many ways, but a part of me always wondered about the road not taken. Would we have grown together or apart? Would love have been enough to overcome the challenges of growing up?

Bianca chimed in, "It's natural to look back and think about 'what ifs.' But you've made a life for yourself now, Alyona. You're doing amazing things."

"Thanks, Bianca," I said, grateful for her encouragement. Yet, there was still a twinge of sorrow in my heart. I thought about the innocence of that time in my life, the excitement of young love, and the crushing reality of how quickly it could all vanish.