I attended

"Grin grin grin...", Andrea's message tone buzzed continously but she was hard glued to the system, with her fingers flipping on the keyboards so fast as if she was on a typing competition.
she stopped, moved her left hand an inches away from her laptop to pick the phone and an email welcomed her with the title;
"INVITATION TO MY ENGAGEMENT PARTY from [email protected]"

A shiver ran down her spine, causing her skin to break out in a constellation of prickly, raised bumps.
Her heartbeat quickened, a rapid drumming within her chest, like the wings of a trapped bird fluttering desperately as she clicked, opened the content to read, "You are cordially invited to the engagement party of Godwin and Olivia."

Godwin was Andrea's ex-boyfriend, a man with whom she had shared a whirlwind romance. They had been madly in love, but life had taken them on different paths, and their relationship had eventually come to an end. Although Andrea had moved on, the wounds of their breakup still hadn't fully healed.

As she read the content with the phone on her hand, her hand shook uncontrollably, like a leaf caught in a fierce gust of wind, betraying the nervousness that consumed her, a wave of mixed emotions washed over her. Memories of their time together flooded her mind—laughter, tears, shared dreams, and broken promises. She recalled the happiness they had once shared, as well as the pain of their separation. The thought of seeing Godwin with another woman, on the cusp of starting a new chapter, made her mind enters into the realm of insecurity.

Andrea leaned back in her chair, gazing out the window with a distant look in her eyes, lost in a world of contemplation, unsure of how to respond to the invitation. Deep down, she knew attending the engagement party would be a test of her emotional strength. She feared being confronted with memories that had long been buried and seeing Godwin move on so effortlessly.

But after much contemplation, she realized that she couldn't let her fear hold her back. She refused to let past heartbreak dictate her present and future. She resolved to face her fears head-on, to prove to herself that she had grown stronger and was capable of celebrating the happiness of others, even if it meant revisiting her own bittersweet memories.

On the day of the engagement party, Andrea dressed in a masterful blend of simplicity and glamour trying to strike a balance between elegance and self-assurance. She went closer to the mirror, saw how enchanting she was looking, she heard a tiny whisper from heaven behind her, "Go girl", which made her mind feel relaxed and ready for the event.

As she arrived at the venue, she took a deep breath and stepped inside, prepared for whatever emotions awaited her.

To her surprise, the atmosphere was warm and welcoming, handcrafted paper flowers burst in a riot of colors, their petals unfurling in joyful abandon. They seemed to breathe life into the room, infusing it with a sense of whimsy and celebration, the sound of music and laughter filled the air, and friends and family gathered to celebrate love and new beginnings.

As soon as Godwin sighted the presence of Andrea, a wave of surprise washed over him, momentarily rendering him speechless. He left his spot and walked towards her and approach her from the back with a tap on her shoulder, "Hi Andrea, I'm glad you made it"

"Oh my!" She exclaimed as her gaze fell upon him, her eyes widened in surprise.

Godwin opened his harm for a hug and Andrea didn't hesitate to fall into his cozy nicely scenting body.
"By the way, you look so pretty tonight, you got me thinking of having an option for my engagement tonight" He said with his dimple calling for a kiss on his cheek.

"You've not changed at all" Andrea replied and they both switched into laughter as Godwin walked her to meet his fiance.

"Babe, guess who's standing beside me" Godwin asked Olivia, his wife to be.

Olivia, looked up, her eyes widened in surprise trying to figure out whom the lady could be, "ummm.... Don't tell me this is Andrea" she finally guessed and Godwin nodded his head in confirmation.

"Wo!" She reached out to her for a hug that lasted for some minutes.
"Andrea, I've heard so much about you. Thank you so much for your presence in this event".

Andrea, catching up with moment, her eyes widened in astonishment at how Godwin's girl would give her such a welcome instead of nursing unpleasant thoughts on her mind.

A genuine sense of acceptance and belonging permeated the air, embracing her like a comforting embrace. She located a nice suiting spot which she stayed and enjoyed the moment with food, drinks and dance.
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At the end of the day, her eyes sparkled with a soft glow, mirroring the joy that danced within her heart. It was as if a weight had been lifted, allowing her to fully embrace the present moment and appreciate the simple pleasures that surrounded her.