2. The Invitation’s Echo

Monday started like any other day at Serwaa’s hospital. She moved through the hospital with the surety and purpose that come with years of experience, making notes and observations, giving instructions and reassurances, and occasionally even saving lives.

But then, as the sun was high in the sky and the day was in full swing, a phone call came in. Usually bubbling with infectious laughter, Fosuah’s voice trembled, sending a jolt through Serwaa. Kwame. Marriage. The words hung heavy in the air, shattering the carefully constructed world Serwaa had built. The unseen threads of their future unravelled at an alarming speed, leaving her breathless and adrift.

In that moment, she felt as though she were standing on the edge of a cliff, with nothing but a gust of wind between her and the abyss below. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, and couldn’t move. The world around her blurred and faded until all that remained was the sound of Fosuah’s voice, ringing in her ears like a death knell.

And then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the call ended. Serwaa stood there, her cellphone still pressed to her ear, her hand trembling. She closed her eyes and forced herself to take a deep breath, willing her racing heart to calm itself. But even as she did so, she knew that things would never be the same. She had shattered the fragile balance of her life, and there was no turning back.

Serwaa slowly placed her phone in her pants pocket, her mind already racing with the implications of Fosuah’s words. Marriage. Kwame was getting married to Judith. It was a decision that had been made without her consent or input. And yet, she knew that she couldn’t fight it. For a brief moment, she harboured the thought that Fosuah was messing with her, so she called her.

Across town, Fosuah held the gilded monstrosity in her hand—the wedding invitation. It was a physical representation of Serwaa’s heartbreak: “Kwame Weds Judith,” as Serwaa could now see in a WhatsApp message. Serwaa felt the world tilt on its axis. The dreams she’d nurtured, the whispered plans for a future together—all dissolved in the harsh light of betrayal. Tears welled up, blurring the image of her once-bright future with Kwame. Each choked sob echoed the hollowness that had taken root in her chest.

Fosuah tried to comfort her friend and explained how she had received the invitation. It turned out that Judith was a former classmate of her cousin, who resided in New Jersey. Since her cousin would be staying with her during the wedding, she persuaded her to come along. While gathering information about the couple, Fosuah learned that the groom was none other than Serwaa’s boyfriend, Kwame.