I was the first to see her when she entered. Joshua’s back was facing the entrance so he didn’t get the view. When the lady settled, I tapped on Joshua’s shoulder and said, “The lady on your left, I swear she’s everything. Are all these women in this world?” Joshua turned and looked at her. Not only once but several times. He agreed with me that her beauty was unmatched.

I was sitting with Joshua but was thinking about the lady and how to approach her. She was tapping on her phone and looked at the door each time someone entered. I figured she was waiting for her date so I calmed down. Two of our friends later joined. We discussed the lady. Albert asked, “What are you waiting for? Approach her table.”

I didn’t. I was waiting until we were leaving so I could talk to her. Before I knew it, Joshua was sitting next to the lady chatting with her. My heart numbed. I prayed she would bounce him but she didn’t. She looked happy talking to Joshua. They exchanged contacts and Joshua came back to our table. I was envious but I thought it wouldn’t amount to anything until weeks later, Joshua attended one of our outings with her. She’s Matilda.

My heart started beating faster. When she shook my hand and Joshua started doing the introduction all that was going through my head was, “Does she know Joshua is a married man with two kids?”

Joshua doesn’t wear his ring so you wouldn’t know, but from how the introduction went, we got the clue that she didn’t know. All night I was quiet and unhappy. It was like I’d lost something important to me. Before we left the venue that evening, I knew what I had to do. I was going to inform her that Joshua was married. I didn’t wasn’t going to get her but I was also not ready to allow Joshua to break a heart like hers.

When I had my chance, I told her. She was so shocked she started shaking. She asked why I was telling her. “That’s because I loved you the very first day I set my eyes on you.”

No, I didn’t tell her that. I said it in my head. When she confronted Joshua, she mentioned my name as the one who snitched. I’ve lost my friends but guess what, I’m not even feeling bad that they don’t call me these days. Tilly called to say thank you and apologized for mentioning my name. I didn’t hold it against her. A woman with her beauty deserves to get away with everything.

I didn’t get to date her because I was a coward. I hesitated. But I wasn’t a coward when I had to do the right thing. I didn’t hesitate. Joshua proudly looked at my face and said, “I chop am. Four times before you told her. Tell me what you gained?”

Honestly, that hurt my feelings. I was late to the rescue but it doesn’t matter anymore. She’s safe. I lost. Joshua too. He’s still begging Tilly for one more chance though he’s married.