Tempted To Fall

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 1

Temptations often comes in different forms and can be avoided if we simply stay far away from what tempts us; but how difficult can it be if the tempter is a person in your inner circle and someone very close to you? Worst still, your wife’s best friend? Believe me when I say the easiest way a person can destroy you is when they come into your life in disguise as a friend or loved one. It’s quite difficult for an outsider to hurt you, but very easy for someone who is close. This tale is filled with betrayal, temptations, hurt, pain and disappointment so buckle up and join me as we go down the memory lane of a man by name Vincent.

Several years ago in a busy city lived Vincent and his beautiful wife ‘Natasha’. They got married after few years of courting and were excited at the thought of starting a new family together. Natasha loved and adored her husband with all her heart. They lived an average comfortable life and were contended with what they had as a family. Money wasn’t an issue in their union because they both had decent jobs and earned good salaries.

A year after their wedding, Natasha took in and gave birth to a bouncing baby boy. Joy like never before filled the hearts of these newly weds and everyone shared in their happiness.

Being a proud father of a lovely baby boy, Vincent was highly pleased with his wife and made sure she never lacked anything she needed. He made every effort to be there for her and his child and also provided their needs.

Despite the fact that everything seemed to be going perfectly well initially in their marriage, things gradually began to change and take a different turn when Natasha stopped taking good care of her outer appearance. She hardly attended to her looks, she wore any dress that was in sight whenever she wanted to go out and hardly visited the saloon to get her hair done. The only thing Natasha gave more concern to was her child and husband.

The sad thing about the new development was that Natasha lost herself at the expenses of being there for her family. She probably felt she was doing her husband and son a good thing by neglecting herself for their sake, but didn’t know that she was indirectly pushing her man away.

On the other hand, Vincent didn’t do too well as a caring husband that he was. When he noticed that his wife wasn’t taking proper care of her outward appearance because of her family, the least he could have done was to communicate the truth to her and reposition her towards the right direction; but instead, he was mute and only harboured the disappointment within.

After maternity leave, Natasha returned back to work and to her normal life before the birth of her child. It wasn’t easy for the nursing mother to adjust back into the work setting but her beloved best friend ‘Dora’ was there to make things a bit easy for her.

Before the ‘MRS’ title got attached to Natasha’s name, Dora has been there in her life as they have been friends since Fresh Man year in the university. Dora was Natasha’s ride or die partner; they loved each other just as they loved themselves and were always there for one another at all times. Both ladies were in their early thirties but the difference between them was that Natasha was married while Dora wasn’t.

As a married woman, Natasha gradually drifted apart from Dora but they always tried to catch up on everything whenever they were together. Dora was a typical extrovert and more lively and outspoken than Natasha was. After the baby’s delivery, Dora was one person that helped Natasha with work related activities back at the office since they both worked in the same firm.

“Yummy mummy, how’s my God Son?” Dora asked on Natasha’s first day back to work. “He’s fine, I thought you said you were coming over last weekend, what happened?” Natasha inquired, “My dear, I was caught up with a lot of activities last week and couldn’t make it. Don’t worry, I must definitely stop by this weekend” Dora replied. They tried to catch up on the happenings in each other’s life and retired back to work after a while of reuniting.

Being a good friend, Dora assisted Natasha with work related activities that day and also covered up for her when she went to pick her son from day care. Their friendship looked genuine and highly supportive but will it remain that way for long? Well, we will find out as time goes on.

It happened that Dora paid Natasha an unexpected visit that weekend; It was on a Sunday afternoon. Felicia was in the kitchen cooking when the door bell rang; “Hey babe, please can you get the door?” she shouted on top of her voice to her husband who was in the living room at the time. “Ok!” Vincent tiredly said and got up from where he sat. He walked to the door and opened it only to see his wife best friend standing there looking extremely beautiful. “Hi Dora, I didn’t know you were coming over. Welcome, please come in” he warmly said, “Oh sorry about that, It’s just that my work wouldn’t let me live a bit; so glad to see you” she responded and majestically walked inside the living room.

With Dora seated, Vincent went to inform his wife that her friend was in the living room. Out of excitement, Natasha hurried up with the cooking she was doing and finally went to see her friend who had been chatting with Vincent for a while. “See who decided to come to my house today, my dear you look great” Natasha happily said when she walked into the living room. “My dear, I know it’s been a long time coming and certainly something I should have done a while ago but you know how work can be at the office” Dora chipped in and they both laughed.

As both ladies chit chatted, Vincent excused himself and gently walked away. As he walked out, Dora stole glances at him and couldn’t help but admire his jaw-dropping physique and charisma. Unable to hold back her attraction towards Vincent, she unknowingly voiced out. “Your husband is really looking good, I must confess. What have you been feeding him my friend?” Dora playfully inquired and Natasha blushed; “It’s God’s doing my dear because I have lost it since I had my baby” she replied.

Due to Natasha’s statement about ‘losing it’, Dora immediately picked interest and probed further. “What do you mean by ‘you have lost it’? Is everything OK back here?” Dora curiously inquired. At first, Felicia didn’t want to talk about her personal life to her friend, but had to do so regardless because Dora wouldn’t stop probing her to talk. “Well, it’s just that I don’t feel attractive anymore and I have been suffering from post patrume depression of late. I hardly take care of myself like I used to and my husband hasn’t touched me for a while now. I’m so scared of losing him to someone else and honestly don’t know what to do about the condition I have found myself in” Natasha soberly said.

With that being said, Dora tried to comfort her friend by telling her that everything was going to be alright. I believe Dora could have done more than just comforting Natasha. She could have suggested a way out of the depression and also help her friend to regain back her self confidence. Well, I guess it’s because she probably had an ulterior motive and finally saw that weakness as leverage to execute her evil deeds.

Just so you know, Dora has always had eyes for Vincent and harboured a little envy in her heart for Natasha. Dora usually felt that Vincent would have chosen her that fateful day he met Natasha because he saw her first. Despite all efforts to try and accept the hard truth that he was now married to her best friend, she just couldn’t move on completely. Regardless of all the secret pains and envy, that didn’t stop Dora from still being a good friend to Natasha.

Now, we all know that the mind controls a huge percentage of our actions, so it inevitable for that tiny harboured pain not to control Dora’s actions. Little wonder why she couldn’t offer actual solutions to Natasha’s depression issues, but rather comforted her with mere words without any form of action to back the situation up. It’s just a matter of time before that tiny envy grows into something big and eventually consumes her.

It was such a beautiful friendly meeting at Natasha’s house and it was sadly time for Dora to take her leave because it was getting dark outside. “I have to go home now, we have a long day tomorrow at the office so I better start preparing” Dora said, “How do you intend going home? Should I get you an Uber?” Natasha inquired and Dora accepted the kind gesture.

Coincidentally, Vincent was heading out to run some errands when his wife asked if he could help drop Dora off. “Babe please help drop my friend off, she is leaving now too” Natasha innocently said, “Sure, where would you be alighting?” he asked Dora and she told him to drop her off at a very popular junction close to her house. Both ladies bid each other ‘Goodbye’ as they parted and smiled while at it. Shortly afterwards, the car zoomed out.

While in the car, Dora tried to strike a conversation between herself and Vincent. “It’s really been a while, how have you been for real?” she asked, “I have been good, there have been ups and downs but we thank God” he replied, “What ups and downs? Can you share?” she continued. Vincent paused for a while because he didn’t want to share his personal life issues with his wife’s friend. He told her not to bother but she kept persisting that he talk. “Don’t worry, it’s all good” he chipped in after much persistence.

Deep down in Vincent’s heart, he couldn’t wait to get to where Dora was going so he could drop her off. After over 20 minutes drive, he finally got to her destination and stopped the car for her to alight. “We are here now, it was nice seeing you today” Vincent nervously said as he tried to avoid eye contacts with Dora. She looked towards his direction and smiled mischievously. “What are you afraid of?” she asked in a seductive tone, “Nothing, why asking?” he inquired, “I feel you are scared of the possibility of something happening; something you have thought of and probably want” she bluntly replied.

Those words pierced Vincent’s heart and rendered his ability to reason properly powerless. He turned for the first time and looked right into Dora’s eyes. As he sat there trying to put his words together, she leaned forward and whispered “I’ll always be here for you” into his ears.

Immediately Dora did that, she winked and opened the car door. She alighted and walked majestically as she entered her street. Vincent sat there dumbfounded and speechless, he couldn’t take his eyes off her as she walked away.

When Dora was out of sight, Vincent shockingly held his chest and manhood and wondered to himself; “What just happened?”.