The countdown begins...

Today is my last day as a single woman and I can't help but feel excited to finally marry my best friend. It's a day before the wedding and I just take a moment to look back at how far we've come. For us to be where we are right now is a miracle and all I can do is hope that we will be able to overcome whatever obstacles life throws at us.

Planning the wedding was way harder than I thought it would be because the perfectionist in me wanted everything to be done in a certain. Thank goodness I have the best wedding planner otherwise I would have probably lost my mind. We encountered unprofessional people, some that sold dreams on their websites yet the actual thing was different from what they advertised which was all frustrating but we managed get what we wanted in the end. We are having a garden ceremony then our reception is going to be in a hall at the same place. We decided to incorporate our Nigerian and Ghanaian culture into the wedding through the traditional attire we will change into during the reception.

Kofi and I have also gone house hunting which has been stressful as well but we have found thee house and our offer was accepted so that is amazing news. We won't be moving in soon after the wedding because we have to make some renovations so until then, he'll be moving in with me. Since tonight will be my last night as a single woman, my cousin is throwing me the bachelorette party and I'm slightly nervous because my cousin is wild. I already told her that I don't want any strippers there or for me to wake up in the middle of nowhere so I'm curious as to what she has planned for me. Before we get to the bachelorette party, I have my last fitting today and I'm going there with ma, my cousin and Jasmine. We walk into the bridal store where we are welcomed by the wedding dress consultant.

"Good afternoon Miss Abel-Obi."

"Good afternoon Christina. I'm here for my final fitting and I've brought my mother, my cousin and one of my bridesmaids."

"Okay, welcome to Lavish Brides. You ladies can take a seat and I will be out with some champagne for you in just a moment."

"Okay." ma says before we all sit on the couches. A few moments later, she walks out with a bottle of champagne and champagne flutes. She pours the champagne for us before she asks me to follow her to the changing rooms.

We walk into the changing rooms and my dress is already inside. She helps me change into the dress and without even seeing what I look like, I can already tell it's amazing just from the way it feels on my body. The last time I had a fitting, I came with my mother and my cousin and the skirt was the only part that was done so this is going to be the first time we all see the finished product. I walk out of the changing rooms and my entourage gasps when they see me. I finally get to see myself in the mirror and now I know what they were gasping for.

The dress hugs my body perfectly and the open back is just amazing. Ma starts sniffing and she's handed some facial tissues to wipe her tears. I realize that not only is the moment huge for me but it's special to my mother because I am her only child. I find myself tearing up a bit because I dreamt of this moment since I was young and I'm so happy that it is actually happening. We embrace each other for a little before we pull away from each other.

"I just got a bit emotional because my only child is getting married and she looks absolutely beautiful."

"It's okay ma." I smile at her.

"Jasmine, Chi what do you guys think?"

"I think you look absolutely beautiful. I'm certain Kofi is going to cry when he sees you."

"We actually made a bet and he claimed that he won't cry but after seeing myself in this dress, I know for a fact that he is going to cry when he sees me."

"Kofi is a lucky man. You look beautiful cousin."

"Thank you. It's finally sinking in that I am marrying my best friend tomorrow."

"Are you getting cold feet?" Chi asks.

"No, it's just that I have dreamt about this moment ever since I was a young girl and it feels surreal."

"The biggest question is are you ready?"

"Yes."

"Okay, so lets make a toast to our beautiful bride and the man of her dreams tying the knot tomorrow." Jasmine says and our champagne flutes clink.

Jasmine and my cousin get to try on their bridesmaids dresses and they too look amazing. Their dresses are champagne and they are the same spaghetti strap style for the bridesmaids except for Chi who opted for an off the shoulder style since she is the maid of honor. We leave the bridal shop with my dress and head to a salon so we can get our hair and nails done. After getting my hair washed and conditioned, I sit in the stall next to ma who is already getting her hair braid.

"How do you really feel about getting married to Kofi?"

"I'm excited but I'm a bit anxious because I'm about to take this huge step."

"It's normal to feel anxious because you're about to take this huge step but Kofi is a good man and I have no doubt that the two of you will ne able to overcome a lot of things together. Like any other person, he isn't perfect but they way he treats you and shows that he loves you gives me that ease that you will be in good hands. Marriage requires more than just love in order for it to work. You have to sacrifice a lot and it requires a lot of commitment so I hope you are ready for that."

"I'm ready ma."

"Just a bit of advice that your grandma gave me on my wedding day. She told me that one of the things that make you have a good marriage is being able to settle your issues with your soon to be husband just the two of you. You can't just run to me or your friends when you have an argument because there are certain things you should work on without anyone else knowing. The only time you should come to me is when the issues are beyond you and not because you bickered over why he left the toilet seat up. The whole world doesn't need to know that you are arguing with your husband, it should stay between the two of unless it's something extreme, that you can no longer handle by yourself."

"I hear you ma."

"Good. The last time we spoke you told me that you were attending premarital counseling. How did that go?"

"It was good to just talk and make sure we are really ready for such a commitment. We spoke about our responsibilities in the marriage and what we expect from each other which was good. Last time around we rushed into this marriage thing so we needed this premarital counseling to make sure we have a good foundation before we go into this."

"Okay. So what are you doing for your bachelorette party?"

"I don't know what we're doing because Chi is planning it and I am slightly nervous because you know how wild your child is." she laughs.

"As long as you don't get too drunk and wake up with a hangover then you should be fine."

"I won't be drinking a lot tonight because I don't want to get sick while saying my vows. That would be so embarrassing."

"Tell me about it."

We spend about three hours at the salon getting our hair and nails done for tomorrow. My mother drops a few more gems about marriage and what she's learnt which I take heed of. She has been in this for thirty years now so listening to what she has learnt could be very useful in the future. I drop her off at the hotel she is staying at with my dad before I head to my apartment. I pack my bag for the weekend and for the honeymoon because I won't be coming here after the wedding. Once I have everything packed, I take a shower and get dressed for my bachelorette party. I pick a white bandage dress with white stilettos. I'm doing my makeup when I get a text from Chi letting me know that she is downstairs.

I grab my luggage and I head downstairs where I put my things in her boot before she drives us to lord knows where. Twenty five or so minutes later, we pull up to this restaurant and we are led to our own room. I walk into the room where my bridesmaids and some of my friends start cheering. I was not expecting my cousin to organize something like this so I'm pleasantly surprised that she pulled this off. There's a white and gold theme going on similar to the one we had at the engagement party. I am handed a sash with 'bride' printed on it and I take a seat on a gold chair that looks like it was made for royalty. I guess I'm royalty for tonight.

"Hey ladies. I would like to welcome you all to this special day where we celebrate Thembisa's last night as a single woman. We came out as her close friends, loved ones so we could shower her with some gifts as she begins her countdown to becoming the Mrs. I would like to start the evening of by saying I am so proud of you Thembisa for coming this far and weathering the storms that you faced. Kofi is a lucky man because of the kind of woman you are and I know that you too are lucky because Kofi is an amazing man. So lets raise our glasses and toast to Kofi and Thembisa."

After making the toast we engage in small talk before we get up so we can dish up our food. I make myself a plate with beef stir fry, twice baked potatoes, plantain and the jollof rice curtesy of my cousin. The meal is divine, more so because I haven't had jollof rice in a long time plus I didn't have anything eat all day. Some of the ladies give well wishes as we're are eating and afterwards we play a game. We are given papers printed yes and no on either side so we can play a dirty version of never have I ever. I already know that this game is going to be crazy before we start.

"Before we start, I just want to say this is a safe space and that everything you say here will not leave these four walls. With that being said, I will ask all the questions and you have to answer them truthfully." Chi says.

"The first question is, never have I ever snuck out of an event so I could do the nasty." I show the yes side because Kofi and I did so a handful of times and my cousin gives me a knowing look which makes us both laugh.

"The following question is, never have I ever done the nasty in a public place." I show the yes side because Kofi and I shared some wild moments before this sex hiatus.

"The next question is, never have I ever sent a naughty picture or video." I show the yes side because I enjoyed teasing Kofi when he's a work which always resulted in us having a very intense time together because he would spent the day frustrated.

"The next question is, never have I ever been tied up while doing the nasty." Chi says which brings a smile to my face because I start thinking about all the times we tied each other up. I can't wait till we're able to do that once again.

The game continues and it consists of many rounds, with the questions getting even nastier. I don't mind the game because all I'm doing is saying yes or no and not going into detail which is absolutely okay with me. After the games, the ladies give me the gifts they bought for me and I open just a few of them. These ladies got me an assortment of sex toys I have never seen in my life but I'll definitely be interested in using them with Kofi. We leave the venue before 9pm and we head to the wedding venue where we have booked some rooms for two nights. While the girls are changing into their pajamas for the pajama party, I step out onto the balcony so I can return Kofi's calls.

"Hey baby."

"Hey beautiful. How are you doing?"

"I'm okay. We just got to our room after dinner and we're about to have a pajama party."

"That's sound fun. I wish I could leave the guys and spend the night cuddling with you."

"It's only one night baby, after tonight you'll be spending a lot of nights cuddled up with me."

"I know and I can't wait for that."

"Me too. Can you believe that by this time tomorrow we are going to be husband and wife?"

"It feels surreal. I can't wait to see you walking down the aisle."

"Make sure you have tissue on you because you'll get emotional when you see me." I joke and he chuckles.

"You sound so sure I'll cry, I guess we'll have to see what happens."

"Don't say I didn't warn you. Let me get going baby, I will see you at the altar."

"Okay beautiful. Sleep tight."

I walk back into the room where the girls are already waiting for me. The night gets wild and it involves skinny dipping which I take part in. It has been a minute since the girls and I went away and did some wild things so it feels good to be doing these kind of things with them. We end going to bed after midnight and I lay there unable to sleep because of my excitement to marry the man of my dreams.