Before I say I do - episode 7 - by Matilda🪷🫧

A small side office off the main hall — stacks of event programs on a desk, a half-drunk cup of tea gone cold. Mrs. Adeyemi closes the door firmly behind them, any trace of the warm, fussing mother from before now gone. MRS. ADEYEMI: “Who is that man?” AMARA: “Nobody, Mummy. An old—” MRS. ADEYEMI: “Do not tell me ‘nobody’ walked into your rehearsal dinner and said what he said in front of my in-laws.” Amara sinks into a chair, the weight of the night finally catching up to her. AMARA: “His name is Kemi. We dated. Before Daniel. It ended badly.” MRS. ADEYEMI: “And he still has reason to say things like that to you? The night before your wedding?” Amara is quiet for a long moment. AMARA: “He reached out a few days ago. I didn’t respond — not really. I told him it was too late, that I was marrying Daniel.” MRS. ADEYEMI: “Then why does Daniel look like a man who just found out his bride has been keeping something from him?” Amara’s eyes well up, the mask finally slipping completely. AMARA: “Because there’s a version of that night, three years ago, that I never told anyone. Not Daniel. Not even you.” Mrs. Adeyemi sits down slowly across from her daughter, bracing. MRS. ADEYEMI: “Tell me.” AMARA: “Kemi and I didn’t just date, Mummy. We were supposed to get married. He was going to propose. I found out he’d been with someone else for months — and I left before he could even ask.” MRS. ADEYEMI: “I remember you being heartbroken that year. I didn’t know it was that deep.” AMARA: “I never told you how deep because I was ashamed. And when I met Daniel, I promised myself I’d never let anyone make me feel small like that again.” MRS. ADEYEMI: “So why does Kemi think there’s unfinished business?” Amara hesitates — the real confession approaching. AMARA: “Because two months ago, before Daniel and I set the date… Kemi came back. He said he’d changed. He said he made a mistake letting me go. And for one night, I almost believed him.” Mrs. Adeyemi’s face hardens. MRS. ADEYEMI: “Almost?” AMARA: “Nothing happened, Mummy. I swear on my life, nothing happened. I sent him away that night and I told Daniel we needed to move the wedding planning faster, like if I just got to the altar quicker none of it would matter.” Her mother studies her for a long moment, the anger in her eyes softening into something more complicated — worry, maybe grief. MRS. ADEYEMI: “Amara. You don’t rush into a marriage to outrun a doubt. The doubt will meet you at the altar.” Amara wipes her eyes, nodding slowly, the truth of that landing hard. AMARA: “I know that now.” MRS. ADEYEMI: “Does Daniel know any of this? The real story — not just a name on a phone?” AMARA: “No.” A knock at the door interrupts them. It’s Daniel — his jacket off now, tie loosened, looking like a man who’s aged five years in one night. DANIEL: “Can I talk to my fiancée? Alone?” Mrs. Adeyemi looks between them, then rises, pausing beside Daniel on her way out. MRS. ADEYEMI: (quietly, just to him) “Whatever she tells you next — listen all the way to the end before you decide anything.” She exits, leaving the door ajar. Daniel steps inside, closing it behind him. He leans against the desk, arms crossed, waiting. DANIEL: “Okay. No more half-truths. Tell me everything. Starting with what happened two months ago.” Amara looks up at him, and for the first time all day, she doesn’t look away. AMARA: “Sit down. This is going to take a while.”

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