Chapter 33 Pressure Mensah #2
She came walkin’ down the aisle on her Uncle Lionel’s arm, movin’ slow, her every step graceful.
She looked like a dream wrapped in love.
Her dress hugged her body in all the right places, and that belly, that beautiful round belly, was the first thing I saw.
My woman was pregnant, glowin’, and still the baddest thing I ever laid eyes on.
Her veil was long, touchin’ the floor, and her bouquet looked like it was picked from heaven itself.
Everybody in the room faded out for me. I ain’t see nobody but her. She was smilin’, and the closer she got, the harder it was for me to keep my composure.
I always said I wasn’t gon’ be one of them niggas who cried at his weddin’.
I used to clown dudes for that. I swore up and down that shit was corny, but now that I was here, lookin’ at Pluto walkin’ toward me with our baby growin’ inside her and our son sittin’ up front smilin’, I finally got it. I finally understood.
My chest got tight, and I blinked a few times, tryna keep the tears from fallin’. Kay’Lo caught me slippin’ and leaned over just enough to say, “Don’t fight it, bro.”
I smiled but couldn’t say nothin’.
When Pluto made it to me, Uncle Lionel kissed her cheek and placed her hand in mine. She looked up at me through her lashes, her eyes glossy but full of peace.
“You look beautiful,” I whispered.
She smiled. “You look nervous.”
Everybody laughed softly, but my heart was thumpin’.
The officiant, an older man from Nzuri Hall, stepped forward and raised his voice just enough for the crowd to quiet down. “We are gathered here today to witness the union of Prince Pressure Mensah and Pluto Monroe, two souls who found love through fire, faith, and destiny.”
His words felt heavy, like they was made for us. He spoke about love bein’ patient and kind, about how it wasn’t always easy, but when it was real, it lasted forever. Then he nodded for Pluto to begin her vows.
She took a deep breath, lookin’ right at me.
“Pressure,” she said softly, her voice already tremblin’.
“You have been my everything from the start. You’ve been my pain and my peace, my fight and my comfort.
When we met, I didn’t even know who I was yet.
I was scared of love even though I knew I always wanted it.
I was scared of life, scared of myself. You saw me at my lowest, and you still wanted me. You held me even when I tried to run.”
Tears rolled down her cheeks, and she smiled through them.
“I was a virgin when I met you. You took that from me, but you gave me so much more in return. You gave me life. You gave me love. You gave me two babies who carry your face and your spirit. You taught me that love ain’t about perfection, it’s about patience.
You loved me through everything, even when I didn’t understand you.
But deep down, I always understood that you loved me. ”
Her voice broke again, and I couldn’t even stop my own eyes from fillin’ up.
“You’ve grown into the man I always prayed you would be.
You protect us, you lead us, and you love us in a way that makes me feel safe every single day.
I trust you with my life, with our children’s lives, and with Zurie’s too.
You’re my home, Pressure, and I can’t wait to spend forever with you. ”
The room was quiet except for sniffles. Even Renza was lookin’ away like he ain’t wanna get caught cryin’.
Then it was my turn.
I cleared my throat, but my voice cracked anyway.
“A’ight,” I said, tryna laugh through it, but it came out shaky.
“When you first came to my estate, you was one of twenty. I ain’t know what the hell I was doin’.
I thought I could just pick a wife like I was pickin’ out jewelry or somethin’.
But then you came in, quiet but real, and my whole world started shiftin’.
I didn’t even see it happenin’ at first.”
I paused, lookin’ right at her. “You gave me a run for my money, girl. You challenged me in ways I ain’t even know I needed.
You made me mad, made me laugh, made me cry.
You made me feel. I used to hate that ‘cause it made me feel weak, but now I know that was love. You was teachin’ me how to love without losin’ myself. ”
My voice was shakin’ now, and the tears finally fell.
“You made me a father when I thought I failed my first son, Kamir. You turned my house into a home. You made me see what real life look like. There was times I ain’t think I could breathe without you, and that scared me.
But I realized all I had to do was stop fightin’ it and just let you love me.
You changed me, Pluto. You the woman of my dreams. You my peace, my purpose, my whole life in one body. ”
Pluto was cryin’ too, wipin’ my face with her fingers.
“I promise to always love you, protect you, and stay faithful. I promise to never forget what it took to get here. You got my heart forever.”
The officiant smiled and said, “May I have the rings.”
Kay’Lo handed me hers, and I slid it onto her finger slow. “With this ring, I make you mine forever,” I said, my voice low and heavy with emotion.
She took my ring next and said, “With this ring, I make you mine forever.”
The officiant smiled wide. “By the power vested in me by the sovereign state of Trill-Land, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
I ain’t hesitate. I pulled Pluto close and kissed her deep, our tongues meetin’ like we was the only two people in the room. The crowd went crazy, clappin’, cheerin’, people standin’ up yellin’ our names.
When we finally pulled apart, she was smilin’ through her tears, and I whispered, “Mrs. Mensah.”
She laughed, her hands on my chest. “Mr. Mensah.”
I looked around the room, at my family, my mama, my pops, my brothers, Zurie, my son, and the woman who made me a man, and I knew right then that everything I ever went through led to this exact moment.
Forever started today.
After marryin’ Pluto, we moved upstairs and turned up for the reception.
The lights was low, the bass was jumpin’, and the vibe was pure Trill-Land luxury mixed with hood shit.
Everything was black, gold, and crystal, from the walls to the chandeliers hangin’ from the ceilin’.
The first floor had been all class and tears, but up here, it was nothin’ but celebration in this bitch.
We ain’t have no kids, or no elders, but just the young ones who had come to wild out and show love.
My ma and Pops had already left with Zurie and Prestyn, so there was nobody to tell us to calm down or act right. The second the DJ dropped another track, the whole energy shifted. It went from romantic to reckless real quick.
I had my shirt open, my tie hangin’ somewhere I ain’t even know, and my jacket tossed across one of the gold chairs.
My skin was shinin’ with sweat, but I ain’t care.
I was in the middle of the dance floor, holdin’ my drink up, shoutin’ lyrics from Meek Mill’s, Dreams and Nightmares with Kay’Lo, Renza, and Blaqson like we was performin’ on stage.
“Hol’ up, wait a minute, y’all thought I was finished!” Kay’Lo yelled, pointin’ at me like he was hypin’ me up.
The whole crowd screamed the next part, bodies jumpin’, hands in the air. Glasses clinked, girls was twerkin’, the smoke from cigars, weed and hookah filled the air, and the DJ kept rewindin’ the beat just to make the place explode again.
Blaqson had the mic now, yellin’, “This for the king and queen of Trill-Land!” before pourin’ shots in everybody’s cups. Renza was laughin’, already half gone, yellin’ for them to play it again.
I couldn’t stop movin’. Every song that dropped felt like it was made for this moment.
I had Pluto’s hand in one of mine while my drink was in the other, dancin’ with her and kissin’ her in between every verse.
She was laughin’, her eyes shinin’ from all the lights, and her cheeks flushed from movin’ around.
Even though she was pregnant, she was still out there with me, holdin’ her belly and two-steppin’ like she ain’t miss a beat.
“You not tired yet, baby?” I asked, breathin’ heavy and grinnin’ while she fanned herself with her hand.
She shook her head, laughin’. “I’m good. This yo’ night, I’mma let you act a fool.”
“You mine now, you in this too,” I said, pullin’ her close and kissin’ her again.
Kay’Lo and Renza started shoutin’ our names, yellin’ “Big Trill weddin’! Pressure and Pluto in the buildin’!” and the crowd went up again. Champagne popped, liquor poured down on the floor, and for a second it felt like the whole world was dancin’ with us.
I was drunk as fuck by then. My words was slurred, my steps was loose, and my laugh wouldn’t stop comin’ out.
Every time I turned around, somebody was handin’ me another drink.
I ain’t even know what I was sippin’ at that point, but it ain’t matter.
I was surrounded by my people, my brothers, my woman and my happiness.
Toni had kicked off her heels and was rappin’ bar for bar with Blaqson. They was in the middle of the dance floor, goin’ crazy, hair flyin’, arms in the air, both of ‘em screamin’ the lyrics at the top of they lungs.
Even the security guards was laughin’, and enjoyin’ the show.
I leaned over the table, grabbin’ another glass. “This for love,” I said, tryna toast to myself, and damn near spilled it all over my pants.
Kay’Lo snatched it before it hit the floor. “You done, bro,” he said, laughin’ hard.
“I’m just gettin’ started,” I said, stumblin’ a lil’ before catchin’ myself on his shoulder. “Where Pluto at?”
“Right there,” Renza pointed, noddin’ toward her. She had changed out of her gown and into this long silky gold dress that fit around her belly just right. Her hair was flowin’, her jewelry glistenin’, and she looked like a goddess walkin’ through.
When she caught me starin’, she smiled and mouthed, “You drunk.”
I lifted my cup and pointed back. “Married drunk!”
She laughed and shook her head, comin’ toward me slow. “You need to sit down before you fall down,” she said when she reached me, her hand on my chest.
I put my hand over hers and grinned. “I can’t fall if you holdin’ me.”
She rolled her eyes but kissed me anyway. “Come on, Pressure. You done celebrated enough.”
“Nah, not yet,” I said, tryna move past her, but Renza caught me again.
“Aye, chill out, bro. You gon’ pass out on the damn floor.”
The room was spinnin’ now. The lights blurred into gold streaks and the music felt like it was inside my chest instead of comin’ from the speakers. My jacket was gone, my tie was gone, and I’m pretty sure my top two buttons had disappeared somewhere in the night.
Pluto laughed while helpin’ me walk toward the exit. “Look at you,” she said softly.
“I’m happy,” I told her. “I’m real happy.”
“I know, baby,” she said, smilin’ as she brushed her hand against my cheek. “You deserve it.”
By the time we reached the doors, Renza and Blaqson was right behind us, helpin’ hold me up ‘cause I could barely keep my balance.
“Y’all done turned this reception into a damn club,” Pluto said, laughin’ as she walked beside me.
Kay’Lo was still talkin’ behind us, shoutin’, “Best weddin’ I ever been to!” and people was cheerin’ in agreement.
The air outside felt cool on my skin. I leaned against the car while Renza opened the door. Pluto helped me in, her hand on my chest the whole time like she was makin’ sure I ain’t fall over.
“I love you,” I said, slurrin’ it bad but meanin’ it heavy.
She smiled and kissed my forehead. “I love you too, Mr. Mensah.”
I laughed low, lettin’ my head fall back against the seat. “Mr. and Mrs. Mensah,” I said. “Yeah, that sound right.”
The door closed and the city lights reflected off the car windows as we pulled off with a driver. My brothers was laughin’ in the front, still loud and hype from the party, but my eyes was already gettin’ heavy.
It hit me all at once—the liquor, the love, the whole damn day.
I reached for Pluto’s hand and kissed her palm before lettin’ it rest on my chest. “Best day of my life,” I whispered, my eyes half-closed.
She smiled and rubbed her thumb over my skin. “Mine too, Pressure,” she said.
And just like that, the night faded slow, full of laughter, music, and love that felt like it was gon’ last forever.