ANNALISE.I didn’t know what caused Vincent to come here at this hour but I couldn’t possibly return him from my doorsteps. I couldn’t bring myself to do so.After Papa left, I reheated the food and gave him some, “Here you go.”He smiled, taking the plate as we both sat down, “Thanks.”He was eating the food in silence as I sat across from him. It felt eerily good to be in his presence at this hour. It was nothing like before.“How is it?” I asked softly.“Good.” He hummed.“I cooked it.” I smiled.“When did you get so good at cooking? I didn’t expect it to be edible either.” He teased, pissing me off.“Be grateful I didn’t give you raw things.” I scoffed but exchanging a glance, we both broke into a chuckle, sending a serenity which was lost in spur of emotions and wreck. Why can’t we live a normal moment?Resting my elbow on the table, my eyes were affixed on his face, wondering what I did that he is so dedicated to me.Which of my good deeds led me to have him in my life? This f
Tilting my head in confusion, I asked, “What?” “It wasn’t you who put those photographs in your locker. You were never a stalker.” He brought what distressed me the most. Fidgeting my fingers around my dress, I asked nervously, “Why are you bringing that up? That won’t change anything. I have been labeled as one and nothing could change it.”“No, it was not you.”“What are you trying-” But, not giving me a moment to ponder, he exclaimed stressful- something I could never fathom.“It was Victoria.”My jaw dropped in credulity. I believed I heard wrongly. Not once I perceived the one who could frame me and lead me on an immortal path would turn out to be the person I considered my own friend. This has to be a sick joke.I considered her my closest friend. How did she do this to me? And why? What did I do?“What…?” With countless questions and senses of betrayal brimming in my chest, I managed to utter this sound only. A deadly shiver went down my spine, eyes widened, I didn’t know
With my mind becoming more depressed and distressed by each passing second, I went to work but my mind was not cooperating with me.Things were becoming worse.At this point, I wanted to end my period here and leave and go back to my old apartment, away from this drama, from this stress.So what if I will be paid less? At least I’d be serene without people thinking that I have a thing with my Boss. Without someone I called a friend coming to my office and causing a wreck. I just want to leave at this point. As I was unable to focus on work properly. I didn’t want to see anyone during lunch break either. I was in my office, losing my ponderings, only aggravating me. Edmond came to me, being the one who is always vexed about me. “Hey, Annalise. How are you? I was worried about you. How could she do this to you?” Taken aback at his sudden arrival, he came closer. Care gleaming in his eyes, scanning me. “Are you alright?” He asked tenderly, almost bringing his hand closer but stopp
VINCENT.Looking out the window, thick grayish clouds were surrounding the sky, followed by a few droplets falling on the ground, blessing the ground with rain.Smiling, I couldn’t control myself from being away from Annalise as I deliberately sent her late in this rain. Her bus was gone and she had no choice left but to take my help.I know I am known for not mixing personal feelings with work but when it comes to Annalise, my everything is not only emotional but spiritual too.“Annalise.” I called her when she was rushing to the bus station, soaked, trying to cover herself.“Sir?” “You are all soaked and… revealed too. Come with me first. You will catch a cold like that.” I offered politely, motioning to her to come, trying not to show I did this purposely.“Come with you where?” “To my place. I doubt your bus would be there and I don’t want people to see through your black bra.” Smirking, I teased which made her gasp and cover her chest with her purse.“Sir!”“Not my fault. It’s
Unable to let her go. I kept my grin on her wrist iron. If possible, I wanted to imprison my heart. Watching her leave my doorsteps was excruciating.Tightening my grip on her wrist with my back facing her, I asked in a low growl."And what about the peace I gain in your presence?" Glancing over my shoulder to her disturbed gaze."What about the salvation I attain in your closeness?"Scowling, I yanked her towards me."Do they matter?""They do and I am saying this for our betterment. Please understand that. You cannot make who is not yours, yours." She replied hurriedly, clenching my shirt between her fingers, losing her breaths when I trapped her."Who is inducing such ridiculous talks in your mind? There is nothing like that." I hissed, hating her perspective.I know we held different thoughts but I didn’t want this to create a wall between us. "It is!" Pushing me away, she moved back, the desperation and anguish in her eyes, her body was shaking and upon seeing her fiery fire I
ANNALISE. Stop it… please. With my mind becoming filled with his thoughts and words overcoming my cognition, I couldn’t neglect his words, they were echoing. That was why I avoided him and kept our distance. Each second I stay with him, my distress increases immensely. I wanted out of it badly. Seeing him has begun to hurt me. I want this all to stop. To be away from all this. I need a distraction, I was so desperate for anyone that I would do anything for it. Diverting my mind, I was working as usual, trying to rip him out of my mind but to no avail. During lunchtime, I was indulging in my sandwich and Edmond came, sitting next to me and when my eyes fell upon something which shouldn’t enter my mind. “Hey, you are looking beautiful as usual.” He complimented, smiling sweetly as usual. “Are you flirting with me?” I asked, narrowing my eyes, I didn’t know why but I focused on his talks to shift my mind from Vincent. I shouldn’t but I did. “Would you slap me if I say yes?” He
VINCENT. ‘I am in love with the one who is away from my gaze.’ Seeing her with Edmond was breaking me apart. It was ripping my chest, I could barely control my anguish upon seeing her with him. It was breaking my heart but I bore with it. I had to, I don’t have any other option, if my pain was her solace then so be it, I would accept it gladly. I would accept it… even if it hurt me. Coming back from work one day, I was about to get in my car but Edmond called me. “Sir.” Glancing from my shoulder, I turned to him, “Hmm?” “Can I talk to you?” He asked sternly. “What is it, Edmond?” I asked, leaning against my car, wondering what he wanted to talk about. “I believe you know that me and Elise are dating now. She requested me herself to help her and I can only request you-" Inhaling deeply, he requested deeply, bowing out of courtesy. "Please return her peace to her, give her a new chance in life. She needs a reprieve. Let her live.” He pleaded with me. I was taken aback, b
My love was suffocating her. My love was restricting her breaths. Sadly, I have to live with that fact now. Does this happen in love too? I thought you abandoned your world for your beloved but then again.When they begin to steal your peace, it would be better to part.Linda gave birth, she was coming back to work, meaning before we could solve our affliction. Her contract duration had ended. I was thinking of a way to ensure she won’t leave at least and continue her work here but not giving me a chance, I got to know from her application that not only she was leaving the job.But she was also shifting to another state.Why can’t she just stay with me? Why does she have to leave me in solitude? Her distance would kill me and I couldn’t bear it. And unable to let it be, I went to confront Annalise about it. “Oh- Vincent…” Mr White flashed a hesitant smile.“Can you please call Annalise?” I asked politely.I didn’t want to come in anymore. I no longer held any place in their swee
5 YEARS LATER.I was setting the school bag of my four years old son, Jamie. He was messy just like his Father. Sighing, I was putting the lunch and placing the books properly.“Can I take Dahlia to school with me? Please, please, please?” Jamie called me excitedly, pointing at his Father and three months old sister who were sleeping on the couch in the hall.“No, you cannot.” I sighed, frowning at the pair and giving him his bag.“Look, Mama, Papa and Dahlia are sleeping on the couch.” He giggled, clinging onto my arm.Actually, Dahlia was not sleeping last night and Vincent said proudly that he could take better care and took her outside and look at them now.Half of his body was hanging from the couch, holding Dahlia.“Ah, him.” I giggled, shaking my hand after seeing how uncomfortable he must be.“What are they doing outside?” Jamie asked, tugging my sleeves.“Your Papa proudly accepted he could take better care of Dahlia and seems like he is stubborn in proving it.” I sighed, set
ANNALISE. I was carefully listening to his words, how his eyes were refusing to greet mine and it was aching me but he couldn’t see. He was not looking at me in the first place to notice the tears glistening in my eyes. “Come. Let’s end this pointless relationship.” And I lost my forbearance when he dared to speak what I cannot have imagined, releasing the tears I managed to suppress so far. And brimming with fury, I slapped him hard to knock some senses into his damn mind which astonished him to no extent. “How dare you call our marriage pointless?!” I whisper-yelled. Grabbing the collar of his shirt outrageously with tears scattered over my cheeks. “Annalise?” He called me hesitantly at my unforeseen action as I forced him to stare into my desperation, to witness my love and despair too. I wanted him to see my condition. “Do you have any idea how deeply I am in love with you? That I have given my all to our marriage?” I asked desperately, shaking him a little to hear m
After I mindlessly hit Edmond and lost myself, unable to control myself, the neighbors came and forced me to stop until the cops came and took me away.I was looking down the whole time, not moving an inch with an anguish stacking in my chest, I was heartbroken. I felt devastated for losing control and doing what I shouldn’t.Something is seriously wrong with me. Here, in the station, I was locked up and Annalise was talking to Edmond.“I am begging you, Edmond, please, don’t file a case against Vincent.” Their voices were faint but I could hear how my Annalise was begging Edmond to not send me to jail. Tears brimmed in my eyes as I kept staring at my hands out of woe. I didn’t want to hurt anyone. I didn’t want to make Annalise cry. This is not who I am, that is not who I should be.I am sorry, I am so sorry…“Edmond, please…” She continued to beg Edmond for her husband’s image. I had never been behind the bars in my entire life. I felt horrible, I was never like this and with
The next morning, I was in my bed, refusing to move an inch. My head was throbbing in pain. I couldn’t move my body, it was burning.It was because of the stress, whenever I worried too much, my body began to burn, my head began to hurt terribly and I didn’t know how to deal with this ordeal.For a while, I remained motionless, covering myself with the blanket until the tenderest hand of my angelic wife dragged the sheets down from me. “Vincent. Wake up.” She whispered softly.Removing the duvet and sitting next to me. “I don’t want to.” I groaned, turning to my side, hiding my face in the pillow, not in the mood to move. I had borne with this feverish feeling before when she was here, I wanted to display that I am in pain and stay with me.Before I was alone, I had no one to take care of him so no matter what state, I must go to work but I have a reason to stay.I won’t go today.“Why?” She called but I refused to listen to her. Glancing from my shoulder, I looked at her timidly,
VINCENT.The following week, limitless thoughts were roaming in my mind. I was tense, I was perturbed about what I should do that could save my marriage. I could feel it under my fingernails that things were on the verge of falling apart all because of my behavior and I was impotent to stop it.I failed to control, I failed to keep her happy. In fact, I made her cry after promising myself that I wouldn’t.I feel worthless. I feel terrible.It was Sunday, my soul was at solace to hold my love. We were spooning on the bed, I was holding her, her back pressed over my chest.“How are you feeling now?” I whispered, biting her earlobe when she woke up from her nap.Annalise was having a headache constantly so I massaged her head until she fell asleep and took a nap with her as well.“Better.” She hummed, relaxing in my arms, smiling tenderly.I hummed and shifted, sitting up slowly. Worried how to confront her about what I knew I must. I couldn’t lose my love with my own hand.I cannot mak
“YOU ARE A LIAR!” The sound of his thundering cries echoed in the room and they hurt me in a way I was unable to recover. The sound I unintentionally created. He covered his mouth, sobbing. And I couldn’t bear it, his sorrow was immeasurable and it made me guilty. Shutting my eyes, I screamed to release the shame gathered inside me.“I AM SORRY! I AM SORRY! I AM SORRY!” Crying my anguish out, I held the hem of my dress. My tears were flowing, he was not the only person whose heart was torn apart. The regret that was built inside me had already stolen my mental peace. I don’t want to hear from him that I am his culprit. I know I am.“I will apologize as many times as you want, Vincent but please don’t be away from me.” Crying, I came closer, tears rolled down my cheek. My body was deprived of strength, I accidentally stumbled on my steps but Vincent held my arms to refrain me from falling.“Be careful!” He gasped quickly to hold me. He couldn't watch me falling or getting hurt
“That I am going to steal you from this world and ensnare in a way, only ‘I’ would exist.” My breath hitched, my eyes widened in terror when I sensed Vincent’s dominant form before me, glaring down at my body which made my soul immobilized. “Vincent…?” Swallowing hard, I forced my weak orbs to look up at his assertive form. He rested his hand over the headrest and placed our heads adjacent.I shivered violently when the fumes emitting from him were felt by my skin. Unable to utter another sound, I knew he was furious. I gasped when his hand from the headrest moved across and rested over my shoulder, giving it a lethal grip which warned me not to do anything vacuous.“That you are going to become mine in an exquisite way that nobody would be able to stop me from possessing you.” “Vincent, please-”I was about to plead but he leaned down to my ears and growled seductively, burning my skin with his minty breath.“That you are going to become. All. Fucking. Mine.” I trembled, glanci
There were countless questions and thoughts roaming wildly in my mind, thoughts that I wanted to share with someone to find and know what was happening.He cannot keep an eye on my actions, that is not okay. I won’t let it.And I knew for it, I had to do what might outrage him but I must do it.Before Vincent could come looking for me, I wanted to seek answers so I called Edmond to meet me in a restaurant.I was anxiously waiting for him, my hands were freezing by the thought of Vincent’s fury. It was scaring me, It was stressing me out.“I didn’t expect you to call me here. What happened? Is your fairytale coming to an end?” Edmond came, smirking mockingly at me but I growled at him.“Shut up. I have called you here to know everything.” I hissed in a low tone. He chuckled and took a seat, arching one eyebrow.“Everything? I thought I was a liar and the bad guy here.” He taunted, leaning back on his seat.Inhaling deeply, I was not in the mood for argument so I came to the main conce
ANNALISE.After spending a memorable and unforgettable time alone, away from everything we returned back, back to our routine and I was feeling strange lately.I didn’t expect Vincent to get this furious because of my harmless prank. I was only kidding around but the way he got perturbed, that made me worried.I wanted him to improve but I agree it would take time. Vincent is attached to me, he couldn’t fathom losing me. I am all he has after all. He was like that all his life, of course that would take time for him to adjust, to settle. Marriage is a sacred and big responsibility, we need time.Vincent was humming to himself, his towel over his head as water dripped to his tempting exposed chest. He was about to leave to grab his white but I stopped him.“Love, I can get your white shirt.” I spoke sweetly, stopping him in his tracks, smiling sweetly.“No, no, it’s okay.” He chuckled nervously, stopping me.“Come on,” I whined, pushing him back playfully with a wink. I like doing sm