Rosaline sat on William’s lap, straddling him, both covered with bubbles.She traced his face with her fingers. “When was the last time you slept well?” Rosaline asked, guilt evident in her voice.“I was just busy.”“Too busy to sleep.”“Don’t worry about it.”“I can’t help it. I don’t like it. I hate seeing you stressed or worried.”“Then don’t leave me again.”“I don’t plan to. If I have to go, I will kidnap you and bring you with me, keep you locked up in the basement for myself.”“When did you become so humorous?”’“Picked it up in the streets of Egypt.”“How did you manage to travel around the world?”“I worked remotely.”“Were you tired?”“It was hard at first, but then I got the hang of it. It was fun and fulfilling.”Rosaline kept talking about how she managed to go from one place to another, met Timothy, and how CARE started. She massaged his shoulders and neck. He was stiff as she continued talking.He listened to her in rapt attention, asking some details here and there.
William stilled inside Rosaline and kissed her tenderly on her swollen lips as they both lay motionless, trying to calm down.He did not come out of her. But instead flipped her over and pressed her on his body while wrapping her tightly in his arms.After a long while, when she calmed down, Rosaline realized he was still inside of her.The realization made her shiver. She looked up at William and found him staring at her.She did not dare to move, so she just pressed her palm over his eyes and kissed him on his chest.“Close your eyes and rest.” She said slowly, “your eyes will get dry like this.”“I don’t want to sleep.” He replied.“Talk to me then.” She said, drawing circles on his chest.He felt as if she was teasing him. She lay her head back on his chest and kept caressing him. “What are you thinking?”“Nothing.” Rosaline smiled at him, “I am just happy and satisfied.”“...”William was not sure if she was telling the truth.Ever since he met her, everything felt surreal.He w
William widened his eyes in realization.He could not believe himself.Over the past three years, he had had nightmares where Rosaline had gotten pregnant. She and their child had struggled, and they both hated him for not being there for them.But the moment they met, they did it again, twice and without protection.Rosaline looked at his ashen face and could not help but giggle.“Why so scared? I won’t get pregnant just like that.”She stretched and muttered.“Let’s eat out. I’ll take the emergency contraceptive.”She looked away and said under her breath.“And let’s buy some condoms along the way. Contraceptives are bad for health. One or two is fine. But we should avoid it.”William was embarrassed when he heard that. He was also equally ashamed of himself.How could he let her take responsibility for that as well?“I am sorry. I will be more careful in the future.”“Don’t make that face. It’s not like either of us planned to do it as soon as we met. It just happened. Don’t worry
William was satisfied.He carried her to the bathroom and rinsed her and himself. He placed her on the couch and changed the sheets before picking her back and holding her to sleep.It was the best sleep in three years, but he still woke up with a start when he had a nightmare.He dreamed that three years ago, after leaving him, Rosaline had miscarried and had become suicidal.He could not help but shake her, and when she stirred a little, he asked her if she had ever been pregnant.She mumbled, “Not pregnant,” before dozing off again, but after a few seconds, she mumbled - “not ready yet” - in her sleep.William heaved a sigh and went out to cool himself off.After five minutes, he felt like he had calmed down a little. But he suddenly heard Rosaline scream.William rushed inside with his heart in his throat. Rosaline looked like she had seen a ghost.He slowly walked up to the bed without alarming her and sat beside her. He raised his hand slowly and caressed her head.She jumped hi
In the morning, Rosaline groaned as she heard her alarm ring.She stretched out her hand to turn it off, but William beat her to it and pulled her closer.She was not sure if that was a dream or real.“Sleep a bit more. I will help you with work later.” William whispered.He wasn’t sure if she heard it, but she asked, “William?”“It’s me, baby. Get back to sleep.”She then fell asleep smiling.‘Still a sleepyhead and a piggy.’William thought, amused by her. He looked at her and caressed her for another hour. Most of his restlessness and worry were gone in a day. Every time she asked “William?”, his heart would be full of happiness.And each time he saw her body relax as he responded to her, he knew his worries and insecurities were in vain.She did care for him. He had a place in her heart, and she let her guard down with him. She trusted and relied on him.These realizations washed away most of the fear and doubts he had lived with for the last three years.He got up after a while
William woke Rosaline up after he had helped her into her clothes.She looked at him, smiled, and kissed him on the cheek, “Good morning.”He kissed her forehead as he said, “Good morning.”She fumbled around and found her phone, after which she abruptly stood up from the bed.“Oh my God, I am so late.”Before William could say anything, she tumbled back into bed.Rosaline looked at him curiously before sitting up and looking at her clothes.“Did you help me put these on?”William scratched his head in embarrassment as he nodded.“First time?”He nodded again. “You should practice more,” Rosaline said as she stood up carefully.She passed him her phone as she said, “Order some breakfast. I’ll just freshen up and come.”“Alright.”Rosaline realized William had helped her shower and applied ointment on her as she freshened up.She pecked him as she said, “Thank you!”.He was tidying himself up and had changed into a business suit already.He deepened the kiss but only for a few seconds
While education was important, it was expensive to provide education for everyone.As long as you have good sense and there is one skill you excel at, you can manage.CARE had few people like that - like a skinny girl who seemed timid of her own shadow, but her drawings were vivacious. A sturdy boy was naturally talented in Mechanics.Timothy had informed William with pride how he was a troublemaker and would pick fights for no reason before Miss Rosy had helped him see reason and driven him to a better path.An eight-year-old autistic boy was a gifted photographer.Timothy had found an old second-hand camera, and the boy seemed more relaxed when seeing things via a lens.That autistic boy had taken several pictures of the sturdy boy fixing an old scooter and turning it into an electric rickshaw.They had made a short video with before and after photos and pictures of him using scraps to fix it. It was inspiring.A seventy-year-old Granny had a hunched back, weak legs, and could bare
Timothy thought for a long while but could not come up with anything. So, he asked William instead.“What should I do now?”“The first step would be to go to a school. Several good schools offer you options to study multiple subjects and keep advancing based on your improvement regardless of age.”“But then, I won’t be able to help her now.”“You can choose what is more helpful. Helping Rosy a little now and continuing to do so in the future. Or developing yourself first to help her a lot later; maybe even doing a better job than her.”“Let me think about it. Will you help me select a school like that? I will repay you when I grow up.”“Of course.” “You can call me when you have made up your mind.”As they were wrapping up their conversation, Rosaline showed up.“What are you guys talking about?”William reached out to her and held her close, wrapping his hand around her waist.“I was advising Timothy that running a foundation requires skills. If he wants to follow in your footsteps,