Are these my prayers released in this universe coming back to me?Everything you do and every door you knock will bring you back to me.Because I am your home, your sanctuary, waiting for a thousand years.~~~~~~~~~~~~Arlet“It was fun, mommy,” Raya chirped at the dinner table.“You painted daddy like…” she couldn’t control the laughter. We finished our food, and she talked about the game the entire time. Magda showed us the picture she had taken while we relished that moment.“You look so beautiful,” she counted, and we scrolled to the following picture. It was me examining Raya and Ruben intently, looking at me.If I had to define this picture, there was a glint of something in his eyes for me.Could it be?No, it can’t be. He loves Reile, and I was just a part of where he relied on me with Raya. But for me, it was more than that. Settling in my room, I skimmed through my emails when I heard a soft knock. Hopped out of bed. I thought it was Magda, but the face revealed from the ot
Sometimes the most beautiful thing in life comes in the darkest moment of life. You will find it where you have least expected.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Author’s POV~There was a time when Ruben used to call himself a champion. Whatever life threw in his direction, he worked it well. But now it feels like his soul has been in the sea of pain for so long it has forgotten the feeling of land.Like a desperate soul, he listened and mediated the words he got from the radio, but it seemed infeasible. He slammed the steering wheel in frustration and thought he might have lost the ability to think beyond this emotion and mental blockage. There were lots of ifs and buts in his thought process. He knew the importance of Arlet for Raya, but at the same time, she needed to understand the boundaries. He choked on the engine, making it silent in the parkway, came out, and heaved a low breath. Heading towards the main door, he could feel the influence of alcohol on his senses more than expected. He opened
In the end, she’d loved him enough to let go and set him free by signing those papers he thought he would never regret.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~RUBEN~I am not a morning person, but since the time I have taken my responsibilities, it never lets me sleep peacefully. First, my career and the desire to make a mark on this world. My dreams were not letting me sleep, and when I achieved those, it shifted my dreams to the people I love and care about, Raya and my parents, but there I also found someone with whom I can share my responsibilities.I still remember not sleeping for three nights thinking of proposing to Reile. With time, everything changed, and who knew I would need alcohol to shut my mind and get some rest from these gloomy notes of my life?I was still consumed in a deep slumber when a sweet fragrance hit my nostrils. It’s like the first drop of rain on a thirsty land. I opened my eyes and found a silhouette roaming in front of my blurry vision. Her long damp hair tousled on her waist
“Just friends”: It’s hard to be just friends with someone you fell in love with~Author’s POV~~~~~~~~~It’s been over eleven years sprinting through this unshakable fog, only to stand on faith. A faith where she continued waiting on his name, desiring him, and never realized there would be consequences.But when reality hits, it will first strike the faith.Life is like a book; every word you write becomes your story. She wrote love, waiting, and undeniable faith until now, but everything has weakened with time. New vocabulary added to her story: Ignorance, acceptance, and becoming the shelter and brightness to the people who needed her the most. The nights have become long, and days have become short. There was no place for her to hinder these evolutions life brought. She was trying hard to stand firm and fought against all odds, but slowly with time, her beautiful world was decaying.It’s been two weeks. She was sleeping in the same room as Ruben. It took time for her to adapt the
There is a difference between you and me. I am in love with you, and you are not. Knowing you are in pain, I can never stand back.~ AUTHOR'S POV~~~~~~~So look me in the eye.Tell me what you see.Perfect paradiseTearing at the seams.......I wish I could erase it....Every loving heart knew how to imply every word in the song. Arlet was looking at Raya, playing with her bunny, listening to this song. Those unshakable feelings still lingered on her chest, but wouldn’t it be a surprise she was teaching this belief to this young girl without knowing her fate? Raya seems happy to get the bunny back and learned her lesson very well, not to hold the one and let it feel free.Deflecting her thoughts from Ruben and his twisted way of asking about her well-being, she was excited about this new opportunity.Raya’s birthday is coming, and as always, Arlet wanted to make this little angel happy. Magda showed her previous years’ pictures of how they celebrated her birthday. It was indeed a
While everything inside me was struggling to unlove you, this universe determined to change the dais, compelling you to do the things you never wanted.This delusion was revealing. I have discovered the more I love you, the more it worsens the wound inside me.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ARLET~When I woke up, Ruben was sleeping like a baby. It’s a beautiful day today, and everything in me was committed up to pull off the plan for Raya’s birthday. First, I thought not to wish her for the entire day and welcome her to the place I had proposed for her, but then she was just seven years old, relatively young for this trick, and might not feel good about it, so I dropped this plan.I don’t know what childish thought it was when I shelved this thought on her eleventh birthday. How stupid I was to think I would be there. Well, I didn’t want to drown myself in future probabilities, so I decided to act on what was in my hand. I woke up and prepared myself to bake cupcakes for my little one. I strictly
She has become the answer to give when someone asks about why they have been so happy lately. She has become the root. Wherever you plant her, she will bloom.~~~~~~~~~~~~ AUTHOR’S POV~“What is the surprise, mommy?” Raya articulated behind the blindfolds, hearing the garrulous coming her way.Magda and Arlet wheeled her inside and opened her blindfold.The smile sprinkled on her face was breathtaking.Arlet extended her first envelope.Happy Birthday, Princess...Here is your surprise.“Game arcade,” she added with excitement.As they entered the place, nobody was there except the staff.“Mommy, are we going to play alone?” Arlet wheeled her into a dark room, and there the lights went on, and everyone shouted happy birthday to her.Raya’s eyes skimmed over everyone. Her classmates were there with their parents. Toby came forwards and placed a gift in her lap.“Happy birthday, Raya,” he leaned closer and kissed her cheeks.Raya blushed, and that made them widen their eyes. Magda and
That silent whisper in the back of your mind could unlock a new rhythm. You never know if it will transform the way your heart beats and change the meaning of every song you have ever listened to.AUTHOR’S POV~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The crowd settled in a dark room, a stage highlighted with rainbow lights, and the kids were excited to know what was coming next.“Mommy, is this a show?” Raya grabbed Arlet’s hand.They were sitting in the front row, and Raya was super excited, like the other kids. This was the best birthday so far. Everyone settled, and the limelights circling the stage and drum rolls started raising the heartbeats of these little ones. “What?”“It’s a clown show?” Toby hopped from his place.“No, I think some characters will come,” Gabriel assisted.The music went on, and Arlet’s eyes were skimming for Ruben. He was nowhere to be found. Roselin and Ruben entered the door when she tilted her neck to look back. She was smiling at him, grabbing his shirt.Whatever was goin
The morning sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a gentle glow in the room. Arlet slowly blinked her eyes open, her hand instinctively clenched in Ruben’s. She released a warm breath, her gaze meeting his as he looked down at her. Shyly, she lowered her eyes, but he gently lifted her chin to meet his gaze again.“What are you looking at?” she asked softly, her voice tinged with curiosity.Ruben’s eyes softened, a tender smile playing on his lips. “Nothing,” he replied, his voice filled with wonder. “I was just thinking about how incredibly lucky I am to have you in my life.”Arlet’s cheeks flushed with a mixture of emotions. “We’re not supposed to be like this,” she murmured, a hint of hesitation in her voice. The unexpected turn of events, from marriage to divorce and now sharing the same bed again, was not something they had anticipated. But Ruben’s unwavering gaze conveyed a different truth.“Why not?” he questioned, his voice filled with conviction.“Because... we
Not just the silence, but his touch was enough to let her feel what is.~~~~~~~The entrance of the mansion felt like a familiar embrace, as if it welcomed Arlet back with open arms. She glanced around, the memories flooding back. It had been months since she last stepped foot in this house, and now, when she was ready to leave the country, it seemed to call her back. She held Ruben’s hand over her shoulder, supporting him as they walked inside. His touch still had the same effect on her, sending a rush of warmth through her body, just like it did on their first day together.“Careful,” she muttered, looking ahead as they stepped inside.Magda’s eyes widened as she took in Arlet and Ruben’s condition. She remained silent, but her heart swelled with emotions seeing Arlet by Ruben’s side, offering her support.Once Ruben was settled on his bed, Arlet busied herself, arranging the medicines and preparing a thermometer from the drawer. She knew every corner of the room, every little detai
"Sometimes, the chaos that enters our lives also brings unexpected connections and hidden blessings."~~~~~~~~~Arlet stood at the airport, her bags packed and ready to leave. The weight of her suffering and her unresolved feelings for Ruben consumed her. As she called for an Uber to take her away, her heart felt heavy with the knowledge that she was running away from her own emotions.Every step she was taking wanted to ease itself. Everything inside her wanted to stop, turn and go back to him.“Arlet,” a familiar voice came to her voice, and when she turned, it was Milo, a friend who had always supported her through thick and thin. His voice was filled with concern.“You are running away from everything?”Tears welled up in her eyes as she nodded, unable to find the words to explain her actions.“Yes, I don’t think I have anything left here,” she added.Milo’s next words struck her like lightning.“Why don’t you accept the fact that you still love him?” he asked, his voice filled wi
“Can you tell me how you mastered the act of unloving me?” ~~~~~~~~As the days turned into weeks and the weeks stretched into months, Ruben found himself engulfed in desolate solitude. The absence of Arlet, the love he had lost, weighed heavily on his heart. Every passing moment seemed to amplify the void within him.Arlet, on the other hand, had taken small steps towards rebuilding her life. She had found solace and purpose in teaching swimming to children at a local school. It was a way for her to channel her love for the water and share her skills with others. But despite the outward appearance of strength, her heart still longed for Ruben, the one who had held such a significant place in her life. It was hard for her to keep him away from her heart, but she was struggling with that part.Every Friday, Arlet sought comfort and guidance in the peaceful embrace of the church. It became a ritual for her, a sacred refuge where she could find moments of respite from the turbulence of
“As much as it hurts me to admit it, loving you was the most agonizing experience of my life.”~~~~~~~~~~~As they walked, Ruben snuggled his hand into hers, sending the vibes of shiver. The vibrant colors of blooming flowers, the gentle rustle of leaves, and the melodic twittering of birds enveloped them in nature’s embrace. Arlet’s steps became lighter, and a hint of serenity flickered across her face as the healing power of the natural world worked its magic on her broken soul.Ruben couldn’t help but gawk at her, his heart pouring with a mix of admiration and love. Seeing her face light up with a renewed sense of joy brought a glimmer of hope to his own wounded heart. After losing everything, she is the only part he wants to hold close to himself. The weight of their shared pain momentarily lifted as they immersed themselves in the beauty and tranquility surrounding them.“Would you like to have some popsicles?” As soon as they crossed the ice stand, he added, giving a gentle squ
Take small steps forward, to navigate the path of healing together.~~~~~~~~~The morning brought a new beginning to their lives as Arlet found herself waking up to the comforting presence of Ruben, his strong hands still holding hers and her head nestled against his chest. She attempted to shift away, intending to create some distance, but the firm grip of his hands pulled her back into his embrace.“Please, don’t leave,” he whispered, his voice filled with a mix of vulnerability and longing. “Stay like this. It feels so good to have you close to my heart.”Arlet felt perplexed by his words, unsure of how to respond. She looked up, meeting his gaze, and found herself lost in those beautiful gray eyes she had always dreamed of looking into. There was a mixture of hope, affection, and a hint of apprehension in his expression.“Good morning,” he finally added, breaking the silence that hung between them. His voice carried a trace of uncertainty, as if he was unsure of how she would reac
Let me take care of you.~~~~~~~~~~The beeping of the machine reverberated in the silent room. Arlet’s eyes were closed while the nurse pushed the chart into the box. Since morning, they have kept a close look at her health.The weight of guilt bore heavily upon Ruben as he stood by her bedside, his hand firmly clasping hers. Each passing second felt like an eternity as he anxiously awaited any signs of improvement.Memories flooded his mind, each one a painful reminder of his past mistakes and the consequences they had brought upon him. He couldn’t forgive himself for the way he had treated Arlet, for the love he had failed to acknowledge until it was almost too late. Regret gnawed at his heart as he realized the magnitude of his actions and the depth of his own blindness. He had lost his brother, Raya, to his own foolishness, and now the woman who had loved him unconditionally was fighting for her own survival.The door creaked open, and the doctor walked into the room, holding a f
"In the pages of her journals, he found the unwritten chapters of their love story, revealing a truth he had been blind to: she had loved him since the dawn of her understanding of love."~~~~~~~~~~Ruben made his way out, but he knew it wouldn’t be easy to win her back. She was in complete denial, and he could feel the weight of her anger and hurt. The downpour intensified, soaking him as he stood outside, looking back at the closed door of the house. His lady was inside with their child, and he was left waiting outside, longing to be let in. She didn’t open the door, and he had no choice but to settle against his car and leave the place.Once he reached his own home, haunting memories of Raya and Arlet consumed him. He made his way to his room, where the emptiness echoed in the silence. He sat on the bed quietly, gazing out at the pouring rain, which mirrored the hurt within him. Rubbing his hand down his face, he was lost in his thoughts when his phone buzzed, displaying Reile’s nu
"I no longer yearn for the love you once held, for now, I mirror the indifference you once showed me."~~~~~~Arlet arrived at her parent’s house, a place that had remained closed for so long. However, she couldn’t think of anywhere else that could provide the solace and comfort she desperately sought. This house held a history of love and care in her life, and in her current state of despair, it seemed like the only refuge available to her.Grateful for her parents’ foresight and protection, even in their absence, she appreciated the inheritance they had left for her. The house and a substantial amount in her bank account served as a lifeline, offering a sense of security and stability amidst the turmoil of her shattered marriage.Unlocking the front door, memories flooded her mind, causing tears to well up in her eyes. She was instantly transported back to her childhood, remembering how special she had felt within the walls of this home. With her bag abandoned at the entrance, she s