The end

My heart raced with eagerness as the wheels of the plane touched the runway. The familiar smell of home hit my nose and I smiled. It's been two solid years since I left and I could say I've experienced a lot while I was in hiding. I saw different parts of the world and in a way it helped me heal properly. While I was away, Royce and Britney had been sentenced to life imprisonment. I was glad that I would finally be able to breathe in peace. Even though, travelling through the world helped a bit, I could tell that there was a gape in my heart that couldn't be filled.Surprisingly, even though I knew what needed to be done, I still didn't do it For the first one year after I left, Christian always called to check up on me. Each time he does that, I refuse to pick his call, nor return any of them. The only person I gave constant updates was dad. As time went by,the level at which Christian calls dropped and he stopped sending me messages. After a while, he stopped calling altogether but a part of me wished that he'd keep calling. The plane made its final stop and I proceeded to take out my bag. It was time to face everything that I left unattended and I was getting jittery. I wonder whether Christian would still be happy to see me after all I did , ghosting him. The door of the plane opened and all passengers trudged out. I held my bag firmly and took a look around at the arrival terminal. Everyone was waiting patiently for their loved one or in some cases, their business partners. I had only informed dad that I was coming, so it was safe to say no one will be there waiting for me. I slipped on my shade and began to walk out when I suddenly saw him. Christian. He was holding a placard with the name ‘Myra' on it. He was looking around, trying to possibly find me but I had seen him first and stopped. Although, there was a slight change in his appearance,I couldn't miss the expression on his face. He looked as if he was tired of waiting and wanted nothing more but to get the hell out of there. Slowly, he turned around just as I was about to get him. Our eyes met and he walked up to him. 'Welcome back," he said and took the bag from me. Contrary to what I had expected, he looked too composed for my liking. His eyes carried no emotions like they used to be and he had none of the warmth they used to carry when he looked at me. 'Christian,"I said. I was about to add that he looked different but he didn't wait for me to say anything. He turned around abruptly and began to walk towards the exit. Taking it as my cue, I followed hurriedly after him as he took long strides. He unlocked the car and I got in too after he had dumped the bag into the trunk. Throughout the drive he said nothing to me. I had expected that he'd strike up a conversation but he did the opposite by facing the road without even sparing me a glance. 'Christ__" I began but he cut me off before I could even finish calling his name. 'Would you be staying at the mansion?" He asked and I nodded. I was about to talk again but he turned on the radio in the car. I got his message then that he wasn't going to engage in any sort of talks with me, so I kept quiet. He was trying to distance himself and I got it. ****** The gate of the mansion opened and he drove in. Dad was already waiting outside the house, with Percy standing next to him, smiling. I rushed out as soon as the engine was switched off. Dad walked up to me and we caught each other in an embrace. ‘Dad, I missed you so much," I said as I released him 'I thought I wouldn't see you again," he said and I scoffed. Percy cleared his throat and held out his hands. Without thinking twice,I hugged him too happily. Somehow, the warm welcome I got from them eased my tensed muscles a bit. I looked around only to see that Christian had dropped my bag and was turning to leave. 'You aren't joining us for dinner?" Percy asked him, 'No," he replied firmly and left the house in his car. I watched with mixed feelings as he left but said nothing and went in with dad and Percy. ****************************** 'So, are you back fully now or you'll be returning soon?" Percy asked as he bit into the cake on his plate. We had finished dinner and were now having dessert. Dinner had been filled with conversation about my travels and taunts from dad about how I couldn't stay anymore because I missed him. The conversations had been lively but I wasn't feeling up to it. I missed Christian but I don't want to admit it. 'I'm back. I've had plenty of time to heal. Now is time to do my filial duty. I'll begin work immediately," I said. 'I'm glad you decided to return. I fear that my health is failing and I need you to be by my side when I take my last breath." Dad said. 'Oh please, don't spoil the ambience of the room. There's nothing wrong with you but I'm here now." 'You don't look happy though," Percy said, making me frown. 'You didn't eat much from your plate earlier. Now you've been pushing that cake around for a while." 'I guess I'm just jet lagged," I lied. 'Seems to me that it's more than that." He replied smiling. 'He's been angry for more than a year, you don't expect him to come around that quickly." 'I fear that he'd hate me." I said. 'He can't do that even if he wants to. He'll certainly come around," 'Who's this he?" Dad asked. I and Percy exchanged knowing glances wondering if it was best to tell him. After the mess Royce made, I'm sure he'd want me to be more than careful in dating another man. I too want to be more than careful when it comes to giving my heart to anyone. 'Christian," I said. 'I kind of fucked things us between us and I don't know how he'd feel now that I'm back" 'Hmm, Christian is a good guy. I've seen how diligent he works, especially when it comes to you. You both need to sit and talk about it like an adult," he said. I heaved a sigh of relief. Dad's statement confirmed that he had no issues with me dating Christian. I just have to wait till he came around like Percy said. ************ Except that he didn't. It's been more than three days since I returned but I haven't seen him since he dropped me off at home that day. He wasn't picking his calls and he made sure to steer clear of me. Those three days and nights have been a toil on me. I couldn't get him off my mind. After repeating the mantra ‘heaven help those who help themselves' countless times, I got into my car and made my way to his office. I got to the front of his office and my hands got sweaty. Cleaning them on my dress,I knocked on his door and gently pushed it open. 'Christian," I said as soon as our eyes met. 'You've been avoiding me," I added. There was no point hiding. I'd rather go straight to the point than beat around the bush. 'No, I've just been busy with work." He replied, still composed. 'I'm sorry, Christian." I said, gaining his attention. I noticed that his cold, unreadable expression changed as I said this. It was as if he was waiting for me to apologise. 'For what exactly? For not picking my calls nor returning them, or for listening to my voicemails and never deem it fit to return the favour. All I asked for was a constant update about how you were fairing. I told you I'd wait for you and that I'd give you the time you need to fix things but you did the opposite." He said, raking his hands through his hair. 'Christian," I said but he held his hand up, telling me that he wasn't finished yet. 'You said you didn't want to hurt me and yet, you did." He said softly. 'No amount of words could make up for my behaviour. But the truth is that I was afraid of being vulnerable again. You saw all I went through and how difficult it was to sort everything out. My own sister betrayed me. I don't want history to repeat itself. It'd break me to have to go through that trauma again." 'But I'm not Royce. You've seen how attentive I've been to you. What more do I need to do or say for you to believe me?" He asked in frustration. 'It's just that I feel I might be useless to you. What if you find out something about me that can't be changed?" 'What secret?" He asked. 'I can't give you a child if you want one. I've seen you around kids while we were in Italy. Truth is I only have one fallopian tube left and the possibility of carrying a child is very slim. All of these things,I just don't want to bother you with them," I said, my eyes swelling with water. 'I don't care about any of that. All I want and need is you. I don't mind not having a child, we can opt for adoption if you want." 'Christian,this isn't some decision to make hastily. What if you change your mind along the line, where will that leave us?" I asked. 'Look at me Myra," he said, holding me. He had stood up while he was talking and was now inches apart from me. 'Let me ask you a question. If you have all of these thoughts and insecurities,why did you return, why didn't you just stay where you were?" 'I couldn't, I realised I was just running away from the truth. I'm sorry it took me this long." 'What truth?" he queried. 'That you mean so much to me. That I haven't stopped thinking about you since I left and that I need you to feel the void in my heart. Those moments when you called and I didn't pick, I fought so hard to not . But every single time,I ended up listening to your voice messages over and over again. I decided to return and do the needful" He smiled warmly and held me by the waist,his gaze fixed squarely on mine. 'Does that mean I stand a chance now?" He asked and I nodded. He smiled warmly and pulled me closely in an embrace. In that very moment, I realised that I was ready to face whatever challenges I have ahead. Christian wasn't Royce and oftentimes,he has shown me that he was different. It took me a long time to heal up from the emotional trauma I had. The universe had given me the second chance that I wanted and I made use of it to deal with those who betrayed me.It's my new era; I'm going to love and be loved freely.