LOGIN“Don’t stop believing in yourself.”….~ Austin ~The air around the office felt different, warmer and definitely more accommodating; I can’t tell if it was just my mood or the environment. All I knew was that. It was different.“You are back, Boss.” Jordan greeted me with a smile. “I am.” He followed me into my office, and I took a seat on my chair, which was as clean as I left it weeks ago. I hadn’t planned on staying away from work for that long, but well… life happened.“Do I have any tasks pending?” I asked, turning on my desktop. “Yes, Sir…”“I’m listening.”“You’ve got a meeting with Daniel Tobias.” My colleague who would be helping me with Sharon’s case. “You’ve got a meeting with Winter Park.” The interior designer I had set my eyes on for Alyssa’s studio. Though she hadn’t said anything about owning a studio and all. It was obvious she needed one. Like all artists, they dreamt of having their own personal space. Where they can simply spend hours engulfing themselves in th
“I wish you knew just how much untapped potential you’ve got embedded in you.”….~ Alyssa ~“Will I make friends, Mom?” was the first question Keren asked me as soon as our car stopped in the car park of her new school. She’d been quiet all through the twenty-minute-long ride, so I had even started to worry… until she finally spoke when we arrived.“Of course, Honeypie. You’d make lots of friends.” I cupped her face and pecked her cheeks. “No bullies, right, Mom?” My heart ached at her words. She was obviously traumatized by her previous school. Thankfully, the child therapist we’d visited assured us that it would be fine. And she simply needed to experience being loved and accepted in her new school.“You won’t be bullied, love.” As much as I couldn’t protect her from everything. I can at least assure her… that she’d be fine. “Okay… can we go in now?” My eyes met with that of Austin, who was in the driver’s seat. He nodded, tapping on a button that opened the side door automatical
“I hope you are taking good care of your human.” ….~ Austin ~I had just taken a seat in my study room when I received a message from Jordan, which caused me to laugh out loud.“When will you be back at work, Boss? I miss you!” Though we’d known each other for years. Jordan hadn’t really told me he missed me or anything like that. So this was definitely a first, which caught me off guard. “I thought my presence intimidated you?” I sent it back. Intentionally teasing him. “No, Boss. When will you be back?”“On Monday.” “Good, good. I can’t wait to have you back.”“Do I have any case waiting for my review?”“Yes. I will send it to you now.” “Okay.” I placed my phone on do not disturb before placing it on the phone stand and turning on my laptop and inputting my password. I hadn’t been working a lot due to the many changes that were going on at the same time. Joseph had suggested I donate his sister’s things, which I had done. I have also begun keeping her pictures and frames in a
“You are different; don’t ever forget that.”….~ Alyssa ~“It’s really nice meeting you both again, isn’t it?” I stared at the both of them, a satisfied smile hanging on my lips watching their shocked expression. They were probably not expecting me to acknowledge them.“So my guess was right… He wasn’t your best friend as you claimed he was…”“You are right; he isn’t just my best friend.”“You were cheating on me, behind my back! How shameful!”“Oh… cheating on you? Like Mark, you mean I was cheating on you?” I have always wondered why the concept of no contact is always so advised and overhyped. But now I knew. Maybe I had once assumed my relationship with Mark had been perfect. But now? I realized just how wrong I was.“So you want to tell me you guys only started dating after our breakup? And you now have a ring on your finger so soon?” I lifted my ring finger subconsciously and waved my finger gently… showing off my diamond ring.“And… who said I had gotten married to him and not
“Find time to do what you love.”….~ Alyssa ~“This or that?” I stared at Austin, who was standing beside me in front of my closet. Peter had called to apologize earlier and asked to meet me. At first, I had thought of refusing and making him feel guilty. But Austin managed to talk me out of it. I didn’t expect them to have bonded so much in a short time, so much so that they now had each other’s backs like best bros. “How about you wear something different from your usual style?”“What do you mean?” I stared at him in surprise. Jumpsuits have always been my go-to outfit ever since moving here due to how comfy they are and how easy it is to walk around in them. “Give me a minute.” He then opened another cabinet in my wardrobe. One I didn’t know existed until then pulled out an outfit from the counter. It was a wine-red dress, softly wrapped at the bodice, cinched at the waist. Though it was simple, I could tell it was custom-made and worth a lot. “When did you get this?” I asked,
“I hope you love yourself enough to let go of what no longer serves you.”***~ Austin ~I’d never been one to become easily emotional, and I also never imagined that I’d tear up during sex. But I did… At that very moment, Alyssa and I became one. Our eyes met, and she had tears in her eyes. Hers is probably from the pain of having lost her virginity and all… But mine was different. I was suddenly overwhelmed with gratitude for all I have gotten. Maybe I still sometimes wish Joanna were here and all. But then… I had gotten something better. Someone who was willing to give her body and heart to a broken man like me, whilst hoping he’d treasure it. “I love you, wifey.” The same words I never imagined I’d say to another woman came rolling out of my lips. Hope had always seemed so far away since Joanna’s demise. But now? I was being presented with a lifelong journey of happiness, possibilities, and joy and had to choose between grasping it and holding on to the past. Well… I was don







