Scarlett started to pick up her rhythm after she left the antique shop. The snow had stopped a few minutes after it started. She continued to cry though. Tears blurred her vision and she had to slow her pace. She couldn't stop the sobs.People stared but she didn't care. Her heart was broken into a million pieces ever since she heard the story of how Hakeem died. Over the years she'd learned that it was possible to feel emotional pain physically, and that's what she was feeling now.Her heart was hurting.He died. What if history repeated itself? Scarlett jerked to stop, wiping her tears furiously and shaking her head, "I won't let that happen." When she looked up again to continue her run, she couldn't believe her eyes.If someone told Scarlett that she’d died and gone to heaven, she would believe it. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Or who.Hakeem.In the flesh. Was this a dream? She looked around her to make sure it wasn't a dream. Even going as far as pinching her c
The year 1881Rosalie made her way up the path to her home. She had a large smile on her face and was virtually jumping on her feet.Their tiny cottage became visible. It appeared earlier in the dim sunshine. Her lips widened even more when she saw Hakeem putting additional flowers in the yard. She had some fantastic news for him.She paused to observe Hakeem and attempted to take a breath. As he pushed the hoe down into the hard dirt to remove obstinate weeds, his veins and biceps contracted. His black skin shone due to the sweat that was pouring on his forehead. She had a gorgeous spouse.She muttered under her breath, "And I'm one lucky woman."To make their small house a lovely environment for their kids, he had once informed her he was planting these flowers. She could tell by the longing in his eyes that he wanted them to live like regular people rather than like prisoners hiding in the mountains.She muttered "Hakeem," putting an end to her line of thought.As soon as he stoppe
Thomas let out a bark of sarcastic laughter, taking a few more threatening steps toward the couple. “Your father wants you home dear Rose, he is very angry that you eloped with a servant.” He spat the word servant like it was a bitter taste in his mouth."“She’s not going with you!” Hakeem boomed, red hot rage flashing through him.“Shut up! how could you dare to think of eloping with your master’s daughter?” Thomas sneered.Rose shook with rage. “He is no longer a servant Thomas! He is my lover, my husband.” She slipped her hand into Hakeem’s palm desperately needing strength.Thomas scowled “I don’t care. Your father has searched far and wide for you after you caused him irreparable embarrassment by eloping with a servant the night before our wedding.” He inhaled deeply as if the memory alone scarred him. “He is very angry dear Rose, he’ll never approve of your love for such a lowly person. You know the daughter of whom you are better than I do.”“I don’t need his approval Thomas, I
At that moment it started to snow, Rose’s favorite season.It was the first snow.Her favorite day of the year.Rosalie had always loved the snow, but her love for the season grew because the snow had led her to meet Hakeem.They would’ve been in their little cottage, celebrating their first baby together. The snow would’ve been the icing on the cake as they enjoyed each other's company.When Hakeem finally looked at her with trembling lips, unable to speak, her heart broke all over again. But, she knew she’d take the bullet all over again.Rosalie summoned every ounce of strength in her body to lift and hold his face between her cold hands. “Hakeem, I love you much, more than you could ever know. I want you to remember that.”“I love you, Rose.” He cried, “I can’t lose you, plea … please don’t leave me.”Rosalie wanted to bawl, but she had to be strong for him. She refused to believe this was the end of them. They didn’t get to visit the beach or go to his Homeland, Africa. Or find h
Scarlett was gone for 5 good years, but everything still felt and looked the same.After all those years of traveling around the world, the sense of nostalgia She felt was truly overwhelming. The bad memories she’d run from also scraped the surface. But now she was a different person, and bad memories wouldn’t make her crumble anymore.Astrid had been horrified at her plan to stay in a hotel for the first few weeks, a traveling habit Scarlett didn’t think much of. It was weird that her online psychologist recommended her an apartment that was available on short notice, but Astrid was fast becoming a friend, something Scarlett lacked.The building in front of her reflected how much Astrid had come to know her. An apartment near the sea, with the most beautiful blend of calming colors, nothing like her own life, which wasn’t calm or colorful. Scarlett took a deep breath and listened for the distant, but serene sound of the beach behind her new apartment, the cool breeze ruffled her lusc
Mateo kicked a stray stone off the sidewalk as he slowed his pace down to a strut. His breath came in heavy puffs, and he couldn’t feel his heartbeat from the bass of his earphones.He stopped and settled on his favorite park bench close to the huge mahogany which often served as a shade. Just a few more miles and he’d be home.A gentle smile stretched his lips as he recalled Brianna’s perplexed expression when he informed her of his plan to go for a run. It was against his normal schedule which consisted of only morning runs, but Mateo knew he needed this today.He was acting weird lately. He knew. Richard had pointed it out and Brianna always watched him with keen suspicious eyes. He zoned out a lot, often lost in his mind.Not to mention, the repetitive dreams he’d been having for some time now. Who was the woman that repeatedly appeared in his dreams?Mateo never saw her face. It was always her back and her long, shimmering, flowing blonde hair. No matter how familiar she felt, h
Scarlett was harshly jolted from her reverie when a loud knock sounded on her door.When she stood up to answer, she spotted her horrifying appearance in the mirror opposite her bed. No way in hell was she going to answer the door looking like that, especially being new here and wanting to make a good first impression. Sending a silent sorry to the person behind the door, Scarlett quickly freshened up. The knock persisted without pauses in between. Weird. She washed her face and changed into a light blue handmade gown she’d gotten from a craft market in Thailand. It was a simple A-line gown made with the softest and best quality wool she’d ever seen. The young girl who made and sold it to her probably wasn’t up to fifteen and had such impressive talent and skill. Scarlett finally made her way to the door while tying her hair in a loose bun wondering who it could be. She didn’t know who she was expecting, but she wasn’t expecting a tall handsome guy with blonde hair and green eyes, a
The week flew by before Scarlett could blink. She was settling into her new environment and getting everything she needed. She’d gotten a car, a TV set which she loved, and more canvas. Everything was falling into place.. except her heart. Throughout, Scarlett assured herself that she wasn’t avoiding Mateo, just staying away. And that she could successfully live here and still stay away from him.That Sunday night, after dinner in her apartment, she finally exchanged numbers with Brianna, so they texted every now and then. She stopped asking Bri, but she always wondered where Mateo was and what exactly he was doing.On Friday morning, Scarlett woke up to a text from Brianna, asking if she was up for a girl’s day out on Saturday. Of course, she was. It was a girl’s day out so it meant no boys, right? No Richard or… Mateo. The knowledge didn’t make her feel as good as she expected, but her rational side who knew what was good was relieved.By evening the next day, Scarlett was certain