We have loved, not sinned

A young girl stepped down the train. She looked around her to see the face she missed the most in the five years she stayed away. Although it was perhaps wrong, she had to admit she definitely missed him even more than her parents. She was 18 when she left and she was finally 23. “Andy, I hope you're here” she prayed.

She remembered the events of the day she had left. The last time she had seen him. He had driven her to the train station to get to the airport. He was the one who had suggested that she study Law. She could easily talk people into and out of anything without even knowing them. She was good with words.

Neither talked much during the journey. They both had bottled up so many emotions that it wasn't possible for them to let it all out. The journey was not too long as they lived nearby.

He stopped the car outside a church. "Rose, I think we should both pray. You are going on a long journey so let's pray for your well-being" said Andrew. She nodded and got out of the car. 

Rose. She never realised how beautiful her name truly was until she began paying attention to the way he said her name. It sounded almost magical when he took her name. She would watch him, his expression, his lips, everything when he took her name. She knew she loved him ever since she understood what the word meant. Sometimes everything else would stop existing when he came into her view. Music would play in her heart when he spoke. She couldn't bear even a day without him, only she knew how she would spend 5 years without him. 

They entered the church and offered their prayers. Although his eyes were closed his focus was on her. It was no different for him either. Even the thought of her going away was killing him from inside. It was like a slow acting poison which was burning him up internally. He was only two years older than her but still took care of her like she was a newborn baby. In fact he knew her since she was a baby. They grew up playing together, walked into school together on her first day and shared every single secret with each other. 

"Andy". His chain of thoughts were interrupted. "Shall we leave?" she asked. 

 He said yes and they went back to the car. He smiled to himself. She had called him Andy ever since she could talk properly. He was very proud of that name and never allowed anyone else to call him that. All rights were reserved by Rose. Little did she know even his heart was reserved for her. He didn't know how or since when but he did know that he had fallen for his dearest cousin. They weren't biologically related, however they shared a connection which was deeper than any blood relationship. 

They reached the station an hour earlier. They stayed in the car. He got out leaving her and came back with two ice lollies. "Look, I got our favourite flavour." She happily took it. Other than him she had only one weakness. Food. She just couldn't resist it. She had a list of favourites and he was the only person who could memorise it and always remember it. If anyone asked for her favourite food he would start saying all the items in her list. When it was time for her to leave they shared a hug with many emotions. "Come back soon" he said.

"Wait for me" she replied.

"For you I will wait forever". 

"I'll be back and we will be together again." She looked back one last time before getting on the train. 

"I will wait for you to achieve your dreams before confessing my feelings for you my angel." He said he would wait forever and he meant it. 

"Rose". She turned around hoping for it to be him. She nearly had to hide her disappointment when she saw who it was. It was Kyle, her adopted brother and his wife Rayah. She loved them a lot but no one could compare to her dearest Andy. She hugged them. “I missed you guys so much.”

“We missed you too little sis” Kyle said. 

“Let’s get home now, everyone’s waiting for you Rose.”

She felt butterflies in her stomach hearing that. “Maybe he’s at home waiting to surprise me. I won’t leave him easily today after ignoring me for two years. Please Andy, just please be there. I can't go on like this anymore without talking to you" she thought to herself.

When they got home, Rose waited for him to jump out of somewhere to surprise her. "Rose" her more Sandra ran to her and hugged her. She felt a sense of relief as her mother engulfed her in a warm hug. 

"I missed you mom. I don't know how I managed without you for five years. Well, I want to eat your food and just sleep all day."

Sandra tapped her daughter's head lightly while laughing. "Yes yes. You just eat something and go to sleep. You must be tired right?"

Rose yawned and said "yes. I'm so tired and hungry. I can honestly eat an elephant and sleep for two days. Where's dad by the way?"

"Dad's at the office. He will be home by 6 or 7pm. He left this chocolate box for you" answered Kyle giving her a box of chocolates. 

Rose took the box excitedly but her face slightly fell when she saw the box of chocolates. It was not her favourite type and not even close to it. It made her miss Andrew. He always knew what she liked and what she wanted better than herself. She tried to hide it but Sandra saw her daughter's face.

"How will Rose react when she finds out what has happened between our families? Please help her God" she prayed for her daughter.