Today is their 1st anniversary and she hadn't received a call from Michael, not even a text message, which would have worked magic to the doubts she was feeling in her heart. Nora sat on the chair in her office staring intensely at her phone. She still couldn't believe she didn't have a picture of her boyfriend. She had tried severally to take his pictures without him knowing but for two years she had failed to.
Michael never likes it whenever she tries to take his pictures, he always throws a tantrum when it comes to that. She pushed her phone aside as she tried to focus on her work. Nora works in a catering company known as Oak and Honey. She got this job because of her boyfriend although he didn't tell the boss they were dating in order to protect Nora and himself. Nora was grateful to him and his endless efforts to make sure she was satisfied with everything, this made her love him more but she couldn't tell what to make out of this.
What would make Michael not to remember the most important day of their relationship? She thought. Could it be that he doesn't like her anymore? She shook her head. "He is just too busy," she reminded herself.
"Hello sugar." Sara greeted Nora with a peck on her cheek. "How is your anniversary going?" Sara asked with a huge smile on her face as she sat on the desk.
Nora didn't know what to reply to her friend. Sara had no idea who Nora was dating but she knew she was dating someone. Nora had to lie it was a long-distance relationship so that Sara wouldn't bother her about meeting him but what should she tell her now? Nora was already pissed off and Sara's question made her more angry.
She faked a smile. "It's going well." Nora lied.
"well let me see the anniversary text message he sent to you, I am pretty sure there are a lot." She tried to take Nora's phone but Nora got angry and pushed her hand away almost causing Sara to fall but she was quick to regain her balance. Sara was surprised at Nora's reaction to her.
"Can you stop poking your nose into my life? Go get a love life and leave mine." It was after a few seconds Nora noticed she just hurt her friend with those words. "Sara-I'm-"
Sara didn't wait to listen to any explanation, she took her bag and went to her desk. Sara couldn't understand why the sudden outburst because this was something they would both laugh and joke about but with the recent outburst from Nora, Sara has sworn to herself not to get too involved in her life.
Glancing at her friend, Nora could see the hurt in Sara's eyes. She knew Sara was just being caring and jovial as usual but she picked the wrong time. If only Michael had played his role as a good boyfriend, now she wouldn't be angry with her best friend but they would both be gisting right now.
Sara kept her distance from Nora all through the day.
~~~~~
It was six in the evening, Nora had to get to the market to get some things at the grocery store. She and Sara didn't say a word to each other and she didn't want to push it. She arrived at the grocery store, got the fruits and veggies she needed. She went to the counter, paid for the groceries and she started her walk home.
Walking alone with different thoughts flooding her mind she couldn't ignore the throbbing pain she was feeling in her heart. This wasn't how she wanted this day to be, maybe she made a mistake accepting him in the first place.
Almost a stone's throw from her house, she saw a familiar vehicle parked. This was the only car he brought over to her place because no one would be able to recognize him with the car. She didn't want to get her hopes up so she walked slowly to the car and there he was standing next to his car with a bouquet of rose flowers in his hand. He was wearing a white shirt and a face cap and glasses to go with it. The moment his eyes met hers, he gave her that bunny smile she always falls in love with. Nora couldn't ignore the teardrop she felt on her cheek. She quickly wiped her tears when she saw him coming toward her.
"I know I'm late but I hope I am not too late," Michael said. His voice was so calm and soft that Nora had to let go of the tears she had been holding onto since the day of their anniversary. She stood there sobbing and wiping her tears. "Happy anniversary to us Eleanora Bell."
Nora looked up at him trying to see if he was being sincere but his face was emotionless, she couldn't tell if he meant it or if he was just playing with her feelings. Michael walked up to her, handing her the bouquet of flowers he got her. Nora accepted the flower as she smelled the flower. "It's beautiful."
"But not as beautiful as you. Your eyes glimmer with a brightness that speaks hope to the hopeless and your lips-" he pecked her lips before looking back at her. "-soft like cotton candy." immediately, a smile crossed Nora's lips. "Mind if I devour them right now?"
There was this sudden happiness she felt - a kind of happiness that only Michael Daniels can bring to her. She nodded. Michael pulled her close, raised her jaw a little so he could get a good grasp of her lips, and pressed his lips against hers as they both kissed. Nora wrapped her hands around him and she forgot all her doubts.
Who knew why Michael was just coming to her now? No matter how busy a person is, they would always create time for those who are important to them, right?
Arriving home with the groceries and a bouquet in her hands, Andrew, Nora's older brother looked at her. Andrew could notice the broad smile on his sister's face. "Who did this to you?" Andrew teased. Nora took a seat next to her brother as she showed him the things she got from the grocery store. "So, I am thinking of preparing pasta tonight. Have you had anything to eat while I was gone?" asked Nora. "Sitting in a wheelchair doesn't mean I can't do things with my hands." Nora smiled. She gave a big sigh as she looked at her brother. She wished she could turn back the hand of time and change so many things like stopping her brother and parents from coming to her school party. If only they had stayed back, her parents would still be alive and her brother won't be sitting in that wheelchair. If only I could go back in time. Andrew pulled his wheelchair closer to his sister. "I know that look." Nora faked a smile. "What look?" asked Nora as she kept a straight face. "That look that
The day is too sunny. Michael thought as he grabbed a bottle of whisky pouring it into his tumbler. A young lady walked behind him, placing her hands on his chest and rubbing his chest playfully. "Sweetheart, why did you get off the bed? I was looking for you." Michael turned to face her, kissing her on her lips. "You need to get going." He told her bluntly before walking away. "What's all this? You call me up anytime you need me to warm your bed and when you are done with me, you push me away like I am some kind of trash." "Gina, do not start," Michael told her, glaring at her. "Go back to your boyfriend." "It's because of her, isn't it?" She asked him as she folded her arms across her chest. Michael moved closer to her pulling her by the neck. "What do you know?" Regina started coughing. "You are hurting me." She told him. Michael left her neck and waited for her to spill the beans. "I followed you last night and I saw you kissing her, you even got her a bouquet. Is she your gi
It was 8 pm Sara and Nora decided to go somewhere to talk. "What about the Franklin Guesthouse? I heard his guesthouse is quite lovable," said Sara with her arms around Nora's arms. Nora wasn't interested and Sara could tell from the way her face squeezed up in a frown. "Come on Nory, It's going to be fun besides I won't leave your side for a second. What do you say?" She asked. Nora was feeling very reluctant but with a friend like Sara, it won't be very easy to tell her no. "I don't know Sara. Can't we just go somewhere not fancy and just look for a quiet place to talk?". Nora whined, poking her best friend in the cheek. Nora was trying her best to make sure her best friend said yes to her request. "Not this time, Eleanora Bell. We are having things my way and that's final. We ain't debating on this issue at all." Sara said with all seriousness and Nora could tell she wasn't going to have her way this time. Anytime it involves going out and stuff, Nora always tells her no or she w
Michael was still sitting at the bar waiting for Kelvin when a call came in. He dropped his glass of vodka on the table and picked up the call. "Yo! What's up??" "We've found her." The voice on the other side of the phone said. Michael didn't understand what the guy was saying so he stood up and went somewhere remote and quiet. "I didn't get you before. What did you say?" "We've found Nora Bell... Your girlfriend." "What?" asked Michael with his tone rising from low pitch to high pitch. "Where's she?" After he got to the room she was in, he ran to meet them, and to his greatest surprise, Nora was there sleeping soundly. Michael shut the door after him as he paced the room to and fro. "Check everywhere and make sure no one is here," Michael ordered as his friends went to carry out the order searching every nook and cranny of the room. Kelvin overheard their conversation and thought of how he was going to hide from them without them seeing him. He looked up at the ceiling and he wa
Nora woke up feeling a slight headache. She looked around and was surprised to see herself in a room that didn't look familiar to her at all. She wondered how she got into the room when her phone rang. The sound from her phone made her head ache more as she quickly stood up to receive the call hoping it would reduce the pain. Without looking at the caller, she picked up the call and an angry baritone voice erupted from the phone. "Where are you?" The voice asked. Nora took the phone away from her ear glancing at the phone with her half-shot eyes, she found out that the caller was her brother. Shakily, she placed the phone back to her ear as she stuttered. "I.... am so.... sorry. I will come home immediately." Nora said. She noticed her brother was going to yell at her so she hung up the call, she was surprised to see she has so many missed calls and text messages. She didn't bother about them because her main concern was her brother and the lies she was going to tell him. She board a
Nora followed Mrs. Wade to her office, every step she took was filled with fear and heaviness. She has never felt this way before. "Sit!" Mrs. Wade gestured pointing to the chair in front of her. After they had both settled, Mrs. Wade looked at Nora and she could feel her fear. "I am sure you know exactly why I called you here." She told her bringing her phone from her shelf and placing it on the table as she rest her chin on her knuckles. "I'd be lying if I say I do Mrs. Wade. Is everything okay?" She asked. Mrs. Wade opened her phone and played the video to watch. Watching the video, Nora's eyes widened in shock. "Do you now know why I called you here?" She asked again collecting the phone from her. Nora was too shocked to speak. That's a video of her in that bedroom but how come? was she drunk when it happened? Who would do such a thing to the point of posting it to her work site? She thought. Mrs. Wade hit her hand on the table trying to get Nora's attention when she noticed she
The call from Michael made Nora's heart beat faster. Could it be that he has found out about it? She thought as the call ended. She was about to put the phone in her pocket when it rang again and the caller was Michael. "Just pick up his call already.," Andrew said pressing the answer button. Nora quickly placed the phone in her ear. "Where are you?" A husky voice asked. Nora has never heard him sound that angry before. It was her first of hearing him sound so angry. It's only evidence that he has seen the video and he wants to ask her about it. "I am um...at... the house." She answered with fear and trembling. Nora was expecting to hear more words but the call ended immediately which was something Nora wasn't expecting. She knew he was hurt but at the same time he was supposed to understand she was going through shits too and if there's anyone that deserves to be angry right now, it should be her, not him. She was shocked to see him behave in that manner. "What did he say?" Andrew a
Nora has been home for the past few days, and she has refused to eat anything. Her heart is broken and it feels like the world has decided to frown at her. Everything that made her world beautiful suddenly made her world dim. How was she going to live with this new identity of hers when everywhere she goes, she is being tagged a whore and a disgrace. Her brother tried talking to her but all fell on deaf ears. She was lying down on her bed thinking when she heard a familiar voice downstairs. She recognizes that voice anywhere."Is she in?" She heard the voice ask."She's been in her room all day, I hope you can talk to her and make her get back to her senses. Starving herself or thinking won't do her any good." She heard her brother say as she stood at the door with her ears placed on the door. She listened to every conversation her brother and Sarah had. Andrew must have been pissed off with everything that has happened, he is even more pissed because he warned her about it but she wo