CHAPTER 12. That evening, Raymond got back home. He was surprised to hear music as he walked into the house. It's been a long time since he'd heard any form of loud music in his house.  "Honey, I'm home!" He called out, dropping his suitcase on the couch and removing the jacket he was wearing.  He stood shocked when his wife came out of their room. She was dressed up in a simple gown, with a light makeup on her face and her hair well-styled. There was a light in her eyes that has not been there in a long time and she was wearing a smile....a smile that reached her eyes. One he hasn't seen in her face for a long time.  Her eyes were slightly puffy under the makeup and Raymond realised that she must have cried again today. The knowledge never ceases to make him wince. But, the difference today was that his wife looks happy for the first time in a long time.  She

CHAPTER 14. Dane felt restless when he allowed Raine to leave. He knew that he couldn't stop her from going to her girlfriend even though he wants to. “It’s really late. Call me when you get home, okay?” "Of course." She replied as she walked to her car.  Dane's eyes followed her car until she drove out of side before he turned back into his house.  Raine pulled into her driveway and saw Serena seated at her front porch even before she stepped down from the car. She made her way to where Serena was seating.  "You weren't at home this time of the night? Where were you?" Serena asked softly, not with anger but with curiosity.  Raine snorted, "As if you had to ask? I was at Dane's, of course." Serena pretended like the answer wasn't making her boil inside. Dane. Of-fucking-course. Ra

CHAPTER 16.  Dane woke up pretty late the next morning. He was the only person left in bed. He dragged himself out of bed and headed for the bathroom.  He couldn't hear any noise at home and it made him wonder if Raine and her girlfriend was still around. He withdrew his toothbrush and started brushing his teeth. All the while he was thinking about last night.  It had been pleasant, Raine's girlfriend a vision of courtesy and politeness as usual but Dane had caught the anger in her eyes a time or two as she looked at the way Raine was with him. They'd eaten late and by the time they all went to bed, Dane had been pretty exhausted. He'd felt a bit relieved when Raine followed her girlfriend to bed. Relieved, even though his heart tightened at the though of not holding Raine at night.  But then, when the bed dipped in the middle of the night, he already

 CHAPTER 18. "Then, I'm going with you." She snapped, lifting her chin.  Seeing the glint of stubbornness born out of pain, Dane took a deep breath. He shook his head again, "No, honey. You can't.... I can see it in your eyes, even you know that you can't. You're finally living your dream here, learning the gymnastics that you've always wanted. And you have a life now....a girlfriend. You can't bail on her like that, it's not right." He was saying the truth. He was saying the truth, dammit! "I came here because of you, Dane, you!" Raine cried out, pointing at him. "You can't just leave like that. I can't bear it, being here without you!" Dane walked to her, raising his hand, he collected the tear that ran down her cheek. "I can't go on like this, Raine. Loving you... Watching you from the sidelines... I think it's time I embrace the fact that I can't have you and try to move on with

CHAPTER 20.  Alexander is a distant cousin to Dane. Dane is two years Alexander's senior. They've never really been close. But, when Dane wanted to go and live in Africa, Alexander had asked him if he and his newly wedded wife, Mila, can come and leave in his house because their own house was mortgaged and Dane had accepted wholeheartedly.  Alexander had been very surprised when he saw his big cousin arrive a month ago at the house, looking like a man burdened with the weight of the world in his broad shoulders.  He grimaced, remembering the first month after Dane’s return from Nigeria. It was…bad. He’d never seen his ever-so-composed cousin in such a state. Dane didn’t shave, barely ate and drank way too much.  It continued until Alexander finally threw away all the booze in the house, shoved Dane into a cold shower, and told him to get a grip and