There was no way I was telling my problems to a stranger—maybe not one but I wasn’t telling. “Come on, there’s no need to bottle up those feelings. Tell me and I promise it won’t hurt your pride in telling me.” He coerced. ….So remember when I said I wasn’t going to say a damn word to Mr Ryan over here, well I was lying. A few minutes after persuading me and my stomach making its hunger known, which was embarrassing, I was sitting in one of the restaurants around the area with Ryan standing in the small queue waiting for the food I ordered. My eyes roamed around the place and couldn’t help the smile that graced my lips with the homely design and warmth. Everything about this place was beautiful and they remind me of home. “Hope you aren’t that hungry Gwen?” Ryan’s voice transported me from my thoughts. He just had his way of stopping me from thinking about my sad and bitter life. I smiled, “I’m hungry but I’ll accept anything you could get.” I replied and his smile widened, show

Gwen. I looked at the man before and all I wanted to do was thank him for what he’s done for me and what he was going to do. But as I opened my mouth to say anything, his phone started ringing causing me to keep my mouth shut. “Oh, that must be my driver.” He brought the phone out and nodded before placing it back in his pants pockets. “Alright Gwen, let’s go.” He got up first then I followed. He made sure the bills for our lunch were paid before leaving and once we stepped out a car was already waiting for us. “After you, my lady.” He bowed lightly with one hand on his chest and the other opening the car door. “Thank you, kind sir.” A smile graced my face. Ryan made sure I was comfortable before closing the door and going around the car to get to the other side. He stepped in and also closed his side of the door then tapped the back of the driver’s seat. “Let’s go, Mark.” He nodded and the driver also nodded before turning the ignition on. Ryan didn’t say anything to me agai

Henry. Empty. That's how my heart feels, it feels empty. Like something had been taken from it, something that makes it function properly. It has been an hour since I practically threw Gwen out of the house and since then Jasmine has been brawling her eyes out and doesn’t have any plans of ever stopping. I sighed for the nth time as I watched her sniff and wipe her wet face with the back of her palm. “Aren’t you going to stop crying Jas?” I asked, then knew beside her. Jasmine didn’t look at me, she shook her head and kept on crying. I ran my hand through my hair then took my face upward before looking at her again. “Tell me what you want Jas and I promise to get it for you. Do you want ice cream or orange juice?” I asked but she shook my head. She brought her head up and my heart felt pained with the tears in her eyes, those eyes that are just as mine. “I want mommy, daddy. Tell me where those bad men took Mommy to?” She asked, and another tear fell from her eye. Apart fr

Gwen. The room was nice and you know that feeling when you see something and just know that this is for you, well that's how I felt when I stepped into the room. It wasn’t that big or lavished with money like the one in Henry’s house but I love it. It was comfy and just something I would like, I could picture myself in this room. “I am not going to ask any question about you liking the room, I’ve gotten my answer from the look on your face already.” Ryan’s voice pulled me from my little fantasizing. “Yes, you’re correct. I like the room.” His smile widened. “Well then I’m glad, come let me show you the other part of the house.” I nodded and walked behind me as he showed me the other parts of the house. The house has three bedrooms; one which was for myself, Ryan and the last one which he converted into go home office. It has a nice kitchen, a balcony, and also a backyard that has a nice view. I really liked the place and I wasn’t forcing myself to like it, I really did. “The fr

Gwen. ‘Why call her when she hadn’t called for the past years to know how I was faring?’ I thought. And with that, I canceled the number and dropped my phone. They don’t deserve to be called my family. If they were truly family, they would have called once in a while to check up on me. I know I was the one who decided to leave, even when father swore he wasn’t going to take me back with open hands if anything was to go wrong. I turned my back on them and went after the love of my life. The same said love of my life couldn’t protect me when the world was after me. Instead, he pushed me to the front of the battlefield. I stared at the ceiling like it was the most interesting thing in my life right now—well, actually it was. I had no zeal to put on the TV and watch some reality shows when I had no idea what could be going on with my daughter. What if Emily hurts her as a sign of her payback? What if she doesn’t give her food on time? So many ‘what-ifs’ crossed my mind, but I decided n