A PASSION THAT CHANGED HER

He pushed the door open and found her sitting on the floor tears covering her eyes. "You're crying again," he asked with a soothing voice. "I'm okay" "How can you be okay if your eyes are drenched in tears, for the past one year of our marriage, you always leave me at the dining and lock yourself in this room what is wrong?" "I said I am fine so take your hands off me." She squawked "All I have done is to love you but You know all this time I have never understood you and to be sincere I'm really fed up with one-sided love, I am really tired love," he stepped out banging the door behind him.

She stood and flumped on the bed beside her drying the tears on her cheeks with her palm, how would she tell him of a past that she never wants to recall. Higgledy-piggledy she began to ponder through his words, she had sworn never to fall in love with any man but now she was addled, she didn't comprehend what she really felt, was it anger or love she was indeed puzzled neither did she grasp the reason her heart melted any time she saw him suffer, dazed she gradually dozed off. A few hours later he slid the door open, quietly and slowly he wrapped her with a blanket and perched beside her.

"Anna, you look like an angel in your sleep love, but why are you so cold towards me when the only thing I have done is love you, sometimes I wonder why you married me if you didn't love me but please Annabelle be that lady that  I first met I don't know if it was simulation, but bring that lady back love before strength deserts me and I cannot take it anymore. Anna, I love you very much babe and I don't know how I can live without you. I honestly miss your old self," he pecked her forehead as painful drops of tear dropped on her beautiful face. Quietly he walked to the couch and slept face up. "Good morning babe" "Morning, what's up with all the settings?" "Oops you forgot again, it's your birthday love, Happy birthday to you my dear." "Oh my birthday, thank you but why do you do all these? "What do you mean Anna. " "I mean, why are you too kind to me while I'm the total opposite?" "That, it is because you mean the whole world to me, even though sometimes it hurt so much, I keep holding on to this love hoping that one day you will come by and that you will not only see me as your husband but also as a best friend, I love you, Anabelle, so much." "Thank you for this and for never forgetting my birthday, I have a meeting in an hour see you later." "Anna" "Yes" "Won't you even have a taste of my cooking." "I'm running late but don't worry, I will tag it along." "It's okay I will drop you at your workplace and no excuse ." "OK," she grinned at him and he smiled back as he followed her into the bedroom. Distrait,  she sat cross_legged on the sofa her eyes firmly fixed at the noisy television, suddenly there was a bang at the door, startled she turned and saw Derick walking towards her. "Hello babe," he pecked her forehead I'm so weary and hungry, when did you arrive?" "Two hours ago" "Are you okay" "I just have a minor headache" "Did you take any medicine" "Of course not Der, you know I hate medicine, and why are you grinning?" "It has been ages since you called me Der, I will see you shortly love." she glared at him as he matched up the stairs.

"The meal was on point love, I loved it." "Derick, can we talk?" "Yes Anna is anything the matter" "I know you often ask yourself many questions and today I want you to have clarity, you have been wondering why I often cried and the reason I distanced myself from you, you were right that night, it was all simulation from the start because all I wanted was revenge." "Revenge?" he asked. "It was a night that I hate to remember, I was just a teenager full of life and dreams but those dreams were cut short on this fateful night," she began to sob. "Annabelle what transpired," he asked worriedly. "He was a person that I held in high esteem, a family friend but that day when he molested me and stole my innocence anger built in my heart, I felt disgusted I did not know what to do so I kept it all to myself. Onset I swore never to let any man close to me and I hated the sight of any man though I tried so hard not to be indifference toward my father the man that I loved the most. I suddenly became reserved and an introvert. And Even though he died years later that did not dilute the anger and spite that is still in my heart till today. So when we met I saw it as a perfect chance to exact revenge, if I could not get back at him then I could exact my vengeance to all the blokes that crossed my path because I thought that all men were the same and so after our wedding I resolved to distance myself from you and treat you like a stranger then you would get tired of me and in turn chase me off. But you know Derick you changed my perspective, despite my indifference you loved me unconditionally and that's why you deserve to be happy your deserve a good woman and frankly; I don't think marriage is for me. I have decided to leave and to go far away from here but before that I want you to know that I have grown to love you very much, you are a good man Der and I am very sorry for everything I put you through, sorry" "And who said you are leaving, and do you think after learning the truth I will let you go? of course not," he affectionately squeezed her into his arms. "Love, I admit I was hurt and there were times I even didn't want the day to end but now I will help you Purge this pain and heal that wound and don't you ever think that staying away from me will make me happy because you mean the world to me, Annabelle. From now on we will get through this together okay."

"But......"

"But nothing gorgeous." "Thank you, Derick, I know that I have never told you that you're the best thing that has ever happened to me, I love you so much Der." "And I love you more than words can convey I am sorry if I was ever vexed with you, we will get through this together," he fervidly kissed her forehead and for once she felt secure in his arms.

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