Love Unfolding

KAILEEN ANDY LEWIS

I was so happy that night. My strides were so light when I visited the grocery store; I was humming a song all the while; my smile wouldn"t even depart my mouth.

Well, my job at the restaurant finally ended and that would mean I could spend all my time again with my girlfriend.

Just the thought of it lift my spirit up on the ground.

My heart was thumping in joy as I cooked dinner for her that evening, my body was so light from happiness but then— it crumbled in a snap of a finger.

The joy I was feeling left my system like a deflated tire interior.

I was so angry that I was trembling; my breathing was uneven as I glared at her on the couch.

"You haven"t discuss this with me Erika!" I shouted angrily at her.

She couldn"t even make herself look me in the eyes, her gaze on the floor.

"Aren"t we a couple?" I continued.

"Am I not your girlfriend?"

"Shouldn"t we discuss things how big or small together?"

"How about my opinion?"

"How about my feelings?"

"Have you ever considered?"

"Do I not matter to you at all?"

Her eyes rose to meet mine; glaring back, "My parents decided this for me Andy!"

I snorted, "When can you learn to decide for yourself Erika?"

"G.o.d"

"You are almost twenty two!"

She stood up and paced, "I want this too!"

"We"re talking about my future here Andy."

"The training would not only favor my family"s business but would also help me make a name for myself!"

"Can"t you not understand that?"

"the nerve"

"Yeah, your future— a future where I"m not in it!" I snapped back and went to the kitchen for some water.

"Just two years Andy!" She shouted.

Yeah, we"re basically shouting angrily in my apartment.

"We can always call each other!" She continued.

"It would never be the same Erika!" I shouted back.

"I need you!"

"I need to be able to hold you, to kiss you, make love with you and not call over with that d.a.m.n Zoom and Skype!"

She sat back on the couch and raked her hair, "Can"t you not just support me on this?"

"This is also hard for me but I have to do this," she begun to cry and sob.

I took a deep breath of frustration in the kitchen. I just let her cry, I was so angry to comfort her.

"You"re leaving yet you haven"t introduce me or show me off to everyone as your girlfriend," I calmly said after some time.

She shifted on her seat and whipped her neck to look at me with furrowed brows.

"A lot of things would happen in those two years Erika, I needed a.s.surance."

"I need something to hold on to as I wait."

"Rea.s.sure me that you are mine."

"G.o.d"

I was not shouting anymore, my voice sounded like a plea in that moment.

She stood up and walked towards me but I gestured her to stop.

She swallowed hard and was blinking her eyes trying not to cry again, "I"m yours Andy."

"I will always be yours and you are mine," she hissed.

I chuckled, "Yeah, you are mine in the four corners of my bedroom?"

I intend to sound sarcastic with that and I surely hit a nerve as it made her fume in anger.

"That is bulls.h.i.t!" She exclaimed.

"Is it?" I mocked.

"… and what?"

"... are you gonna ask me again to wait?"

I snorted, "Yeah, I"m gonna wait for you in that two years and maybe another two years for you to introduce me to your parents and another ten years for you to show me off to everyone!"

I shot her a glare before grabbing my keys and headed to the door.

I did not let or wait for her to say anything anymore.

"Don"t wait up for me, I want to be alone— to think, " then I slammed the door shut behind me.