LLC01: Second Chance Love

William was tired; the job was taking its toll on him and so was the marriage. It was going down the ruins. He didn’t feel the same spark he’d once felt with her. The marriage seemed empty now and too monotonous. He tiredly rubbed his eyes; he was going to end this soon. Though it pained him to do so, he should.

“Hey are you alright? You seemed tired. Do you want a cup of coffee?” Delilah’s voice was concerned; but instead of calming him, it sent irritation through his bones.

“No thanks.” He closed his eyes. Delilah was his love, his only escape for 5 years now. He loved her, though their marriage was planned by his parents; but something went wrong the moment he laid eyes on the new woman in his department.

“Will, come on, you can talk with me. Is it work?” She probbed, as her soft hands touched his shoulders, kneading and massaging. He was suddenly ridden with guilt.

“All I want is a moment of peace; just go away.” He snapped. Her hands left him instantly and after a second pause, he could hear her soft footsteps fading away; he sighed. He had to give her the divorce paper, soon. He didn’t want to cheat on Delilah, but his attraction for Isobel was compelling. So, he wanted to end this as soon as possible.

When he opened his eyes, he found a cup of coffee in the hot flask. He left the coffee there and walked to their room. Delilah wasn’t there. Carl was sleeping in his room; he kissed his 4 year old son before walking to his room.

The next day was Saturday and still no trace of Delilah. He woke his son, bathed him and feed him. The boy seemed unusually silent, as if he knew what was going on.

In the table was a white paper, fluttering helplessly in the wind. His heart stopped for a moment when he found Delilah’s handwriting. Did she leave him? Did she meet another man in work too? He didn’t know why it upset him; he was after all planning to leave her.

~~~

My Love,

It has been years; and I’ve never expressed my love in the way I wanted to. I’m not eloquent and my vocabulary is not rich or poetic. Still I want to write you for our 5th anniversary coming soon and here I am, penning down my heart in this paper. Words are inadequate to describe my love, but it should do.

It never had happened to me that one day I may find myself in love that is so simple and effortless; so in contrast to the love stories that I’d been reading ever since I could read. I’d never thought that I’d one day fall in love with someone I had once so deeply ostracized, so much so, that it had become my fixation. I’d have called someone ‘Insane’ if they told me that I’d be irreversibly in love with you; but God had another plan for me, the plan that’s so perfect for me, with you.

I’ve always loved romance, which is so fancy and captivating, in all those fantasy novels; love, with starlit dinners, walk along the beaches and kisses that could create spark of lightning inside. It was about this type of love that I often dreamed about; I wished for. I always wanted to feel so hyped up about meeting the person, who would make my ‘happily ever after’ with me; that I’ve easily forgotten that sometimes the person who can make you content of what you’ve is all that you want, not someone who can make you feel utterly excited, but also make you feel you’re unworthy of his time.

It never occurred to me, there was some other kind of love out there, which is so simple, yet satisfying. I never believed that one can fall in love just like that, so easily, along the way of life without any major twists or break-downs. But, with you I found that kind of love, the love that I’d never thought of in existence; the love that can make me feel beautiful when I look at me through your eyes.

In so many words, I kind of detested you when we were engaged to be married. I didn’t want that for me; but being a push-over I was, or maybe, I always want to satisfy my parents, I agreed to this marriage that was arranged between us. I never wanted an arrange marriage; I wanted something that is extraordinarily excellent, that no one could beat my love tale when I chose to say it to others. But all I got was you, in a very simple, rather disheartening occasion, in which our parents tied our destiny together and I, being the hard-headed girl I’m, never wanted to acknowledge that you’re my first step towards this new life; I ignored it; I denied it, at least to myself, to make it invalid. Deep down, I knew, you would become a part in my future, and hated it.

After we entered into the irrecoverable holy marriage, it was always a deep rooted resentment that clouded my judgment about you; resentment of being in something that I didn’t wish for; I didn’t even want. I never looked you for who you are; I always compared you to my dream guy and found out so many faults in you. I assumed you’re not compatible with my life style; you’re not my Mr. Perfect.

But somewhere along the line, I fell hopelessly in love with you. I never thought I can love someone the way I love you now. It isn’t exactly a fairytale, our life. Along the way, I’ve realized, it’s even better than those silly tales. It was not ‘Love at first sight.’ Oh, no. I fell for your character and your heart. I fell for you and now I wonder how I could’ve ever believed in ‘Love at First sight?’ God, what are we suppose to love when we look at each other for the first time? The look? The body? All of that is insignificant, and I’d been a silly girl- and all my expectations of love had been nothing but a fool’s tale. Now I realized, our love’s a fairytale in its own right, with enough flaws, but still perfect and you, my dear, is my destined prince, designed exclusively for me by God.

I love every small things you do for me; like when you bring me water if I am too lazy to get up from my bed; like when you fill my bath tub with hot water in cold days; like when you remove my sock for me; like when you made me pasta, even if you don’t know how to cook; like when you give my vitamin tablet every night without forgetting; like when you just hug me close if I feel cold at night. You make me see for who you really are with those little deeds; it strengthen my love for you- the love that is not so very exciting and thrilling like a rollercoaster ride, but more along the lines of comforting and soothing like a old tattered, beloved teddy-bear.

You have seen me in my ugliest moment; yet I know you never felt disgusted with me. You were there in all my hard days, as a constant support, a reminder- that you will be there in the future. You make me smile, even when I’m upset. You are my medicine when I’m in pain; my anti-depressant when I’m in misery.

You made me see, love is not always about extraordinary deals, like a big bunch of flower and romantic candle-light dinner; but it can also exist in more basic things, like a simple good morning kiss or a cup of maggi noodles when I’m tired to my bones to cook. Now, I treasure this love from you, inside the locker of my heart. Nothing can steal me away from you except death and no one can steal your memories away from me except death. I’ll always love you, it’s a promise.

Well, I never feel exhilarated to see you; but I always feel light-hearted when I see you. I never feel the spark or the exciting fireworks with you; but I always feel serene and safe around you- like you can protect me from harms, and when I think of you, my heart beat did never turn wild, but My lips would turn up, just a millimeter, in a peaceful smile. Now, it’s what I want more than anything, this love that makes me whole and peaceful; content and certain.

You’re still not perfect, but you’re perfect for me;you complement me, you completes me. Like- when I was mad and hurl words at you, you’d be silent and then later would apologize. You understands me in my silence and that is what’s best about you. Yes, you never brought me a flower bouquet when you return from work, but you always did bring me a bag full of love, so exclusive, just for me. That is enough for me.

Our relationship was, is and will never bound by that love, which is so flawless and perfect, because we’re suppose to fight, like tom and Jerry; but in the end, when we make up and smile together, there’s no tale perfect than our love tale!

Baby, I LOVE YOU, with every piece of my heart and soul and I pray to God, to make you all mine, forever, in the Earth and in the Heaven. Dear, yes, forever is a short time with you, but I’ll take all I can get if it’s with you. I love you.

ps. I can feel there’s something wrong with you and I hope you’ll get better soon.

With love and kisses,
Ur wife.

To my darling,
My soul mate- William.

~~~

Tears were streaming down his cheeks. He walked swiftly towards his room, and tore down the divorce paper he’d asked from his lawyer. He was angry at himself, for trying to hurt Delilah and end the marriage.

That evening Delilah was back looking like a mess. Her eyes were red and puffy; she noticed him and stopped on her tracks. Her eyes never met him as she talked.

“Please give Carl to me; I don’t want to face an ugly divorce; he’s my everything.” She looked at the sleeping boy on the cushion.

“And I’m not?”

“I heard from Rosalie that you were out with another woman.” Her voice was clogged. Her fingers shivered like a last leaf on the winter night. She didn’t blame him; her eyes weren’t even accusing. She looked crushed and wounded.

“What if I said it was just work? What if I said it was just short-lived, a stupid mistake? Are you not going to fight for me?”

He now realized what he felt for Isobel was fleeting. Isobel was an attractive woman, and she seemed interested in him; it gave him a thrill; he hadn’t felt that thrill with Delilah, because Delilah was his, even before he acknowledged it. Isobel wasn’t his, and it gave him an adrenaline rush, that someone other than Delilah wanted him. It was stupid and childish, now he thought of that.

“You don’t have to pity me. You lost your interest in me and I don’t know how to bring it back. Don’t prolong it and make me suffer.” Her eyes were filled.

“I don’t pity you; I love you. I’m sorry that I went out with her; but it was one time, and I promise, even when she tempted me, I didn’t cheat on you. I didn’t want to cheat and pollute what we’d for years. You’ve to forgive me for what I did, you’ve to or I’ll become a mess. I really love you, Del. You’re IT for me.”

The comfort and certainty he felt for her was safety; it was the certainty of knowing that she’d be there for him come hell or high tides. He wasn’t bored with her, he now realized.

She didn’t answer. The silence hung in the air, thick and it pulsated with flagrant tension.

“I know it’s hard for you to trust me now; but please give me a second chance to prove it. Our marriage isn’t just a convenience, it’s destiny. I realized it, too late, but please. Another chance is all I ask of you, to prove you I am worthy of your love. I love you, Del. I really do. Please accept me back.” She nodded and walked away.

Carl, their little boy was smiling that night. His ploy had worked. He found that letter in his mother’s diary when he was looking for a paper to paint, days before. Though his vocabulary was weak, he could read and he found it was a letter written to dad. Days later, when he realized his mom and dad were fighting, he knew the only solution was that letter. The little boy’s intelligent.

On the opposite side, Will was vigilant on his bed, looking at his laptop. She had always wanted to visit Hawaii, but in the whirlwind of work, social life and marriage, he had never brought her on vacation outside the country. Now was the time.

He applied leave for a week, and booked a flight to Hawaii. It’d be her anniversary gift. He then booked for a villa near the beach and closed the laptop with a smile.

Sometimes, we didn’t realize what we had, if it was given to us without any fight, and it was the same with Will. But now he realized her worth and was eager to fight for her heart.

She gave him a second chance and he was willing to work for her love again; this time he wanted to do it the right way, without taking her for granted.

And so he would.

__END__