At dawn’s first light, Mary escorted Bryan to the airport. His hands trembled as he clasped hers, drawing her close for a gentle kiss on the forehead. His voice, imbued with warmth, whispered reassurances.
“Promise me you’ll take care of yourself. Just wait a few days; we’ll travel far, explore, and wander once I return.”
Mary nodded softly, offering a playful reminder not to delay lest he miss his flight. Bryan’s grip tightened, seemingly unwilling to let go, a sorrow evident in his eyes that made it hard for Mary to bear.
She playfully pinched his cheek, a loving jest between them, “You act like such a child. It’s just a short business trip, not months or years. When you return, I’ll make it up to you, ensuring you’re not at a loss.”
“You better keep that promise,” he teased.
Comforted by her words, Bryan’s spirits lifted. Despite the bustling terminal around them, their affection was on full display, oblivious to prying eyes.
A silent observer, Joy had inadvertently witnessed the intimate moments between these two lovebirds. She refrained from commenting, merely shaking her head. Though she penned countless romantic tales, she wasn’t accustomed to witnessing such sweet displays firsthand. Reflecting, she realized that a woman’s true beauty is illuminated beside the one she loves. She mused how wonderful it would be to have someone always there, caring and attentive.
Mary stood watching, her gaze lingering until Bryan’s silhouette faded. This one-week assignment might be their longest time apart since their love.
Elsewhere, Andrew seemed oddly captivated by the book covers he had once forgotten. While it had been some time since his last release, his artwork remained exquisite and fluid. Retrieving his familiar laptop, he proudly displayed to Mary the cover he’d just completed the night before, intended for his upcoming publication.
As Mary observed, she noticed that the color palette had mainly stayed the same. However, the strokes appeared more vigorous and assertive. The depicted character seemed lost in contemplation, reflecting deep-seated emotions challenging to share. Andrew once favored bright hues, but now a rich crimson dominated. Mary pondered silently. Each artwork reveals the artist’s feelings. With wealth and influence aplenty, what could weigh on Andrew’s mind?
Noting her silence, Andrew probed, “What’s on your mind? After observing, shouldn’t there be some critique or comment?”
She smirked inwardly: Would he even heed my thoughts if shared?
Mary remained silent a moment longer before finally speaking, “I thought you’d forsaken your artistic pursuits to indulge in being the big boss?”
His gaze sharpened, responding icily, “How do you figure that’s my passion?”
Seeing her flustered, he chuckled, “Just jesting! Being an artist has been my dream since childhood, as my mother was one too. It’s just unfortunate that…”
Upon the mention of his late mother, his countenance turned to shades of melancholy blue. Mary felt a pang of empathy, for she was an orphan and had never even met her mother once. At times she found herself resenting him, yet at others, she saw a fragile vulnerability in his eyes. Perhaps, she mused, her frailty had allowed him to deceive her repeatedly.
He spoke of his childhood, once filled with familial warmth and joy, but those fleeting moments were gone all too soon. On that fateful day, when news of his father’s demise in a fire reached him, he only desired to rush to his father’s side for one last glimpse. Yet, even with her heart torn, his mother held him back. And then, fate dealt him another blow – not long after, illness took his mother away from him.
Living under the care of his uncle, they both toiled endlessly to exist. His uncle, frail of health and often ill, struggled with laborious tasks, and just a few years later, he left the boy alone in this vast world. It felt as if the heavens had reserved for him a ruthless fate.
In his adolescence, he ventured into the world alone, with no haven to call home. Missteps led him down a shadowy path of vice. The day he met Bryan marked a new chapter in his life.
Like him, Bryan was also alone, wandering since childhood and associating with a ragtag group of vagabonds. However, Bryan’s burning desire was a yearning for righteousness. During one of those moments, when Bryan stood up for the oppressed, their paths crossed, and a deep friendship was forged.
For over a decade, their bond remained unbreakable. Yet, when Mary entered their life, things began to shift.
Suddenly, Andrew paused, his throat constricting as if words were trapped and struggling to break free.
“Bryan and I have faced life and death together. Nothing we haven’t shared, no peril we haven’t braved side by side. I regard him as a friend and as my flesh and blood. Once, he stood up against menacing thugs for my sake, and I feared it would be our final parting. I don’t know what you think of him, but I hope you won’t cause such a good man pain.”
Mary grasped the gravity of Andrew’s words and replied, “Rest assured, I don’t make a habit of hurting others.”
Recognizing Mary’s veiled reference to his actions, Andrew smiled ruefully. “I’m glad you understand.”
As the horizon bathed in twilight hues, people started heading home. Thus, Mary’s day ended without much accomplished. She pondered Andrew’s words and thought of Bryan. Though she had been by his side for so long, she had never heard these tales from him. Perhaps revisiting the past only intensified his pain.