After I paid the taxi driver who dropped me off at the gate of Grand Vista, I got out and started walking. Actually, taxis can enter the premises, but I chose to get off at the main entrance to avoid the driver getting lost. It’s quite a distance from the gate to my house.
It was only three o’clock in the afternoon, so the sun was still high. But because there were many trees on the side of the road, I didn’t feel the heat.
I was already one block away from home when I noticed that someone followed me. Or maybe my eyes were just playing tricks on me. I turned around slowly to see who was following me, but there was no one.
Oh my God, could it be my father trying to contact me? I quickened my pace to reach home. At home, I felt safe because of my guard dogs. There were two big dogs guarding the gate.
“Home at last!”
I said to myself as I saw the big house that Samer and I bought four years ago. The house has a colonial design, like those inhabited by people in England during the 15th century. It’s too big for me, and at first, I was afraid to sleep alone.
Then Samer suggested that maybe a dog could help. So I bought not just one but ten Dobermans. If you ask the Nescafe commercial question about who I wake up for, my answer would be for my dogs.
I’m busier than many moms in the house because I always wake up early to prepare their food and I need to bathe them. Just bathing them takes up a lot of my time, so I had a swimming pool built at the back of the house exclusive for them. They can take a dip anytime they want.
I haven’t even closed the gate when my babies rushed to meet me. They were all so heavy that I couldn’t handle it and fell to the cemented driveway. I was too busy playing with them that I failed to notice the man who got inside without permission!
“BITE!” I commanded the dogs when I noticed the audacious man.
“Stay!”
I got up from my lying position when I heard him speak. Before I could ask what he was doing in my house, I was more amazed at how he managed to command the Dobermans calmly. It was like Keanu Reeves in the movie John Wick 2, where he ordered the dog not to leave the hotel while he went on a mission in Rome.
“I was a dog trainer in the US,” he volunteered to enlighten my confused mind.
“Did I ask you how you did that? You can leave now!” He has no right to visit me at home. Why is he so persistent? Doesn’t he understand what I said at the cemetery earlier?
“Jamie, can you please listen to me?”
“And why should I do that, Brent? If you were in my position, what would you do?” He didn’t answer.
“I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.” He apologized, but it’s useless; it’s too late.
“For now, your apologies mean nothing to me. No matter how many times you ask for forgiveness, it won’t be enough! Just leave and go back to where you came from!” I clutched my chest, which now felt like it was going to explode with anger. All the anger and resentment from the past years…
“What do I need to do for you to forgive me? It’s been fifteen years, Jamie. Let’s free ourselves from the past and start anew.”
“I let you go a long time ago, so just leave. Don’t throw in my face that we haven’t had closure, please.”
I turned away because I didn’t want Brent to see the tears forming in my eyes. It turns out that what many say about time healing all wounds isn’t true. Why do I still feel the pain from the past?
“Jamie, please!” He’s so persistent, really.
“Just close the gate when you leave,” I said before I left him in the driveway and entered the house.
I plopped down on the sofa as soon as I got inside. Samer and I made an agreement to try again, for the last time. And if we couldn’t find it in the people we loved the most, we would be together for life.
I know that Samer’s proposal doesn’t involve love or anything romantic. He’s doing it so he can provide a complete family for his children.
I thought that if I were to remain a spinster, I would still choose to be with Khaleel and Ameera. I have nothing to worry about with Samer because he’s a gentleman and always busy.
I think Brent was right earlier that maybe we need to free ourselves from the past. But how? My head aches from thinking, especially since I lack sleep and so much has happened in one day.
I went upstairs and entered my room. Maybe it’s better if I just sleep. Perhaps in my dreams, I’ll find the solution to everything. I took a quick shower before changing into my sleepwear and lying down on the bed. After a few moments, I fell asleep.
I didn’t know how long I had been asleep when I suddenly woke up to heavy rain and thunder booming across the sky.
My babies!
I quickly got up and went downstairs. I called out their names one by one, but none of them came to me. Usually, when I call them, they would all rush to me. Maybe they didn’t hear me because of the loud rain, so I tried again.
“Rocket? Groot? Ultron? Thor? Loki? Ronan? Magneto? Charles? Hulk? Wolverine? Boys, where are you?”
Still nothing. Where could they be? Why aren’t they inside? I pulled the curtain aside and looked outside. Oh my God! Why are they out in the pouring rain? I opened the main door and ran to my pets who were still sitting in front of the gate despite the heavy rain.
Groot is afraid of thunder, so I told him to go inside, but he just looked at me like he didn’t understand. What did they eat that made them so stubborn? I’ve been telling them to go inside, but they still won’t budge.
“You need help?”
I turned to the person who spoke. Like me, he was soaking wet from the rain.
“Why are you still here? Didn’t I tell you to leave earlier?” I said in an annoyed voice due to the cold.
“Fine, if that’s what you want. But remember, if I leave now, your dogs will stay outside.”
My blood pressure rose because of the blackmail he just did. “What are you feeding them? Speak up, Brent, or you’ll regret it!”
“Hmmm, I like that. Because since I saw you again earlier, I also want to taste you again…” he said to me, winking at me after. This Brent is really a rascal!
“I’m not kidding now,” I said to him.
“Do you think I am?”