I Never Left You

13. Proposal

Ray offered to take me back to my dorm but I refused amidst his endless pleas, I explained to him that I needed to walk in order to absorb all the information he gave me. We came back to good terms and went back to being close friends. I also apologized for judging him without knowing about his disappearance. After listening to his near death experience, the scar of the bullet that almost took his life . I couldn't hold it together anymore and broke down. I was feeling both sympathetic and guilty for always putting him on the wrong side. I hope Christa could forgive me for the ill thoughts I always had about his father. On hearing the truth I instantly forgave him and forgave myself for holding such a grudge against him thinking he had selfishly left me. I was the selfish one here. But how was I to know, of all things I could think of, joining the military was the last thing on my mind. Sometimes I  would think maybe he went to Australia or Africa to train and pursue his dream of being the fastest athlete, poor boy, at one time he was struggling to save his life from the jaws of death.
I was lost in thought that I hadn't realized I was on the door of our dorm, I put in the key and open and lie straight on my bed. Leah isn't here and I need someone or something to talk to. I need put my mind at ease . I opt for a bottle of whiskey but that won't be long lasting so I decide against the idea, I instead opt to call Trevis and see. Trevis gladly is not busy so he says he will be here shortly, I take a quick shower and change clothes and get out of my dress. It  reminds me of the robbery the previous night. Scenes of the driver claiming he will see me soon keep disturbing my mind. I didn't even know who these guys were. Trevis soon comes by saying I sounded very distressed on the phone. I explain to him that indeed am at my lowest. He convinced me to come with him to his calming place.
Soon we arrive to a beautiful scenery, I love marvelous surroundings and couldn't help gazing at this one, it's a lake surrounded by weeping trees and flowers in the clusters, expertly arranged to give the area a calm environment. I inhale deeply to take in the fresh air.
"This is really a calming place," I say to Trevis after my deep breathing exercises.
"Am glad you love it and hope your not allergic to pollen". He looks at me worried.
"Don't worry am not allergic to anything as far as I know" I assure Trevis.
"Come on then, I will take you to my favorite spot" Ray grabs my hand and guides me to his so called spot.
His favorite spot automatically becomes my favorite spot too, it's on the other side of the lake but it has a very large weeping tree with its branches almost touching the ground making it look like a naturally built hut. Inside the tree there are two swings. I immediately rush to one swing. "wow, this is cool," I say to Trevis who joins on the second swing.
"I told you you would love this place."Trevis smiles with satisfaction. "Now for the best part you will have to close your eyes and swing." I close my eyes and follow suit, it's the most calming therapy that one can get, on closing my eyes, I picture the lake in my head and the breeze around me feels like am flying, the wind is assuring, it's speed is controlled. It feels like am flying over the lake. I don't know for how long I do this but when I open my eyes, Trevis stopped swinging long time ago and is scrolling through his phone. When he sees I have stopped swinging too. He puts away his phone and asks me "how do you feel?" to which I reply that I feel so much better. I really feel so relaxed and good.
"That's expected, you have been swinging for almost a full hour"
"A full hour",I say shocked it only felt like 5 minutes.we chat with Trevis and since he knows about my story about Christa already, I continue to tell him about Ray and how bad I feel for always blaming him. Trevis concludes that me and Ray need to equally sit down and talk about our feelings and that I need to tell him about our child. He says has the same thing I had on my mind though I still had my doubts. I love the way Trevis reasons and am happy to have him as an ally.
We leave Trevis's calming place all calm but hungry so we grab a few burgers on our way back home and this time I beat him to paying this time round. When I get back to my room am all smiles and my happiness doubles on finding Leah there. "Wow I don't even remember the last time I say you this excited " Leah shrieks on seeing me, she's equally excited ,can't wait to hear her side of the good news. We both start narrating at the same time. We decide to toss a coin since both of us are eager to tell the good news. I get heads  so I go first. I tell Leah everything from A-Z not leaving out any detail. When am done Leah can't help but smile at me and assures me that she's glad all this is turning out well and scolds me for not telling her about Trevis. I can't  stop laughing at the fact that she thinks am shifting my bestie crown from her to Trevis. Trevis is my close friend but Leah is the twin sister I never got to share a womb with. When Leah tells me her good news, it's my turn to scream with excitement. Austin proposed to her!!!