The Trials of Loving Her

Choices Chapter 30

When I got home, I entered into the living room to find Helen and Frank watching an episode of Gilligan’s Island, laughing at the top of their lungs. I joined them for a moment, saying nothing as they paused the episode upon seeing my face. 

   “What happened to you?” she asked.

   “Looks like he had a cat fight and lost,” said Frank.

   “Sera happened,” I told them. “It’s over for good.”

   “I’m sorry,” she told me.

   “They’ll be many others lining up to be your number one,” replied Frank. “Don’t sweat it, kid.”

   “I’m gonna head back to Claymon Hill,” I confessed, “to see what’s left of my life. I’ll be leaving in the morning.”

   “Does Lucy know?” Helen wondered.

   “I’ll tell her tonight.”

   “She’s gonna be upset to have you leave.”

   “No, she won’t,” I assured her. “She has someone now. She’ll be too busy to notice I’m gone.”

  As I stood up to leave, Helen hugged me with Frank joining in. They both told me I was welcome to come back anytime I wanted and that I would always have a room. We cried a little together and drank a few beers before I headed to my room. I took a shower and brushed my teeth; then I began staring at myself in the bathroom mirror, crying silently. Afterward, when my tears had dried on me, I got changed into a clean suit of clothes while listening to the knock at my door. Helen brought me a large black suitcase. She left me as I began packing all my clothes from the closet. There were a few fantasy novels I packed, along with a few pages of Franks cartoon drawings. I heard a slight creak at the door and when I looked over, I saw Lucy walking toward me. She hugged me before I could say anything. 

   “I don’t want you to go,” she admitted. “I like having you here. Please don’t leave.”

   “I have to,” I told her. “My mom needs to know, so does Jessie. I forgave Sera, so I think I can forgive them.”

   “Will you ever come back?” she asked crying.

   “Of course,” I assured her. “You know you can come visit me whenever you want.”

   “Thank you for being my brother,” she said to me.

   “It’s the least I could do after you and your mom literally saved my life.”

   “We’re gonna get wasted before you go back,” she vowed. “You’re gonna remember tonight for the rest of your life.”

   “That sounds good,” I replied.

   “I’m gonna run to the supermarket and grab a few things. I’ll be back.”

   “Alright,” I nodded as she left.

  I continued packing my things, placing my shampoo and conditioner on top of everything as well as my skincare cream, my combs and brushes. As I looked closely at all the things I had, I looked around and saw that half of everything I needed was all there. Some of the clothes that didn’t fit, I tossed into a large green garbage bag. I heard the creak from the door with my back still turned. I heard the door closed along with the noise of it locking.

   “I hope you bought plenty of beers,” I said. “Tonight we’ll see who can out drink who.”

  I heard light footsteps coming toward me, then I felt soft gentle hands wrapping around my chest, giving off a sweet fragrance I had never smelt before. The look of confusion and shock came across my face. When I turned around, it was Sera. Her hair was wet, running down her shoulders. It was as if she took a quick shower and came right over. She wore a white t-shirt along with skinny fit denim jeans. She looked at me, almost scared. She bit her lips, trying her best to not show how it trembled.

   “Hi,” I said, placing my hand upon her cheeks as I stared right into those bewitching blue eyes of hers. I saw the tears running down her cheeks and the pain she carried within them. “You’re scaring me,” I whispered. “Say something.”

   “Daredevil,” she muttered, holding onto my hand. “You’re the love of my life,” she spoke softly. “Will you still have me as I am, with my many flaws?” I looked toward the ground and I saw two suitcases of her own.

   “Always,” I whispered. I began kissing her lips while she began taking off my clothes. She kissed me back as I helped her remove her shirt, as well as all her other pieces of clothing. I began kissing her cheeks, her neck and her belly. “You’re elegant,” I told her as I stared at her red bra and blue underwear. I fell in love with her all over again as if it was my first time seeing her naked.

   “And you’re stunning,” she whispered back. She continued kissing me while I lifted her up from off the ground. She wrapped her legs around me as I took her upon my bed. She bit the left side of my neck while I made her mine. Then she began kissing my shoulders as well as my chest. She started biting her own lips from screaming out. It was one of the few times I didn’t care for the moment to end. I knew I belonged in her embrace. I was hers and she was mine. When we were done, we laid there naked with her arms over me, her head resting upon my chest. I felt her tears running down the side of my ribs. I kissed her upon the crown of her head as she kissed me back slowly upon my chest.

   “I feel like you’ve gotten better since being in a coma,” she joked.

   “I was always good,” I said. “You just forgot.”

   “I’ve missed that humour of yours,” she confessed to me. “I missed hearing your voice. I missed seeing you every time I wake up in the morning. I’ve missed coming home to you.”

   “I missed being able to call you my wife,” I whispered. “I missed calling you mine. I missed holding you every day and every hour. I missed being yours.”

   “I wish I had a device that could loop us at this very moment in time,” she said to me, staring into my eyes. “I can spend the rest of my life with you right here.”

   “I love you,” I confessed. I kissed her, then I hugged her as gently as I could.

   “I love you too,” she whispered. “I will forever be yours and yours alone.”

   “I didn’t think I would ever see you again after today,” I admitted to her. “I felt like my whole world shattered right in front of me.”

   “When I went home earlier today, Arthur was going on about a patient he saw today and the problems she had. I realised I didn’t care about any of it. I just didn’t wanna be there anymore.”

   “What about your daughter?” I was curious to know.

   “After I told him the truth about you, I told him I wanted a divorce. He swore on his life that I’ll never be able to see her again. He then left me to pack my things.”

   “I’m sorry that I took you away from her,” I confessed.

   “You didn’t. I was lost for so long and you found me. Letting Ava go is one of the hardest choices I ever had to make. One day I know she’ll understand. Me choosing you was inevitable.”

   “You’re never getting rid of me,” I promised, “and I’m never leaving you again.”

   “I’m gonna hold on to that,” she swore to me. “Knowing I mightn’t be able to give you children, will you hate me for it?”

   “No,” I said at once. “That is beyond your control. It’s not your fault. I will love you no matter what.” 

   “Thank you,” she whispered, “for pulling me back in after I’ve strayed so far.”

   “You’re welcome,” I answered. “I was barely half a person without you,” I admitted. “Thank you for making me whole again.”

   “I’m happy to return the favour,” she finished.