Love's Resilience

SILENT WORRIES

The morning started like any other. I woke up, went through my usual routine, and prepared myself for another day at the office. As I made my way downstairs, the delicious aroma of pancakes and bacon wafted through the house, signaling that Allison was already up and cooking breakfast.

I stopped midway down the stairs, unable to help myself from admiring her as she moved around the kitchen. For a brief moment, I was lost in the scene, but then I snapped back to reality, reminding myself that this arrangement was temporary. She was here for a year, nothing more.

When I reached the kitchen, I noticed her eyes were red and puffy, the dark circles beneath them standing out starkly against her pale skin. I felt a pang of concern. "Good morning," I said, trying to sound casual. "Did you sleep well?"

She gave me a small, forced smile. "Morning, Aaron. Yeah, just had a bit of trouble sleeping."

I nodded, but the sight of her eyes stayed with me. What had made her cry like that? I wanted to ask, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, I finished my breakfast in silence and then left for the office.

Once at the company, I immersed myself in work, trying to push thoughts of Allison and her troubled sleep out of my mind. It was around mid-morning when my phone buzzed. It was a notification for a new email. I glanced at the sender and saw it was from my private investigator.

I opened the email, and as I read through the file on Allison, my curiosity grew. Her full name was Allison Rose Black. She was 26 years old, and 5 feet 5 inches tall. Her father was Robert Black, her stepmother Emily Black, and her stepsister Alina Black. Her mother, Caroline Black, had died giving birth to her.

Allison had a degree in architecture but had struggled to find a job in her field. As I read through the details, I couldn't find anything that explained her flinching when people got too close or why she often seemed so scared and zoned out.

I sat back in my chair, staring at the screen. The facts were there, but the real story, the one hidden between the lines, was still a mystery. What had happened in her life to make her this way? The file didn't hold the answers to those questions.

I decided I needed to know more. Not just for the sake of the contract, but because I genuinely wanted to understand her. There was something about Allison that drew me in, something that made me want to protect her from whatever shadows haunted her past.

As the day wore on, I kept finding myself distracted, my thoughts drifting back to Allison and the secrets she carried. By the time I headed home, I had made up my mind to find out more, no matter what it took.

When I arrived back at the house, it was empty. I called out for Allison, but there was no response. Concerned, I made my way to her room and knocked on the door. "Allison, are you in there?"

"Yes, Aaron," she replied softly from inside.

I opened the door slightly and peeked in. She was sitting on the bed, looking lost in thought. "How was your day?" I asked, trying to sound light-hearted.

"It was... okay," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

I walked in and sat down beside her. "In about an hour, we need to leave to meet my family again. Are you up for it?"

Her eyes widened in surprise, but she nodded. "Yes, I'll get ready."

As I left the room, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was so much more to her story. But for now, I had to be patient. We had a dinner to attend, and I needed to ensure that she felt comfortable and supported, even if I couldn't yet unravel the mysteries that surrounded her.

The drive to my parents' house was quiet. Allison seemed lost in her thoughts, staring out the window with a distant look in her eyes. I wanted to ask her what was on her mind, but I wasn't sure how to approach it. Instead, I focused on the road, trying to mentally prepare myself for the evening ahead.

When we arrived, my mother, welcomed us with open arms. She hugged Allison warmly and then ushered us inside. The house was filled with the comforting smells of home-cooked food, and I could see that Allison was trying to relax, though she seemed tense.

Dinner was a lively affair, with my parents, my grandfather, and the rest of the family engaged in animated conversations. My mother was particularly enthusiastic about discussing the wedding plans.

"We need to start thinking about the wedding dress," Mom said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Allison, how about we go shopping together? It'll be fun!"

Allison smiled politely and nodded. "That sounds nice, thank you."

"And the cake tasting," my mother continued, "I'll leave that to the couple. You both must enjoy the process."

I noticed that Allison was nodding along, but her eyes seemed distant, her mind somewhere else entirely. Despite my mother's enthusiasm, Allison's responses were mechanical, as if she were going through the motions.

Just as we were discussing the details, my father, spoke up. "So, when can we meet Allison's family?"

The room fell silent. Allison stiffened beside me, her face paling as if all the color had drained from it. She looked down at her plate, her hands trembling slightly.

I immediately intervened. "We'll meet them on the wedding day," I said firmly. "They're currently very busy with their commitments."

My father raised an eyebrow but didn't press the issue. I could feel the tension in the air, and I hoped my explanation would suffice for now.

Mom, sensing the unease, quickly changed the topic. "Well, we still have so much to plan. It's going to be a wonderful wedding."

I glanced at Allison, who gave me a small, grateful smile. The rest of the dinner passed in a blur of wedding talk and family chatter, but my mind kept drifting back to the moment when Allison had stiffened at the mention of her family.

When we finally left my parents' house, the car ride back was just as quiet as the ride there. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was deeply troubling Allison. I wanted to know more about her past, to understand what made her so scared and distant.

As we pulled into the driveway of our home, I turned to her. "Allison, are you okay?"

She nodded, but I could see the sadness in her eyes. "I'm fine, Aaron. Thank you for everything."

I wanted to press further, but I knew that tonight wasn't the time. We both needed rest, and I needed time to process everything I had learned. As she headed to her room, I resolved to find out more about her past, to understand the shadows that haunted her.

Later, as I lay in bed, I couldn't stop thinking about the way she had answered my grandfather's questions. Her words had been perfect, convincing my family that she was genuinely in love with me. But deep down, I knew that it was all just part of the contract. Our marriage had an expiration date, and no matter how convincing she was, the reality was that it would all end on July 5, 2025.

With these thoughts swirling in my mind, I drifted off to sleep, determined to uncover the truth and protect Allison from whatever it was that haunted her.