Half a Man at Best (Sequel to VALERIE)

Chapter Two

Copyright © zylgnagnaba 2014

“Harry, stop. Stop.” Valerie has told me hurriedly, hitting my forearm twice while I was gripping the steering wheel of my car. Stunned by her abrupt behaviour, I pulled up at one side of the familiar street. I watched as her eyes darted at one vacant building among other ones that are beautifully-painted and averagely crowded.

Aside from the graffiti that was sprawled on the grey metal barrier that signifies the building being closed down and abandoned for a while now, I couldn’t see any more reason why she would have demanded for us to stop so she could have time to marvel at the sight.

From the building, I dragged my sight back to the girl sitting beside me on the front seat. My brows scrunched up as I looked at her drifted off into a daydream. It was as if she could somehow see herself being in that building—a vacant, old and lifeless building. Who knows it might also be haunted. But what did Valerie see in that building that caught her interest?

“One day,” she whispered more to herself than to me, I guess. Her eyes were still in a dreamy state as she peeked out the window of my car and I peer at her as I wait for her to continue her words. “I’m going to buy that property and convert it to my own gallery.” She said, nodding at herself before she heaved a deep and hopeful sigh, and then glanced at me.

A small smile tugged at my lips when our eyes met. She really was so determined to have her own gallery and start designing dresses. It was her dream from when she was still little, long before she even understood how the business runs. She’s talented and I had no doubt she can achieve her goals.

Although we were already in a serious relationship, she still didn’t allow me to help her. She would always argue that it was her dream and she would feel more fulfilled and accomplished if she’d be able to do it on her own, without my financial help. I respected that because I know she could do it, but I have set it in my mind that I would be there every step of the way, ready to lend a hand if she asked for it.

And so there I was, giving her a ride for her first day in College. I would smile to myself with every so often that I glanced at her uneasiness in her seat—fiddling her thumbs while scanning the different buildings that we pass by to. I know she’s both excited and anxious as we got nearer to our destination—excited because she was finally starting to study Fashion Design; and anxious because she didn’t know what to expect.

I knew Valerie would easily get along with the people in her College. Her strong and witty personality always made it easy for her to win friends.

I remembered when I went back to London from Scotland, feeling defeated and lost as I failed to take her back with me. I thought it was going to be the end of us both and that we would never see each other again, but at the same time I was hoping that things would have went differently.

I wished that she never had to go to New York and try Law, because I knew it wasn’t what she wanted to do all her life. She wanted to design dresses, it was her passion. The eagerness for her to change her thoughts about her plans was because I didn’t want to be anywhere distant from her. I wanted her close for as much as possible.

But I didn’t fight. I gave up on it because I knew she was doing it for herself to make up for her absence from her family for two years. Although it was hard and painful, I was willing to sacrifice and wait until she’d realize that she could start all over again here in London, with me. I prayed and prayed every night for her to come back to me…

And so when I opened that door one cold and dark afternoon, I felt like a kid on Christmas morning as she had appeared at the front door of our flat with big suitcases behind her.