Stepping into the unknown.

Remember to Forget.

The time was ticking and yet it felt so wrong. It was Saturday and so no work and yet I had never ever wanted to work so badly in my life. Not that it really mattered as I would have to do it eventually. So I did it. I was shaking slightly as my phone was lifted and the ring was heard. I waited for two rings. They had hung up on me and I felt tears threaten to fall from my eyes.

"Hey Mel. It's me, you know that already. I just really wanted to call you and tell you that I miss you and to be honest I don't deserve to be forgiven but I just ask that you tell me you are alright. That you are okay and so is mum and dad. I haven't heard a peep from you or them since I moved in with Neil. I'm not trying to blame you. I should have visited you but it got hard to. Just please. Write a letter even just to tell me that you are okay and all you have to do is write to 34*******street. Love you. Bye." I had begun to cry in the middle and felt more tears want to fall as I let the phone fall to my lap.

I slowly cried until the light around me faded and I fell into a deep sleep. Crying really did take it all out of me but just as I managed to hit dream land my mind came to and I felt my phone vibrate. I didn't look at the screen but picked it up and waited for a voice to come through. That was when I read the clock and saw that I had slept for seven hours. No sleeping at night.

"Hey Enyo." I felt tears well up once again as I heard a voice I hadn't heard since I started uni. Just when I first met Luciana and as I slowly became less well known among my family. I loved them but that was the last thing I wanted at that time. I wanted to hear all about them.

"Hey Mel. How are you?" I must have sounded so eager and I was sure that she could hear the tears in my eyes as I spoke to her.

"I'm good and so are mum and dad. Older but love them still the same. I was actually going to call you soon. I'm, I'm engaged." Wide eyes formed but then felt so bad. I had missed out on so much of her life that I didn't even know that she was in a relationship. Not to mention engaged.

"I'm so excited for you. Do I know him? How did you two meet? What's his name?" I was like an overly excited puppy but she was my little sister who I was madly in love with. No matter how many years had passed between us.

"Oh, I met him at uni. I studied biochemistry. He is called Andy. Lovely man, I was hoping that you could come but if you are busy that is fine. I know that Neil likes to keep you on your feet and always up to something. You two must be married now. You moved out a year before your wedding date so I am expecting to be an aunty by now. How many and all of their names. You always wanted a large family." I felt more tears fall and then the door went.

"Mel, could I come visit you? You don't have to agree but I would love to see you. I have just gotten a very big promotion so can't take the next week off but in two weeks maybe?" The line fell a little quieter for a while and a distant voice was heard.

"Sorry, Andy called me from downstairs. I'm actually due to take next week off and Andy has been called in for the week. Could I come see you? I don't expect you to take time off for me but I could do some of my much needed spa sessions and look for wedding things." As she said this I opened the door and it was Mr Link. I gestured for him to come in and then the door was shut.

"Of course. I can leave work early if needed. I know a lot of wedding shops from a few years ago and Mel before I forget. Don't be surprised when you get here. Things happened and I was too scared to tell you all. I hadn't heard anything from you guys and Neil mentioned how I didn't fit in. I did what I do best when I don't know what to do, when I get to be scared and I ran. Not looking back. Somethings also have to be said in person." Mr Link and I had entered the living room as I said this. He sat in a chair as I spoke. Sanding and pacing around the rather large room. I bought it thinking that I would be raising my children in it and then I ended up with not children and no husband even.

"Oh, you have more than ten kids?" She was trying to joke so I didn't start to cry, no matter how hard I was struggling with it.

"Yeah, ten kids. Something like that." My voice was dropping rapidly.

"Answer me honestly. When was the last time you had sex?" I hadn't expected her to speak to me open and honestly like that but Mel was always like that and I loved her for it.

"It was so long ago I can't tell but I can tell you that it was with Neil. Anyway, Mr Link is here and I am so sorry but I have work stuff. Talk on Monday when I see you. Love you." She repeated it back to me and my lips quirked up. I could feel them do it and after a second I came back to the room before sitting down on the armchair.

"Enyo, I was wondering if you could tell me about all of your current cases. I have to hand them on." I let an eyebrow rise and I smiled a little once again as he looked at me for a long while.

"Mr Link, Apollo, you and I both know that I have emailed it to you and all others that will need it for now or future. Now, why are you really here?" His face blanked as he spoke.

"I live my life by a rule. If you want it, get it." He had then stood and walked up to me. Something was in his eyes. I had seen it before. In meetings as I stood at the front, when I spoke in his office to him. When we spoke about something he enjoyed or if I felt a real passion for it.

"I live my life by the ten rules. Like in the Bible. You see, I also don't tell people those rules." The smile on my face must have told him that he had to elaborate as I was lost. Not a clue what he was taking about to me.

"I want you. Not as a friend and I think that you do too. I say think but I know you find me to be attractive as you have told others and thought it." I mentally swore at Mr Belmont. He really had heard my very first thoughts when we met.

"Rule one, never open your heart to those willing to lie to you.
Rule two, no sleeping with anyone.
Rule three, no falling in love.
Rule four, don't start relationships.
Rule five, don't associate with those willing to hurt another.
Rule six, no relationships especially with those you work with. Whether it be sexually or more.
Rule seven, don't share bed with anyone.
Rule eight, no kissing unless it is a first date with a stranger and you don't see it lasting.
Rule nine, show no weaknesses.
Rule ten, tell no-one.
Do you see now that we cannot be? I literally have ten rules that stop anything, romantic or lust filed to start. Acting on lust leads to love and I can't have that. Live alone die alone." He was surprised at my words. He hadn't expected me to say what I had said to him. Clearly.

"I know you have had sex before. Have you ever just broken one?" I nod and gesture for him to sit back in the chair. He doesn't move a muscle.

"Since making the rules the only rule I have broken is the tenth one. Two people alive know them. One is a girl I would have called my best friend once and you are the other." He looked proud as I said this to him. He knew I was being honest.

"Wow. Why do you have these rules?" I smiled a tight smile before shaking my head and standing up and away from him. His eyes gleaming with something that I recognised again. It was the one he had made just as he proposed wanting me.

"You talked out sex and kissing but what if we don't go all the way?" My smirk told him that he had lost and a sad face had claimed him.

"Rule six. No relationships. Sexually or otherwise." He took in a deep breath before finally he pulled me up against him. Our chests met and I remembered the last time it had happened. We stood in his office and yet that felt an age away from that very moment and yet it also felt like no time had passed at all.

"Well, rule eleven is that I don't apply to any of those rules. Now, are you going to kiss me or am I going to have to steal one?" I tried to step back but I got lost in the moment and just as he went to kiss me I gave a weak whisper.

"Rule six states that it is especially true if I work with them. Mr Link if you are looking for a one night stand do what most males do. Go to the pub and get a girl. Don't ruin a friendship for a moment of lust and weakness." His eyes seemed to flash with hurt as I spoke and after a moment he let me go only to say a few more words.

"Lust doesn't last two years."