Falling for Florence

16

Florence was standing at the seashore and looking to the sea waves. "God, please help me. Give me patience and strength to hold on." She was talking with her God. Her thoughts were broken by the ringtone of her phone. It was mom's call. But she didn't respond. "Stop calling me, mom!" She thought.

She must have been dreaming. She had to wake up, nothing had happened! She bit her fist so hard until she tasted the blood. The pain from her hand told her that it was all true! It should be true!

After a few seconds, she started to drive. She was driving harshly on empty roads. She called scarlet. Scarlet went for a meeting to France. As Scarlet picked the call up, Florence asked in a serious tone, "When are you coming back?

Scarlet confused, "Are you kidding me? Do you know what time is it over here? It's sleeping time. Night is sleep time."

Florence realized that it was too late so she immediately apologized, "Sorry, girl, I don't really care about time right now."

Scarlet anxiously asked, "What's up? You're mad because you lost a race or something?

Florence steamed, "Screw the race, girl! I'm losing my life here! Someone else is holding my reins and I'm riding at full speed for a fall!"

Scarlet consoled, "Florence, whatever the problem is, just calm down. Okay?"

Florence steamed, "I can't, girl. I can't. I need a friend right now, not a therapist!"

Florence angrily switched the call off.

Next morning, she decided to talk to Troy to get rid of this problem. She was driving harshly. Co.incidently Troy saw her car as he was also coming to the office. He whispered, "A very aggressive driver. Patience is what every driver needs. You won't arrive if you're not patient."

She went straight to his office. He was there. As Florence seated, she started straightforwardly, "Look! I don't want to get married and I'm guessing neither do you. You know nothing about me. And I know nothing about you!"

Troy was looking straight in her eyes, but he didn't know what to say and whatnot. He was quiet all the time.

Florence continued, "let me make it clear. We don't like each other. If we confront my mom and tell her that we don't want to get married, maybe we can take her out of her decision. All we need to do right now is to tell her that we don't want this marriage."

Silence was spread. She anxiously asked, "God! Say something!" After thinking for a few seconds she stood up and went closer to him, "You are afraid of my mom. Fine, I'll do the talking and tell her our decision. I just need you to be there. You don't have to say a word. Just show her, you and I are on the same page."

She holds his hand as softly as she could and took a step, "come on, let's get it over with. Come on!"

He removed her hand from his with the same softness she holds. "No," he whispered.

"What? What do you mean by 'No'? So you want this marriage, huh? Can't believe you! How could you possibly want to marry someone you don't know? Give me one good reason!" She roared. She unbelievingly asking questions. But he was quiet.

She angrily holds his collar and shouted, "why don't you say anything? I said, I don't want you! And you still want to marry me? You have no pride!"

He removed her hand from his collar and roared angrily, "enough, just shut up now. You just said you know nothing about me. And now you are telling me I have no pride. How can you say that about someone you don't know?"

"It's pretty obvious! You are about to marry a girl who don't like you. Isn't that enough?" She stopped but continued after a second,"wait...my mom forced you into this? You can't possibly want to marry me! You can tell me. My mom forced you into this? She pressurized you? Say something did she force you?" She asked every possible question which was in her mind. She was asking again and again. She was repeating her questions but it's all in vain. He was silent. Because he didn't want to answer her, in fact, he himself didn't know what to respond. It was all happening so suddenly.

She was bursting with anger. In life the first time she hate silence. And it was his silence. She finally holds his both shoulders and told him, "Now, I want you to go and tell my mom you don't want to marry me. Got it? You have no other choice."

He was silent. But his face showed his answer was negative. His disagreements were crystal clear on his face.

"You are happy about all this! Right? Of course yes! It's quite a windfall for you," she roared.

"You're crossing your limits, you misunderstood me and my patience is running out! Just get out from here. I said, get lost."

She left without saying anything.

"Oh Allah! Give me patience and strength, I wish I could tell, I could tell I promised my dying aunt. But I can't, can I? Please let aunt Seraphina change her mind." Troy whispered.

*****