Life

Episode 7

Thank you cynthia.. Its for my sister. just helping her see the receipt-ability of her material.
Episode 7..
Andrea Rivera had moved on. Three years ago since Ryan decided to take a different path which didn’t include her being in his life anymore.

Over the past years when they’d gone their separate ways In college, everything had been going on fine and they still kept in touch. They talked and chatted. When the state of technology improved, they migrated to more accessible forms like Skype and blackberries.
She had her heart for him and made him realize that she wouldn’t see anybody else till they saw each other once more. And Rea hoped and prayed for that special moment when she would see him again and tell Him How much she loved Him.

And would still love Him.

she remembered the several times they’d seen each other. when they had breaks and couldnt wait to be in each other’s arms, and how everything had suddenly become history.
those moments had been the special moments of her life. when they would take long walks on the beach. she clocked 21 and he’d given her a very expensive locket and charm bracelet since Rea wouldn’t take anything else from him. she’d put his picture in it and showed it to him the next day
and on that same day, she’d given herself to him.
They were alone in his house that day since he’d invited her over after the small party her family had thrown for her the day before. He wanted to hand over everything he’d gotten for her and afterwards, he took her out to a very nice and exotic restaurant.

when the night was over and they returned to his place, she kissed him passionately, pouring her soul into it.
when they broke free, he looked into her eyes then. ”Rea…”
she looked at him and at that moment, they knew the night was not yet over.
“my parents are gone for the week. Do you wanna come upstairs?”
she nodded shyly.
he held her hands this time before pressing further. “its okay of you’re not ready. i can still wait.”
“i’ve been thinking about it and i believe i’m ready.”
and he’d been the one to kiss her passionately this time before blindly leading her upstairs.
That night, Rea lost her virginity.
she’d had mixed feelings afterwards but tried to comfort herself she had done it because She was in love and Ryan loved her too and would keep doing so since she had finally given herself to him.
they both went back to college and their Long Distance Relationship still went on for about 3 years, only for them to see each other during breaks
But things began to change and He never came back, the calls became less frequent and His responses became so direct and short. The texts were shorter than usual and then He just stopped calling.
And he didn’t bother picking her calls.
She’d been devastated at first, wondering how and what could have happened and If he was safe but right within her, she knew He was alive and well.
The spark had gone. It wasn’t just there anymore and he’d left her broken and empty.
She got angry, depressed and broke things, hatred filling her and anger that he would betray her. Betray what they Had, what they shared. He’d promised He would love her and never break her heart. the night when they had been together, he’d told Her what they had done was special and He would never forget but all had been Lies.
And those lies had ended up crumbling her her whole world
That was what drove her to the arms of Jesus. She didn’t think she could survive or live with the whole disappointment and her mother had tried everything else hoping her daughter wouldnt go crazy. She went for therapy sessions, had appointments with her psychiatrist but nothing seemed to work. She had become emotionally dependent knowing He was Her first Love and she’d given all to Him, trusted Him and believed him.

Mrs Rivera encouraged her daughter to come to church but Rea wouldn’t give heed and stayed at home instead to watch TV and it was right there and then that the message that would change her life for good came forth.
it was like the speaker knew what she was going through since She was talking about Relationships and the greatest one of all being the one with Jesus.
she didnt know when she sat down, how she came to listen to all that was said and broke down to cry and ask for mercy and forgiveness and a fresh start.
But she knew she wasnt going to be the same anymore. she felt whole, better and refreshed. Ryan’s memory wasnt going to fade automatically because of the new creation that she was, but with time, she hoped it would.
It took her a while before she realized she’d been her idol, but didn’t know it for years. He was becoming the center of everything to her and She had allowed him become her drug.
And so, she left home, got a job and got an apartment of her own, decided to Let Jesus take the wheel while she sat and watched. Sometimes, she wondered if God was paying her back for how rebellious she had been as a teenager but the comforting words of the Spirit was there to assure her that God had forgiven her, no matter what she had done in the past.
People often mentioned time healed, and it did for Rea partially although the images of herself and Ryan and their relationship of the past showed up in her dreams or imagination sometimes, she didn’t allow herself get carried away anymore.

She was going to do the right thing, which included allowing God choose for her while she focused on her work and bask in His love,after all. it had been three years ago. Two years were enough to mourn an ex-boyfriend and mend a broken heart
But when she’d landed in the hospital unexpectedly due to a back sprain she’d been managing for a while, it turned out to be a different story.

Most especially when she had collapsed into a brief coma
She opened her eyes and saw beautiful blue eyes staring down into hers
“Hey” she greeted weakly recognizing her friend’s worried look. The woman was going to give herself a heart attack in her late twenties most especially with Darren Junior on the way,
“hey yourself.’’ Sue snapped and rolled her eyes. ‘’so is this how you take care of yourself while I’m away huh?’’
Rea smiled weakly.
“I should slap that smirk off your face y’know and make you squirm.’’
“no mercy for the invalid?’’
“invalid my foot!’’
“so, what’s wrong with me?’’
“you have a terrible back sprain which you didn’t think you needed to see a doctor for months while climbing that ladder to fix the antenna.’’
“that’s all?’’
“in a lame man’s language, before the doctor comes in with his ‘grammar’ thing, I thought I’d fill you in.’’
“thank God’’ she sighed. ‘’I was beginning to think it was appendicitis’’
Susan didn’t say a word and Rea’s eyes widened in shock.
She could read that expression any day anytime.
Sue’s phone rang and she felt her friend exhale in relief before hurrying out of her hospital room.

Rea’s head sank into the pillow and she closed her eyes in anger trying to contain everything all at once.
Susan was a nurse, and she knew much more even if she didn’t work in this particular hospital and the woman was probably holding out on her.
Someone strolled in and closed the door bringing her back to the present.
“Miss Rivera?’’
She opened her eyes and managed to sit up so as to face the doctor when he decided her fate
Her eyes widened in shock on full realization of the man who was going to be seeing to her situation and she gasped.

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“I hate it when situations like this come up you know that right?’’
Josh Riley placed his briefcase on the table and started sorting out the necessary files for his client while paying attention to every detail that the man fed him concerning the new case he was about to handle.
“I told him I was going to sue him and I was going to get the best lawyer for this case. They think they can just fire me and get away with it huh?.They aint seen nothing yet Josh. Wait till we get into that courtroom and get them on their knees for what they did to me.’’
“Mr. Austin, are you sure of everything you’ve told me about this company and how you were treated?’’
“yes, 100% sure.’’
“and they fired you just because of your sickness?’’
“yes. My doctor gave me news about my diabetic health six months ago after the company I was working for advised me to see my doctor. I have my suspicions there too ‘cos how else would they tell me to go for that particular check up. ever since then, my boss has not been nice to me and just few days ago, he fired me. I look at him in the eye and tell him to give me one good reason why He’s firing me, but He couldn’t even pinpoint to one thing, imagine that!’’
‘’Mr Austin, are you sure this is all I need to know?’’
“yes, it is!’’
Josh looked into his client’s eyes and could tell the man was being honest but desperate and he really wanted His job back which he doubted he was going to go back to after this whole court thing. They might pay him, or recompense him in some other way but Mr. Austin might have to start looking for another job.

Mr. Austin was a very determined man in his late forties and the hair on his temples had a silver gray that added an attraction to his features. This man was his friend’s uncle and He had begged to help him out most especially when he had a family to take care of. On a normal day, Josh would have overlooked the case, but as a favour, he thought he’d help the man.

And now he saw the man, he felt for him too.
His phone rang and he excused himself.
A woman’s voice greeted him from the other end. ‘’hey you.’’
He recognized the voice immediately “hey hun.’’
“Did I interrupt a court session?’’ her voice teased.
“not really, how’s Gavin?’’
“he’s fine. He’s been bantering about how you two have the day to yourselves tomorrow.’’
Josh smiled. ‘’I can even hear him over the phone.’’
“hold on, I’ll put him on.’’
“Dad!’’
“hey kiddo! How was school today?’’
“it was okay.’’ His response was low this time and Josh knew his son was having issues with his classes again. “so tomorrow’s still on?’’
“yeah.’’ He looked at his wristwatch hoping he would be able to make it up to his son this time. He was just five years old and needed some father time. Demi had advised him to start making time for his son but he’d been preoccupied with his thoughts and his work lately that he hardly had time for anything else.

He often blamed himself for not being a good father for Gavin ever since his mother left him in his custody four years ago when they’d fooled around and even when his aunt Demi had advised him to marry for the boy’s sake, he simply ignored it. His parent’s persuasion was worse and so many women just kept coming into his life but none seemed to stay.
None of them could.
His aunt was staying with them for a while and it made his ‘fatherly’ duties quite easier since the woman was fond of the boy naturally and loved to hang around.
But what about when she left, how would he cope again? He wasn’t a very good father but He did his best
Maybe when she left he would start thinking of a new mum for Gavin.
“Dad has to work now, but I’ll see you tonight okay?’’
“buy me something on your way home, okay daddy?’’
“okay buddy. I will.’’
Demi took the phone and they talked about a few things before she finally hung up.
By the time he got home that night, it was late and Gavin was already in bed sleeping like a baby beside his aunt. He stood by the door staring for a while and his thoughts flashed back to the way he’d secretly watched a girl babysitting his siblings about ten years ago in high school and how the girl had left without saying goodbye.

Scarlett Ruby. He never even got to take her to the prom.
He never even got to know where she finally ended up and no one knew her whereabouts till date and she didn’t even look back and he doubted she ever thought of him while He’d spent years trying to forget her.
And he’d taken time to move on and forget about her. It seemed Fate didn’t want them to be together after all.
He resigned and headed for the kitchen to feed himself to what his aunt had prepared.
Tomorrow was another day.