It has been 6 months since I met Melissa. Her face was still shining before me, that adorable , kind face which got hurt so many times yet she was there , standing for her life. The soft breeze of spring is caressing my hair. I always prefer to keep my office window open because the view from this 20th floor is mesmerizing. The project I am working on is worth a million dollars and I am not giving up. A knock startled me in the midway of my thoughts.

“Come in” I said.

“Sir, your meeting is in 10 minutes, you asked me to give you a reminder” Lucy said.

I nodded and got up from my chair to collect my documents. I gave a final touch to my customized Burberry suit. The promotion that I got after my last project got me to the CEO position of ‘THE FUTURE WITH US.’ But everything seemed incomplete when Melissa was not there. I didn’t listen from her since the last meet at the park but I heard that she is living with Ethan. He and Melissa never officially confessed their love but as Melissa’s coffee shop was close to Ethan’s house, they stayed together.

I entered the meeting room and my colleagues greeted me. The project deal should close today. I presented myself well and with composure.

“….and this way our company can grow and enhance ourselves along with the welfare in the technologies” I ended and there was silence for a while. The men talked among themselves and then got up to come near me.

“Mr. Aron Edward, we are highly obliged to be working with you. We close this deal today.” The eldest man, barely in his 60s smiled at me and forwarded his hand for a handshake, a sign of a close and confirmed deal. I smiled back and a sign of relief was there. My colleagues were happy too and I returned home early. I had changed my house and it has been 2 months I am living here. It is a bungalow with an attached swimming pool at the back and big backyard in front of it. The bungalow was two storied and richly decorated with furnished woods and few paintings. I did not keep much in it except the needful. But I decorated a room well with blue colored walls, curtains, bedsheets, pillows all for her. I designed it with lights and spent maximum of my dollars to built her dream room. It was just an instinct that she might come one day. I visit the room and clean it every day. I try to move on but it is too much right now.

I snapped myself from those dreams and went to my own office room.

Being the CEO of a tech company was no fun. Hundreds of files lying on the desk , scheduled meetings and business trip was a lot. But that kept me out of my pain. It was 7 pm and I just rested on my couch when I heard the door bell ring. At this time no one was appointed to visit. I grew suspicious and went to check the door. My steps were slow and firm and I had an emergency bell right beside the door for any dangerous situations. I peeped through the pin hole and my feet went numb. Melissa , god it’s her, no. no, no, it can’t be .Her face was bent down and it looked like she was tired. I opened the door with a firm rhythm and there she was, not more than 5 feet 6 inch in height , her brown long hair [her blue highlights had faded] made into a casual bun , her skin pale and bright with those big brown eyes and thin smooth lips slowing looking up to me. My eyes caught the clotted blood on her forehead , beside her pink tinted lips and her nose. Something happened to Melissa, she has got hurt.

“Aron”, her voice seemed too weak. She had water in her eyes and her sobs made my heart shatter. “Come here , Melissa” I kept my voice calm but I wanted to know who the hell did this to her. My blood in my veins were burning and I hugged her tightly. In front of her , I was still a good 7 inch in height and her head touched my chest , her little sobs just increased the pressure of my blood . I grabbed her tight and motioned her to get inside.

“Sit on the couch , I will bring some water” I said. She did what I said , she sat in the corner of the couch , her head still faced down , her palms on her mouth trying to stop crying but to no vail. Her sobs were heard from the kitchen and I hurried back to her with a glass of water.

She looked at me and drank the water like she needed it. I sat beside her and observed her carefully. Her left wrist was bruised badly again and there were many scar marks on her hands and feet like someone had abused her. But Ethan seemed like a good person or so did I thought. I should have never left her alone It was indeed my fault.

“Aron?” her soft melancholic voice startled me. I looked at her , her brown eyes had dried and she was looking straight at me. “I am sorry to come unannounced, I…uh didn’t mean to” she stopped when I gave her a cold glance. She can come anytime she wants to and in this situation , I am not leaving her. “what happened?” ignoring the other useless questions I came straight to the matter. She looked down again as though she was too embarrassed. “what the hell happened? I am asking you the last time” I wanted to keep my voice as calm as possible. This time someone had hurt her and it’s not me. No one can even scratch her skin without my permission and there she was , all bruised. “Ethan” she spoke up.

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Ethan bruised Melissa?

Ethan?

That bastard . I will skim his skin with a rusted blade until his screams disappear. I will..

“Aron, it isn’t what it seems” Melissa spoke up in between my thoughts on how to kill Ethan miserably. I gave her a suspicious glance and she started speaking.

“It’s been few weeks that I am noticing some changes with Ethan. I didn’t gave much attention to it until..”

“Melissa!!”

An Interruption was there. I turned around and my eyes grew narrow with anger when I saw Ethan standing next to the opened door which I left open as I was too concerned with Melissa. Ethan looked worried , his brown eyes with filled with nervousness as he looked between us.

“Melissa! I am sorry , please” Ethan said. He tried to come closer when I stood up blocking his way.

“Move no further” My voice was hard and confident.

“Aron! Really?” He chuckled , “You lost Melissa and now you are…” He motioned his hand between us.

I kept my cold , death stare when a soft , caressing hand touched my shoulders. It was Melissa. Her hands soft and vulnerable , it was like the world was always targeting her , always hurting.

“It’s fine Aron , he won’t do anything in front of you” Melissa’s voice looked challenging. She was brave but I still couldn’t get what had happened.

Ethan looked at Melissa with disgust like something was her fault but the look on Melissa was undetectable.

“You can’t do this , Melissa…” Ethan spoke up. “Why do you have to fuck this all up upon a single mistake , I am sorry , I said that, now stop being so stubborn.” Ethan spoke up.

Melissa was looking down as she held my left palm tighter.

“You should have told me that you loved someone else. You shouldn’t have … you know , brought a girl over when I was out.”

Melissa said.

WTF?

Ethan cheated on Melissa!

I thought that Ethan liked Melissa. Now it all makes sense. Melissa might have interrogated Ethan about that and Ethan might have gone beyond his limit.. fucking bastard.

“Melissa, it was just a mistake, come on , you aren’t a small girl.” Ethan looked frustrated.

“But this isn’t a mistake , Ethan” She pointed at her bruised face and the scars, or the scratch marks that Ethan did on her hands, might be to grab her.

Ethan looked furious. He suddenly came closer and grabbed Melissa’s hands when my fist landed on his nose. Ethan was no comparison in strength in front of me. Melissa caught my hand when Ethan backed off.

“Stay away from her or else , the outcome won’t be so pretty” I said. Ethan was holding his nose tight , might be because of my punch.

“Dude, you left Melissa long ago , what do you want now , huh? Don’t pity her , she might backstab you at everything” Ethan said and before he finished the last word , I grabbed his collars, “Melissa isn’t someone who needs to be pitied , I pity you that you have now lost her , you have hurt her and just lay another finger to her and see how I break those delicate fingers into pieces” My voice was cold in contrast to my grip on his collar.

“Leave him, Aron” Melissa spoke up. I did and Ethan gave a last stare at Melissa before saying , “Life’s no fairy tale Melissa , face the reality and this is the reality” He smirked as he left. I followed him and closed the door .

I turned around to find Melissa had given up her strength as she sat on the couch. Her eyes had tears. Somehow I think over the last sentence that Ethan said. Life is not always a fairy tale as if she thinks that everyone can give her that love she deserve , she is wrong.

I sat next to her and drew her closer to me , my arms holding her shoulders tight as she places her head to my chest and sobs.

“It’s fine” I tried to sound neutral.

“It isn’t Aron , I … I … uh… never thought Ethan like this. I miss Fritz now , Aron. He loved me so much and ….” I patted her head and made my grip around her closer , a protective shield. I wonder what more she wanted to say but right now I had to take care of her bruises and I did that.

She had fallen asleep on the couch as I had applied ice and some antiseptics over her cuts. It looked fine but still I contacted a doctor and he would be right her the next morning. It was 10 pm when I finished dressing her wounds. She looked so adorable with her velvet dress like a true princess. I loved seeing her and she seemed peaceful while sleeping. The bedroom which was made for Melissa is finally in use. I carried her into my arms into the bedroom and laid her on the bed. I placed blanket over her and turned on the Air Conditioner as it was getting too hot. I smiled at her, looking at the innocent face . I didn’t fail to notice the cut marks on her left wrist. It gave me the answers how much hurt she was. I signed as a sign if relief and left the room , drawing those blue curtains on my way out.

I reached my room and pulled out an old album of my childhood days. Those were peaceful days. I couldn’t remember being so much happy nowadays. Adulthood is really something. It is terrifying at one time and then so peaceful after you get a good reputation. I don’t know how long Melissa would be in my life but I want to cherish each moment I stay with her.

At some point I think that we aren’t made to be together but looking at the other side , My heart never loved anyone more than her. I loved Melissa and perhaps she is just finding her way. I will always support her, my life is with her. But those words of Ethan,

Life isn’t a fairy tale , face the reality

I think I should get some rest. Overthinking is like an uninvited member and it ruins precious moments and I can’t let the happen.

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