"Uncle Thomas, what is it?" I questioned him.
"Calla, you know that Uncle cares about you. Right?" He asked with a pained expression on his face. I looked at him confused and nodded. Of Course, He cares about me.
" Then Calla, you should give up on him. You should not hurt yourself. You already destroyed your four years of life on loving him. He doesn't even seem to care, dear. And you know that. Don't you?" He said in a very sad tone.
I looked down at my feet at his words. What he said is 100% true.
" Uncle, Don't worry. I am fine. See, I am happy." I replied not able to look at his eyes smiling sadly.
" Why are you lying to me, dear?" He asked softly.
" I am not, Uncle," I replied but my cracking voice betrayed me.
" Oh, I see. Then What about him? Have you given up on him? You don't love him. Right?" He asked in an obvious tone already knowing that I can't agree with him.
I only looked at the floor which answered his question.
" You know what Calla, my family is very rich. Although I whole-heartedly want you as a part of our family, you for a fact know well that this is nearly impossible. His parents won't agree let alone see you. Moreover, the person who should support you won't even acknowledge you." Uncle explained to me holding my shoulder with both of my hands.
" Calla, If Amelia was a bad girl, maybe you can have a chance. but we both know, how good of a girl she is. They are childhood sweethearts, dear. In their hearts and among their families they are already married. They are just waiting for the right time to legally marry. Dear, what I am saying may sound rude, but I don't want you to be hurting yourself by holding onto any imaginary hope. You are like a daughter to just like Sam and Amelia. I do want to see you happy. If you don't try to move on, it will be really hard for you to find love, dear. I know it will be hard but just try dear. Can you understand Calla?" He continued trying to find my expression.
But I kept avoiding his gaze. because I am on the edge of breaking down. Tears threatened to fall down my cheeks.
" Yes, Uncle." I curtly replied without meeting his eyes. I ran away from there without a second thought trying not to sob but tears seemed to pour continuously without a break.
I am in no mood to return to my dorm because there will be Emily. I can't cry in front of her.
You know why because I promised myself during the end of my first year that I will not cry in front of others because of my Ame. I don't want to seem pathetic. I may be pathetic but I don't want to be seen as pathetic by others. I have my self-respect to protect.
But there is one person who knows my sufferings. Because I always vent out my sadness to him.
His name is Rex. He is a very cute friend. He doesn't judge me. I love him to death. Now I want to meet him. Even though it's going to be dark soon. And the sky seems stormy resisting itself before it can rain just like my mood.
I controlled my tears because, on my way to rex's home, many people were passing. I don't want them to notice.
Finally, I reached his home. I rang the bell. Mrs.Johnson opened the door.
" Who is it?" She asked.
" Mam, It's me. Calla." I replied her keeping my cracking voice in check.
"Oh! Calla, Dear. You! Come inside, Sweetie." She said moving aside to make space for me to enter.
I entered her home suddenly feeling the warmth of her house.
" Mam, Where is Rex?" I asked her searching him here and there.
" OH! My boy! He is..." She spoke but was cut off by a loud bark.
There is my Rex loudly barking and wiggling his tail on seeing me. He pounced on me licking my face. I watched him before we both could fall.
Immediately, a genuine smile came over me even when it was a sad one.
" REX! STOP BABY! STOP! I get that you are happy to see me. Me too! baby!" I told him laughing until he stopped licking me.
" Mam, Can I take him for a walk, please?" I asked with a pleading look even though she can't see me. Yes, she is blind.
" But, Sweetie, The news said that today will be a rainy day, especially in the evening. And also it is going to be dark soon." She answered hesitating.
" Please, Mam, Just 30 minutes, I will be quick. Please, Mam." I asked pleading.
"Okay, be quick, Sweetie. Come Fast, Ok?" She finally agreed. I sighed thanking god.
" Ok! Bye Mam!" I bid her goodbye and took Rex's collar from the nearby shelf and exit her house.
I decide to go to our favorite place which is the nearby park It is a very big park. I love it. I often go there with Rex. It is one of my dreams to go there with My Ame. I have seen him there with Amelia a lot. So, I guess it's one of their couple spots.
On my way to the park, I tried to not remember Uncle's words. because it will only break me further.
Finally, we reached the park. I noticed that there are not a lot of people out there, only here and there.
We went to our favorite spot. Which is a tree that is somewhat hidden from the vision of other people. I made this our spot because I always vent out my sadness here with my Rex.
I sat on the ground knowing that it will strain my dress, but I never cared. This space is always been very special to any of my dresses.
I released Rex from his collar, to let him play around this park. I know I came here to hug him and tell him my sorrows. but I never trapped him with that option. I always let him play first.
When he got released, he went to play around the ground. I brought my both knees together to my stomach and let my face sit on my knees to watch Rex.
When I looked at Rex's smiling face and his wiggling tail, I remembered how I met my world's beautiful companion.
I am his pet sitter if it's even called like that. I am hired as a part-timer to watch him whenever necessary. To take to walks daily or frequently according to my schedule. Because Mrs. Johnson is a widow who is blind and sick. She is fighting Cancer. She raises Rex as her child. So she hired me to help her raise Rex. but she became like a family to me. And Rex, He is my love.