It was the day of graduation and as excited as Sophia was, her day was just about to get even more intriguing as her boyfriend of five years suddenly got down on one knee with a ring in his hand, leaving everyone gathered around them, taking pictures and sharing congratulatory moments, in awe.
"Knowing you has been nothing short of a blessing to my life, Soph. These five years have been full of ups and downs, but despite it all, what I'm most sure of is the love you have for me. I'm grateful for the privilege to be called your boyfriend but now, I am asking you to make me the happiest man on planet earth by allowing me the honor of being your husband."
The silent echoes of "say yes!" rented the atmosphere as Sophia stood with her hands placed across her mouth; a desperate attempt of hers to stop the stubborn screams threatening to let loose.
"Yes!!" She half yelled, giggling with happy tears flowing down her cheeks as she wriggled her fingers in his face. As the ring slid through her finger, finding its resting spot and comfortably sitting, the clicks of camera, claps, shouts and gasps of awe were the coercive sounds the couple needed, as their lips were enveloped in a deep kiss.
Finally breaking away from the kiss, the happy couple joined in with friends as they continued capturing the final moments of being together as college students. As the day ended, everyone went their separate ways, including Sophia, who bade goodbye to her now fiance, Marcus, after spending an extra three days together, as she journeyed back to her family home in Brookhaven, New York.
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"I'm home!" Sophia exclaimed softly, a bright contagious smile plastered across her face, as she stepped into the house with her luggage.
"Oh! My baby girl is back!" Her mother, a woman in her mid forties, half ran into the living room, enveloping her in a warm excited embrace.
"I missed you, mum." She chuckled as the older woman tightened the grip on her, leaping gently out of excitement.
"I missed you more, my angel. I'm sorry we couldn't make it to-"
"It's okay, mum." She smiled reassuringly as she broke from the hug.
"How are you? How was the trip? How was school?"
"I'm fine. The trip was good and school was great as well." She said, trying hard, but without success, to hold back her laughter, "What about you? How is everything? Your health especially."
"Everything is fine, honey. Don't worry yourself over an old woman." She teased, cupping her daughter's face in her palms as she stared lovinglyinto her (Sophia's) face.
"That's even more reason why I should be worried." She whispered, "You know, you have to take extra care of your health." To this, her mother only nodded in understanding.
"What about dad?"
"He's out for some work."
"I thought you said he was on leave from the driving job as his boss was on a business trip outside the country?"
"Well, I don't know the details of the new business idea he has been working tirelessly on, but he promised me it would yield him a whole lot of returns."
"Okay, if you say so." Sophia said, as her mother led her towards her room, helping with the bags she brought.
"By the way, how is Marcus doing?" She finally asked as they were safely entered what had always been Sophia's room.
"Well..." Sophia giggled, as she wriggled her finger in her mother's face to show off the engagement ring with a wide smile on her face.
"Are you serious? Oh! My goodness!! What!!"
"Yeah. He proposed during graduation and I said yes." Sophia half yelled.
"I'm so happy for you baby and I know for a fact that he is going to make you the happiest woman on earth." Her mother said in an even more excited tone, embracing her tighter before taking some minutes to admire the ring.
"You think so?"
"Do I think so? I know so, Soph. Marcus loves you so very much and I'm certain you both are going to be happily married for a long time." She smiled at her causing her (Sophia's) face to turn red in a blush.
"I can't wait." Sophia said shyly.
"Congratulations my baby."
"Thank you so much mum."
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A month after graduation met Sophia in the streets of New York as she kick-started her job hunting journey and fortunately for her, she got a job in a small law firm as a corporate lawyer. The pay wasn't buoyant but it was helping with payment of the student's loan, feeding and some monthly expenses, and so, she continued giving her best at the job.
On a fateful Monday morning, as she struggled to get herself on the bus, her eyes caught glimpse of a man sitting on the bench. He seemed distressed but no one also seemed to really care as it was, unfortunately, the first day of a work or school week and everyone was just trying to get to their various destinations on time. Sophia was conflicted as she had now noticed this strange man and turning her eyes the other way would only end up weighing on her conscience; something she was not prepared to deal with for the rest of the week. Reluctantly, she decided to walk up to the bench to offer some help to him as the doors to the bus were closed before (it) sped off into the busy streets of New York.
"Sir, are you okay." She asked in a clear loud voice as she slowly approached the man, lowering herself gently to meet with his lowered face.
His words were inarticulate but he continued gesturing at his chest, wheezing for air as he raised his face up to look at the person who had decided to take pity on him. The blue color his face held, coupled with the obvious difficulty in breathing the man was having, made Sophia conclude it was probably a heart related condition.
"Do you have some medicine with you sir?" She asked, unbuttoning the buttons that were closer to his neck as she loosened the tie he had on; one she could not help but notice was expensive. As she did this, she also removed his expensive looking suit, trying to make him as comfortable as possible.
"I'm going to call 911 now, sir. Just hang in there." She said, reaching for her phone and dialing the emergency code.
"911, what's your emergency?"
"My name is Sophia Richardson and I'm on the 933 highway and there is a man here in need of medical assistance."
"Units are been dispatched but can you tell me more about this emergency."
"He doesn't seem to be breathing fine and his face has turned blue already. I think it's an heart condition but he has been like this for a while now, so please hurry."
"The paramedics team will be with you shortly, ma'am. Just stay with him."
"Okay."
"Have you removed pieces of clothing that might serve as an extra obstruction to the airway?"
"I have loosened the buttons and removed his tie and suit."
"And you didn't see any medicine with him?"
"Nothing at all. The paramedics team are here."
Sophia had to step aside for the team of emergency experts to do their jobs as she continued watching on with bated breath. Momentarily forgetting about the job she had to go to, she only prayed for this stranger's recovery. After a temporary stabilizing session, the paramedics had to transport him to the general hospital and since he had no phone or means of identification with him, Sophia offered to continue being the good person she was, as she knew, deep down in her heart, that her curiosity about his health status would eventually ruin her week.
On getting to the hospital, he was prepped for immediate surgery as his files were, fortunately, also registered in the hospital's system as a VIP patient. The process of contacting his family seemed extremely tedious and dire as he was, unfortunately, in need of a blood transfusion. Without thinking twice, Sophia offered to donate, saving the life of the strange man in the process.
"How is Mr Smith doing?" The personal doctor of Mr Smith who had not been on duty during the chaos asked the nurse on duty as he heard news of his (Mr Smith's) admission.
"His vitals are stable now." was the nurse's really short response.
"Have the family arrived?"
"No, but he is here with a woman."
"For the compatibility tests?" Another doctor who had walked in on them just in time to hear their conversation, chipped in.
"I'm not too sure, but she came here with him." The nurse said slowly as though her mind wandered back in time in search of clues, "She even donated blood and has been by his bedside ever since."
"Then she must be the girl he told us he would be bringing." The personal doctor said with a tone of certainty.
"It seems so."
"Then collect the needed samples for the analysis." He instructed, "And be discreet about it."
"What if she asks questions about the test and what it is for?" The nurse asked, just in time, as the doctors were about leaving.
"Just tell her it is for Mr Smith. Cook up something worth believing and get those samples to the lab stats."
"Okay, doctor."
The nurse didn't have to think up a convincing lie as Sophia wasn't even suspicious about the requests for different samples and tests she was now compelled to do. To her, it was nothing more than making sure she was healthy enough to donate and compatible to do so with the strange man she still hadn't known his name or who he was.
Some hours after the tests were done, he finally opened his eyes but both seemed more surprised to see each other as Sophia herself had dozed off at some point.
"You are awake, sir." She said as her voice finally came to her.
"Who are you and where am I?"
"My name is Sophia and you are at the hospital."She replied calmly, relieved that he was finally awake and sounds healthy.
Sophia stayed for a couple of more hours before leaving the hospital for home as the wife of the strange man, whom she now knew was Mr Jefferey Smith, finally came. She was grateful for Sophia's help in saving her husband's life, and expressed it openly by offering her a token in the form of a blank cheque. This, Sophia also turned down and she left in hopes of gaining favor from her employees for her absent in a whole work day.
****************************************************************************************It's been over a month since the incident with Mr Smith and life for Sophia had already gone back to normal as she had somehow forgotten all about that day. Coming back home one fateful evening, she heard her parents arguing and as she stepped into the house, she saw her mother's face flooded with tears.
"Mum, what's the problem?"
"Is it not your father?" Her mother fired back, anger lacing both her words and voice.
"What exactly happened?"
"He stole money from his boss to invest in some stupid business which turned out to be a scam. Now, not only did he loose the money with no hope of getting it back, he also used up all our savings and took loans."
"Dad!!"
"It sounded really legitimate when I was told and I saw the testimony of those that also invested. I just wanted to get a really big profit because I was told this was the only time I had and the next opportunity would be in ten years time."He said softly, keeping his head down, probably out of guilt of what he had done.
"If you wanted to kill me, why didn't you just use a knife on my throat, John!""I'm sorry." He said softly.
"What do we do now?" Sophia asked, fianlly finding her voice but still determined to keep her calm about the issue.
"Do? His boss is already demanding for his money and he is already threatening to have him arrested for theft."
"Why don't I just talk to him. Maybe I could plead with him and he could give us a little more time, for me to at least save up something from my salary to start paying off the debt." Sophia suggested.
"He is not someone you can talk to, especially when he is angry."
"So what do you suggest she does? Can't you just be a little optimistic and hope her meeting with him goes well or do you really want to go to prison?"
"I'm just saying-"
"...drop the details for Soph to meet him."
"He is a billionaire and he can be busy-"
"Dad, just give me his contact."
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"I heard you wanted to see me." A masculine voice said from behind Sophia, who was seated at a coffee table.
"Yes, sir. Good afternoon, sir." She said, respectfully standing up to greet him properly as she offered him his seat with a gesture of a hand.
"Good-" His words were suddenly arrested as he stared intently at Sophia.
"I know you, don't I?" He finally said after about two minutes of an intense and uncomfortable staring episode, as Sophia, herself, took the initiative to also see if she knew this billionaire.
"Mr Jefferey Smith?"