A Healing Heart: Rediscovering Love One Step at a Time.
The soft buzz of my phone jolted me awake late that morning, its persistent ringing breaking through the peaceful haze of sleep. Groaning, I reached for it, dreading the thought of an early interruption.
"Hey, my darling!" Adiaba's voice rang out, overly chipper.
"Good morning, Adiaba," I murmured, rubbing my temples and trying to muster some energy.
"So," she began, a sly smile evident in her tone, "how was it?"
I frowned, my brain still foggy. "How was what?"
"Fredrick!" she exclaimed. "You know—the tall, dark, and handsome man who's probably still in your bed right now."
My heart skipped. I turned my head slowly, and there he was—Fredrick. His chiseled features relaxed in sleep, his presence taking up more space than I thought possible.
"Wait... what? Adiaba!" My voice quivered as I grasped for clarity. "What did you do?"
She laughed unapologetically. "Oh, come on, Anna. I just gave you a little nudge. You needed that."
"Are you serious?" I hissed, my headache intensifying.
"Relax. You'll thank me later," she teased. "Anyway, you've got fifteen minutes to get ready. Jummai's wedding is today, remember?"
With that, she hung up, leaving me with my jumbled thoughts.
I staggered out of bed, my head pounding, the events of last night still a blur. Glancing at Fredrick's peaceful form, I couldn't shake the nagging question: What exactly happened?
I grabbed a pen and scribbled my phone number on a piece of paper, leaving it on the nightstand. Whether he used it or not was entirely up to him.
Dressed in our tailored lemon-green gowns and black heels, we were a vision of elegance at the wedding. Jummai, radiant in her white gown, looked like a dream as we prayed for her happiness and rained blessings on her new union.
As the ceremony began, I took my place in the third-row pew, cheering alongside the crowd as Jummai and her husband exchanged vows. That's when I saw him.
Fredrick.
Seated among the groom's best men, he looked just as surprised as I felt. His gaze met mine, his lips curling into a knowing smile. My cheeks burned under his persistent stare, but I quickly turned my attention back to the ceremony, pretending not to notice.
At the reception, Adiaba cornered me, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"So... Fredrick. What do you think of him?"
I shot her a sharp look. "What were you thinking, Adiaba? You know I'm not ready for a new relationship, and yet you still set this up!"
Her grin faltered. "Oh, come on, Anna. You can't keep living in Max's shadow. Don't you think you deserve to be happy?"
"That's not the point," I snapped, crossing my arms. "You had no right—"
"Fine!" she huffed, throwing up her hands. "Stay miserable if you want. Clearly, I wasted my time trying to help." She turned and stormed off, leaving me standing there, seething with frustration.
From across the room, Fredrick approached cautiously. "Trouble with your friend?"
I rolled my eyes, unwilling to engage. But he persisted, his gentle smile disarming me.
When I finally gave him the cold shoulder, he sighed and walked away, his disappointment palpable. Watching him retreat, guilt began to gnaw at me. I didn't want to ruin the day further, so I quietly slipped out of the reception and headed home.
The next day, my phone buzzed with a text from Fredrick.
"Dinner tonight? Just the two of us. Let me make it up to you."
I hesitated but eventually replied: "Alright. Seven it is."
At exactly seven, Fredrick arrived in a sleek blue Benz, stepping out in a black blazer over a crisp white shirt and matching trousers. His understated elegance made him even more striking.
He opened the car door for me, his gentlemanly demeanor softening my earlier doubts.
The drive was smooth, though I couldn't help but notice his lingering gaze. Every so often, I caught him staring, his expression unreadable yet intense.
"Are you always this... intense with women?" I asked, smirking to mask my unease.
He chuckled, his voice low and rich. "Only if the woman is as captivating as you."
His compliment caught me off guard, and I quickly turned to look out the window, trying to hide my blush.
Dinner was at an opulent five-star restaurant with candlelit tables and an air of sophistication. The food was exquisite, the vintage wine rich, but the real highlight was the conversation.
We shared stories about our lives, our heartbreaks, and the pain that had shaped us. Fredrick listened intently as I spoke of Max, his quiet understanding surprising me. He, too, had suffered the sting of betrayal, and for the first time, I felt a connection that went beyond attraction.
As the evening wound down, Fredrick suggested we extend the night, but I declined.
"I think we should call it a night," I said, though part of me wished otherwise.
Back at my doorstep, Fredrick hesitated, his eyes searching mine. "Thank you for tonight," he said softly.
"Thank you for dinner," I replied, leaning in to kiss him briefly.
But Fredrick wasn't ready to let go. He pulled me back, his lips pressing against mine with a tenderness that left me breathless.
When we finally broke apart, his hand lingered on mine. "I love you, Annabel," he whispered before walking back to his car.
I stood frozen, his words echoing in my mind as I watched him drive away. Inside, my heart raced—tentative but alive, as if awakening from a long slumber.
Sliding into bed, I smiled to myself, the memory of Fredrick's kiss warming me. Maybe... just maybe, this is the beginning of something new.