Seeking to be together

Roseanne Wren

"Meeting dispersed" I said and rushed out of the room towards the restroom carrying my laptop and necessities and shut the door right away.

My eyes scanned my whole body as I quickly changed into an elegant party dress where it stretched till my knees and covered half of my hands with the silky fabric.

I looked at myself in the mirror, admiring myself.

I splashed cold water on my face to remove the morning makeup and plastered a new one to look ideally dressed for the party.

I looked at my watch just to find that I was already late so I quickly plunged my work dress into the bag and barged outside the restroom.

I booked a cab along the way downstairs.

I got in the cab and told the driver to take me to the desired location. I was already 20 minutes late. " Oh god, he is gonna be mad at me again" I whispered underneath my breath.

I paid the driver and got off the cab. I showed my invitation to the receptionist and quickly ran towards the closing elevator in which I managed to slip-in.

I stood and waited patiently while the elevator opened and closed several times.

"Really!! how did you get to make out with laura, she was tough to hold on." I heard a male's voice behind me but ignored it soon after.

"Is it so??" I heard a sweet and familiar voice which I longed to hear for a long time.

I seriously don't have a single idea what happened now but I could tell that his voice gave me goosebumps all over.

"You could really get her like a piece of cake and just mess around like other girls."

"Hmm, girls aren't tough for me."

"You sure are a pro player with girls."

WHAT THE HELL!!!!! Am I fucking invisible to them, I was continuously praying for the ground to swallow me up as they were talking about things I never experienced.

"I am just gonna have some drinks and sleep on my bed." the honey voice spoke with his deep expressions as they continued to talk.

"A night without women in the bar ..........that's not how noah is like." The man questioned when my mind couldn't process what he said.

Noah? Is it really Noah Schnapp??

I stood froze when I thought about the person right behind my back.

Was it really him?

I wanted to know the owner of the voice so bad.

No, it can't be him.

It had been 10 years but the effect that name, that voice, that face has on my body and my heart hasn't changed a bit till now.

He was not only my first love but more that that, someone like my life-changer.

If not him, I wouldn't be who I am right now.

To get the attention of that man, I changed my everything from studies, being presentable and good at sports.

I even took secret dance classes just for him to notice me.....

After meeting him, I could tell people aren't born genius. But work hard and make themselves capable.

That was when I decided to change my life, not only to become excellent in everything but to have my head high whenever I ask him out.

But fate had different paths for us, I did wonders in studies, singing, dance as well as sports but that day when I finally was going to tell him how much respect and love I seek for him.

My father got transferred to another city and he was on a trip with his parents.

Time flies but that name still has that thing on me like before.

Is it love?Gratitude? Respect?

I don't know........but my heart definitely does not regret feeling it.

I switched that thought off when the elevator opened and I went towards the hallroom where I could see my husband talking to his colleagues.

I joined them with a bright smile saying

"Hey Beautiful Ladies!" I said while walking to them and in no time I grabbed everyone's attention unknowingly.

As I greeted them, I felt a hand on my waist squeezing a bit.

"If you excuse us, let me have a moment with my beautiful wife." That's when I saw my husband, Steve bringing me to a corner.

"I am sorry I am late, I got stuck in a meeting at the last moment and I had no choice rather than to be present." I whispered panicking as we were now out of people's sight.

"It's our lucky day, the director is stuck in traffic."

"I know it's an important day for you but please understand my situation. I couldn't help it."

He took a deep breath, keeping his eyes fixed on me.

"I know but my mind started panicking thinking of the thought that you will be late. All my hardwork and late nights could have been ruined within a few seconds."

I looked at him feeling guilty. Even though, I didn't have a choice to cancel the meeting and come straight here.

I know it's not my fault. But I am not gonna fight with him as I don't want to add troubles for him.

Atleast, not today because tonight was the time we both were waiting for impatiently.

In this party, Steve's company would be revealing their next Financial Departments Chief as the one taking care of it is retiring and Steve being the most eligible among his competitors wanted my whole attention here.

It was important for me to be here as his boss strongly believed that 'a man can be defined by the woman he is with'.

Today we must show how much we are in love and care for each other. And honestly, it's very tough because we were not exactly in 'love'.

"I am sorry but the manager is stuck in traffic, right? means this night is in our favour so let's enjoy our victory." I smiled trying to fix his mood.

"My victory."He corrected me as my smile faded but I put it on again just being aware of the people staring at us. We went back to his colleagues and talked for a while.

I could find a couple at the corner of the hall, clearly being able to see love in their eyes for each other.

The way they talked,looked at each other and their gestures made my heart want to feel that feeling, feel being in love, being taken care of, which I wish to find in steve's eyes.

I wish him to look at me with true love the same way they did and I believe that time is near.

I had to wait no more knowing after tonight, we would be sharing a normal life like those teenagers having their firsts in everything.

We decided to start our own family and live a comfortable life after Steve takeover's this position.

After the ceremony ended, I couldn't help cringe at the sight when steve bowed 90 degree at his boss. He turned towards me and pulled me in for a tight hug.

Asher Blake

I walked to the open terrace to get some fresh air where I found Noah, my elder brother sipping his alcohol glass while looking at the stars which shined brighter than the city's night lights.

"You aren't crashing to your room?" I asked him looking at the city.

"No, I just wanted to have some alone time."

"I am sorry, did I ruin it?" I was about to leave when he said,

"You are not a stranger and I actually longed to spend time with you, sit with me." I sat there and there was an awkward silence for sometime before Noah broke it.

"Why don't you quit your job and run our family business?" I was shocked to see his sudden question coming.

"This is not only my job but my passion. I don't want to do something that is made up by my family and served to me on the plate. I want to build my own respect and personality."

"Do you mean going on deadly adventures and clicking pics by doing risky stunts, taking pictures of models and then sleeping with them for your pleasure is your passion?" I answered him right away.

"That coming out from a professional player like you, kinda trips me off. Are you ok?" I asked him while checking his forehead temperature.

"You are not different from me, but even worse." I chuckled looking outside.

"Why?" I asked him after a long silence.

"I don't want women to be with me because of my looks but for love"

"What the hell!! L-Love?" I laughed hard.

"Don't, it doesn't exist. it's like a unicorn where everyone believes it exists but no one has seen it to prove it. And if someone has seen it, it's just a disguised horse."

Noah smiled and sat down the chair,

"Believe it or not, I do believe unicorns exist and it only appears to people who claim to believe it."

He tapped my shoulders and said

"What happened 3 years ago , I know it has been tough for you but don't let it ruin your life; Love exists."

"And I am definite for the day to come but when it comes, don't mistake it as a disguised horse. You will definitely regret it, sooner or later."

"We have to meet our family tomorrow, get some sleep." He left me alone in the bar.

I followed him to his room.

Next day

I entered the empty room where my grandfather was sitting royally on his armchair swinging it to and fro. He smirked as I stood before him.

"You look young compared to the last time I saw you, seeing someone?" I asked smirking.

He chuckled while getting up and looking at the magazines on the table.

"Good work for the last 2 months, son."

"Looks like you've been keeping an eye on me all the time."

"Noah too, you aren't my only grandson,remember?"

"This one, it's a good angle where the sunlight is on half of her body and shade on half, you're really good when it comes to women, right?"

I could clearly hear sarcasm in his voice which pissed me off internally but I didn't show it and sat on the huge sofa in his room.

"Why don't you come to the point grandpa? I am sure you didn't want to meet me to talk about women."

"Your freedom is ending, remember?" He questioned knowingly while crossing his legs and sitting comfortably.

"As far as I remember, I still have 10 months right?"

"9 months and 8 days to be exact."

"I'll join the business as per your order but I'll not leave my passion." I said being straightforward.

"Passion? Which makes barely any money?" He asked as he smirked and I understood what he meant.

"I am not just a traveller and photographer. I am THE PHOTOGRAPHER A.B OF THE 'DISCOVERY' taking photos of natural disasters and I travel places which are dangerous for human kind to take photos of what it looks like and it's not bare money. I make a lot more than the shares in your company."

"You are free for now, and I understand but you have to quit it sooner and marry someone to start a family of your own. You promised, right?"

"That promise was made 5 years ago, when I wasn't in my right mind but this Asher won't give up and never promised you that shit."

"I don't believe in love and marriages. I will take up your business but will not quit my passion and continue to be A.B, balancing it so that I don't ruin the reputation you and I made."

After saying that I was about to leave when I remembered something,

"And about woman, you don't need to interfere in that."

I shut the door close and left with a loud thud.

Roseanne Wren

It was 2:30 when I finished my lunch as I was caught up with a meeting. I was going to get up but sat on the chair again because of the unbearable headache and my eyesight blacking out.

I have been encountering this since past 1 week, I knew I was stressed out with the workload these days but this isn't the first time and after a long nap, I'd be OK.

"Emily, do you have aspirant? My head is spinning." I asked the employee sitting adjacent to me.

"No, Rose. I am so sorry." She replied with an apologetic expression.

I gave her an assuring grin and went to ask other colleagues if they have any, but I blacked out as soon as I got up.

When I regained consciousness, I found myself in a hospital room.

I sat up straight and looked around to see Emily staring at me from a stool. When I questioned what had happened to me, she replied that I had fainted and she had brought me here.

"The doctor has taken up some tests but the results aren't out yet."

"You should go now, you have work to do." I insisted.

"Not with you alone here, I called up your husband but he didn't pick up."

"Are you kidding me? He has a busy schedule today and I don't want to disturb him. I can take care of myself, you should go now."

"I don't wanna leave but I'll go now, take care of yourself and give me a call if you need anything." I gave her a reassuring smile and she left the room while I tried to get up from the bed but couldn't because of the weakness.

"Miss Roseanne...." The nurse called up my name as I looked up and just hummed in reply.

"Please follow me. Your results are out" She leaded me to the doctor's room.

"Oh, Roseanne. I am just going through your scan. I heard you passed out, are you okay now?" The doctor asked looking up at me.

"I am fine but my colleague told me that I passed out because of headache. But I don't remember anything like that."

"You don't remember telling her about your headache? Do you have headaches and blacking out incidents often?"

"Yes, for the past 1 month. I have encountered headaches several times but I woke up all good after having a deep sleep every time."

"Okay, Rose. I think we should trust on doing more tests to know what exactly is happening inside your body. Would you please book two of any consecutive days for those tests in the upcoming week?"

"Am I okay doc....? I think it's just the result of work overload."

"If it's just your workload, there would be no other person relieved more than me. But I believe it's something more than that, so we will need your cooperation and we need to test your blood and DNA cells."

"So, can you please fill up this form for your further test bookings?"

I filled the form mentally consoling myself that there is nothing wrong with me and they are the one wrong here.

I am perfectly fine and my brain has not lost any memory, no way..Hell I have a disease.

ONE WEEK LATER

I was nervously wiggling my fingers while the doctor was staring at me, he took a deep sigh. I looked at the nurse who was smiling at me sadly.

"You are diagnosed with CAD." He broke the silence as I looked at him not understanding what he meant to say.

"CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE is a rare heart condition in which the heart muscles don't get enough oxygen and blood. It has severe effects on heart and brain. It gradually destroys the system of heart and makes it difficult for the person to swallow, speak,move. And....."

"What else??" I asked him looking down not wanting to let go my tears.

"And the worst is that death can approach you without any warning."

"The symptoms are quite bad, in initial stages you will feel weakness in your whole body, face difficulties while walking and slowly forget about the people around you. You will forget each and every memory you had with them. You will lose the ability to speak or swallow."

I was not able to process what he just said, the doctor's words were echoing in my ears.

"How long?" I whispered while he stopped talking.

"How long do I have?" I asked controlling myself from the breakdown to pop up.

"9 months, medicines slow the process so...10 months max." he said looking into my eyes.

I nodded at him , expressionless and repeated myself.

"9 months."

"But you have to be here before the symptoms worsen. No one can handle you."

"Anything else?" I asked not wanting to listen anymore.

The doctor shook his head and I walked out of his cabin when a tear rolled down my cheeks from my left eye.

NO WAY, This can't be happening.......

I just can't die this early.

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