"So tell me again, why we are staying here, and not going back?", asked Ronnie, as Caitlin came back and handed him his hot chocolate
"We will go back, but not just yet"
"Why? What is there to stay for?"
"Ronnie, I told you, he's my uncle and I can't leave him here like this"
"I thought that you hated him"
"I do, but I also owe him a great deal. He took me in after my parents died, he raised me to who I am now. He gave me a lot of love and care. I don't know why he forgot everything and did it, but I'm not going to abandon him, when he's this ill. I'm a doctor and I'm fulfilling my oath. But deep down somewhere, there's that niece, who still loves her uncle despite everything, and doesn't want to lose him"
"Anything else?"
"What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean"
"Ronnie, please don't. I'm just staying for my uncle. He needs me. Nobody else"
"Caitlin, your my sister and I just want to see you you happy"
"I am. I have a great job, great life and I'm marrying a guy who not only trusts me, he believes me too, and is loyal too"
"If you want to continue to live in denial....."
"Ronnie", said Caitlin sharply, cutting him off
"What did I say?"
"Just don't", said Caitlin, rising from the table and running away, very quickly
Caitlin ran home, all the while tears were threatening to fall
"Caitlin, what happened? Why are you crying?"
"Nothing, I'm fine. And don't forget I'm here as your doctor, not your niece. Our relationship died that same day, when you told Barry all those lies about me"
"Can't you forgive me? I've hated myself every day for what I did to you"
"It's a bit late now. Didn't you ever think that it would destroy us and our relationship?"
"Please forgive me. At least this way I can die in peace. I haven't had one day of peace, since that day"
"I feel for you, I really do, but it's not my job to give you peace. If you want peace, go and pray to God. Ask for his forgiveness. Who am I to give you any of this? Now please have your medicine before you go to sleep"
Caitlin lay on her bed. Was she doing the right thing? She knew that she couldn't leave her uncle like this, no matter what. No matter what, he was her uncle and had raised her to be a strong, independent woman. She closed her eyes as sleep overtook her
"Caitlin, what is wrong with you? You have been acting weird and distant, since we got back"
"Nothing is wrong. I'm fine"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. 100%. Now stop worrying about me"
Caitlin ran outside and sat on the swing in the garden. What was happening to her? Ever since they had got back, she had felt off and weird. Sometimes she felt like someone was calling her, and she always looked around, as if expecting someone. Who was calling her, and why? How come she could hear this, and nobody else could? Was it even real, or was she imagining it?
"Who are you? Please leave me alone", she yelled
She began to cry, as Ronnie came and sat with her. Ronnie hugged her and drew her in for a cuddle
"So, are you going to finally tell me what is wrong with you?"
"I don't know. I feel like I'm going mad. Ever since we got back, I can hear someone calling me, but there's no one there. I feel like I see things and people. I think I'm going mad"
"I dont think that you are going mad. I think it might be something else, but I don't think that you will believe me"
"What is it? Ronnie, please tell me. I need to know"
"I think that you have fallen in love"
"Love? And me? You know that I don't believe in this"
"But I think that this is your problem"
"Alright, fine. Just for arguments sake, let's just say that I'm in love. So who am I in love with?"
"Barry. Who else?"
"Barry?"
"Yes, Barry. Your travel companion. Your gentleman"
"No. No. This is not possible"
"It is possible, and it has happened"
"No. I refuse to believe this. And anyway, even if that happened, Barry is from a rich, affluent family. Do you think that his family would accept us poor people?"
"Do you really think that they would be like that?"
"I don't know. But I've seen it happen one too many times"
"Don't go looking for problems, not yet. Just enjoy these first few flushes of love"
"Say I do love him, but I don't know if he feels the same way? He might have a girlfriend or someone special. Who am I to ruin things for him if that's the case?"
"But tell me this Caitlin. Did he ever misbehave with you? Take advantage of you?"
"No. He was the perfect gentleman. There was once I got drunk accidentally, and he took me back to my room and tucked me in. If he had wanted to do anything, it would have been then. I was really out of it. I probably wouldn't have known anything"
Ronnie raised his eyebrows
"But that doesn't mean anything. It just means that he was raised right and knows how to behave with a lady"
Ronnie just looked at Caitlin
"I cant believe that your still suggesting this. I have more important things to do then to fall in love with Barry, that you insist I am"
Caitlin stormed off, and Ronnie smiled. Denial. The first step of falling in love
Duff, duff, duff. As always, feedback appreciated
