Mes Contes

It Started With A Valentine's Day Card

You - John Legend

02.14.2019

Today is the 3-year anniversary of my marriage, I woke up to see a trail of shredded rose petals encasing scented candles around our bedroom, and another trail leading to the hallway, parallel to each other, forming a pathway. I was confused at first, my first thought was, am I still dreaming? I cautiously climbed out of bed, making sure I didn't mess up the flowers.

Inhaling the scent of jasmine and lavender, my favourites, I followed the designed path leading to the hall, and froze once I looked at the walls. Our once cream-coloured plain wall was now a very beautiful multiple coloured mural.

I felt liquid flow down my cheeks as my hands quickly covered my mouth to swallow my loud sobs. My knees got so weak that I collapsed on the ground, and just sat there admiring and reminiscing.

The sky was gloomy yet bright as it was that faithful day; my carefully styled up-do was already a mess due to the pouring rain and my beige coat was wrapped tightly against my drenched body. His umbrella was stretched over me, the confusion on my face was evident and so was the wide dimpled smile on his.

That day, 5years ago, was practically the most annoying day of my life, I had felt a lot of things that day: anger, grief, pain, unwanted, damaged, invisible; but at that moment, I felt like someone actually saw me, no longer Ms. Invisible, I finally mattered, and at that moment, I didn't feel like one damaged woman who needed approval from some guy to live fully, I felt fully human and I mattered just like everyone else. I can never forget that day.

He chuckled at my stunned expression and said, "You were getting wet and my umbrella is big enough for both of us", I whispered a thank you and we walked together in silence. As we were approaching my apartment, I stopped walking. "Thank you but I can continue from here. Don't get me wrong, I'm eternally grateful for your show of kindness. Do have a nice day".  Once I proceeded forward, he called out, "Hey, I want you to have this."

I looked back as he pulled out a small card from his laptop bag and laughed as he scribbled something on it while trying to balance the umbrella between his neck and shoulder. "I have no idea why I feel like giving you this card but I think you need to have it", he finally spoke, handing me the card. I accepted the card and looked at him again, and then my lips curved upwards in a smile. "Thank you for this, can I know your name? At least?" I asked shyly. "Yeah, sure I'm Francis, but you can call me Frank, and you are?" he responded after running his hands through his hair about twice, "Alicia, just Alicia no nickname for me." I grinned.

After a few seconds of comfortable silence and disappearing raindrops, I bid him goodbye and strode towards hell, otherwise known as my apartment. My heart was beating like an elephant parade, and my skin crawled as I inserted my personal key into the lock and turned it. The door opened and I stepped in, instantly locking the door after me. I dropped my keys in the bowl and tiptoed into my bedroom. I stripped off my drenched clothes and put them in the laundry basket, then filled the bathtub with warm water and drops of rose shower gel (the one I'm allowed to use). I immersed myself in the water and cleared my head, after exactly ten minutes, I jumped out wrapped myself in my towel and cleaned the bath, it's practically routine for me.

Immediately I walked out of the bathroom in my bathrobe, I heard the front door slam and my heart leapt into my throat, he was back. "ALICIA!!!!!! What the hell is this? So you've started receiving gifts from strangers again? How dare you? You ungrateful....." He yelled from downstairs, his feet pounded on the staircase as he brought along my doom. I knew he'd seen the card I stupidly dropped on the coffee table but I was paralyzed, I couldn't even run. He met me in our bedroom, seated on the floor with tears running down my face already. He flung the card at my face and screamed abuses at me.

I was back to being worthless, damaged goods, useless and invisible. Each bile he spat launched bullets into my skin, my body curled into a ball, as I tried to block out the lashes of venom. When he stopped talking, I uncurled my body in order to leave but he kissed my check with his balled fist and I fell flat on the floor, blood gushing from my mouth. He looked at me with disdain, and walked away. Maybe disgusted by the sight of this damaged girl bleeding all over the floor.

As I heard the sound of the front door slam, I struggled to stand while covering my bleeding mouth with my hands, groaning and crawling sluggishly to the bathroom, rinsed and gurgled water in my mouth a few times, before placing a damp small towel in my mouth to absorb any inflow of blood. I walked back into my room and hastily took the card from the floor, and sat on the bed to read the message inside.

As my mind wandered back to the present, I walked along the pathway to the lounge and discovered a new framed picture, one I hadn't seen in a long time, I walked towards the picture and touched the image that brought us to this point in our life, I lifted the framed message on that card from exactly 5 years ago, and read it again.

*Love, droplets of rain in the driest desert creating a forest of emotions, a home within the vacuum of your heart. Love, a flame providing warmth for those who cherish it and burning brighter for those who nourish it. Meeting you today was awkward yet fulfilling, I really enjoyed those moments with you. Don't want to seem weird but if you feel like hearing from me. Call me on this number... *

I'm really glad I made that call years ago, and even though we had a rough start and some bumps in the road, he was patient, understood and loved me unconditionally, and just like the card said, our love is still burning brighter and creating warmth we both enjoy.

I jumped in fright as a pair of arms suddenly enveloped me, a simple whiff of his cologne and my pulse quickened, my inflated heart melted as he feathered kisses on my neck and skin, turning me into steaming dark chocolate. I spun 360° in his arms and place my forehead against his while standing on my toes, he nibbled on my ear and whispered, "Do you know the first thing that popped in my mind when I saw you walking under the rain that day?", "No... Why don't you tell me?"

I lifted his hands back to waist and then hooked mine around his neck, "I'm gonna put a smile back on her face, no matter what." I played with the twists on his head, "Really! And you did, didn't you?" I breathed out. "Mmm-hmm. I love you, Puddle", he said, shifting his head a few inches back to look me in the eyes. Tilting his head to meet mine halfway, I responded, "I love you too, Teddy", and melted once again as our lips molded into one.

It started with a Valentine card that caused a sharp copper taste in my mouth, but I'm glad this wall has ears.

A/N: It's here just as I promised... I really wanna read your comments so please write your thoughts in the comment section and tickle me by clicking the tiny star. If you want more of #Francia (my shipname for them), just ask. 😉

Also how did you spend Valentine's Day? Mine was nahhh... I was cooped up in my house all day so that's that...

Anyway please don't forget to share and you can also drop themes, I can write about for other short stories. Loads of love and thank you's, sweeties.

💘💘
TheDarkChocolate1