BROKEN BEYOND REPAIR

KEVIN EMERSON

+6 months later

I take my pills and throw the now empty bottle. I was diagnosed with Ulcer in the stomach 4 months ago and it took me 3 months to heal it completely and 1 month of supplementary medicine to eradicate the problem forever.

Due to lack of consumption of food and a non-healthy diet, I suffered from Ulcer and undergone surgery for the same. Now I'm fit as I've hired a full-time nutritionist.

My company is flourishing and with help of my co-workers, we formed a strong bond with each other. Earning their respect was not that hard, few successful deals made them realize I'm just not a young boy. I'm 24 for god's sake.

Right now I'm in a business meeting with my new client, Turner Enterprises.

Jenny, my secretary, comes in between my meeting with urgency written all over her face but I'm busy.

"Sir-" I raise my hand and wave her off but Jenny being my only friend here thinks she can do what she wants. That has to change. She is the girlfriend of my college friend, Bella.

"It's urgent-"

"Later"

"Ms. King-" I bolt out of the room before she could complete her sentence. I rush to my office and see it's empty.

My heart is thumping loudly in my chest. Is Xia back? Jenny said, Ms. King. That has to be Xia.

Every staff here knows who Alexia King is, courtesy of mine.

I hurry back to the meeting room because, in joy, I forgot to ask where she is.

"Where's she?"

"Waiting room" I ignore Turner and head to the waiting room.

This is so unlike Xia, she would have barged in my meeting room but I guess she doesn't know what to expect from me. Is it because of distance? I will assure her nothing has changed. I am still hers.

I enter the waiting room where only one woman is sitting.

"Kevin"

My face drops but I compose myself quick.

"Xaiyla"

"You look disappointed"

"You're reading wrong. What are you doing here in London?" I'm still in touch with Kings but I'm meeting Xaiyla after 6 months. She reminds me more of my Xia.

"Came here for a new project" she smiles knowingly but I don't get her.

"OK, I get it. So you wanted to meet me?"

"Yes, silly, but your manager wanted me to discuss the project personally" she smiles and my heart aches, seeing the similarity between her and my Big Skate for the first time.

It takes me a couple of seconds to understand.

"You're the future face of our upcoming cosmetic brand?" I didn't know as I'm not the head of this project.

"Yes. I rejected Xander's offer, he was offering me less money just because I am his sister" she winks.

"Let's go to my office"

"Sure"

"Don't disturb us for the next hour" I order my assistant who's eyeing Xaiyla up and down.

Women!

"I'm so happy for you" Xaiyla exclaims when we get seated on the couch in my office.

"For what?" because I'm not happy for myself.

"Your company is all over the world and I see your handsome face every day in tabloids. You set a new bar for the competition. Xander is brooding"

I laugh because it's funny to imagine Xander envious. He seems untouchable.

"Thanks. How's Xavier and Aliana doing?"

Her smile falls and she looks around my office and notices it for the first time.

"God! Kevin" she gasps in shock and takes her time to study my office.

There is a big photo frame of Xia, right above my chair. A capital X was painted on the left wall, I on the back wall and A on the right wall. I also have a big collage wall of Xia's picture. Smiling, grinning, sleeping, pouting, angry, winking, mischievous, smirking, and many more. That wall is only for her photos. I did this right after my surgery.

Except for my dad and assistant, no one is allowed in my office because this is where I spend most of the time. I even sleep here sometimes.

"Beautiful right?"

"I don't have words to express how beautiful your feelings are" Xaiyla bites her lips and look down before giving me an apologetic smile.

"Mom and Dad are as miserable as you. They are waiting for their youngest daughter to come back. You said 3 years right?"

"I think so"

"You don't know where she is or what's she doing?"

I shake my head in negative.

She just said she'll be back, no mention of the place, and no reason. I don't know what she's doing. Planning of revenge? We could have done it together. Hiding from her culprits? She's not a coward.

We talk for some more and then go to a nearby restaurant.

"It's her birthday next week" Xaiyla whispers.

I have plans to celebrate her birthday alone.

"I know" she's not drinking her wine.

"You don't drink?"

"We don't drink. No one in our family does"

I smile because Xia drinks.

"Why are you smiling?"

"No reason" I hide my smile and stuff food in my mouth. This is the first time I have had a smile in 6 months and that is on the memory of Xia.

"My company is celebrating its 5th anniversary in a couple of months"

"5th anniversary?" she looks perplexed.

"Not this company. The company I started in New York"

"Oh! I know. Dad talks about it most of the time"

"I discussed this idea of celebration with him first. He thinks it's beneficial for forming new bonds. It's going to be a grand event and I'll personally invite Xander King because I want all your family to be there and I mean all."

"Don't worry, Xander only acts highly but he got Rosalyn to drag him to the party"

My company is offering Xaiyla a stay in one of our hotels but I bring her to my penthouse. After making sure she's comfortable in the guest room, I shower and change to sleep in my bedroom.

I watch my ceiling for hours because it's magnificent.

Her green eyes and golden specs were surrounded by long eyelashes. Rosy cheeks and sweet smile showing her straight white teeth. Her soft glow of skin and beautiful features of her face painted on the ceiling is a view I want to see every night. I can't sleep without memorizing her beauty every night.

This room is also full of Xia's picture and some of our pictures together but this one is my favorite. It looks so real but I know it's just a painting and she's far away from me. I miss her every day and day by day it's becoming suffocating for me to live without her. I don't know how I'm gonna wait for years. It's too long, every second feels like a century. I cross every day on the calendar.

I turn my left to see Sun is rising, another night without sleep. I look one more time at her painting and start my day all over again with the same promise I make since day one of our separation.

"One day, Xia, you'll be in my arms and I'll never let you go"