~Ailey~
The roaring sound of the thunderstorm raging outside made me squirm more. It wasn't like I hated rain. I just hated the thunderstorms.
They scared me to death and every time the the clouds thundered and the window glass shuddered I would squirm more.
It was around two a.m. and I laid awake in bed. Crying had been of no use and only made me remember the brutality of the day I lost my parents.
Suddenly, there was an immensely loud sound and I jumped up in bed. It sounded like the thunder and lightening had struck on the ground.
Before I could get out of bed and reach the door. The lights turned off. Perfect. Couldn't this situation get any better, I am in a three storey bungalow with a man who hates my existence its raining cats and dogs outside and now there is a electricity breakdown.
Grumpily I pulled the door open. The corridor was pitch black with darkness, one of my biggest fears. With each pounding sound of the thunder bolts my heart leaped in my throat and I cowered a bit more.
Finally reaching the staircase I heaved a heavy breath. And decided to go downstairs and look for a candle in kitchen. As soon I reached the kitchen I opened one of the cabinets and drawers and started to search for a candle. I was so busy in my search I didn't notice the arm snaking around my neck and pushed me towards the wall.
I tried to fight in the arms of my attacker. But he wouldn't budge. He had me in tight grip that's when I remembered the plate in my hand. It was better than being defenseless. Gripping the plate tightly. I moved my hand back to hit the man. Just as his grip on my neck tightened even more making me slightly suffocate, the lights turned back on and I found myself looking into the deep ocean blue eyes of my husband.
My eyes bulged out and no matter how cliche this sounds but time actually paused while he stared back at me. His face was so close to mine. His jaw was clenched but in a fine set shape. He had a five o clock shadow stubble on his face, but the most astounding features of his face that amazed my heart were his full pink lips and his piercing blue eyes that spoke volumes, it seemed as if they were speaking of not the man in front of me but of a man who was lost and confused, who had been tried too many times and had faced a lot harsh judgement. He had an aura that spoke volumes about a man with a cold heart but the more I stared back I saw not just someone who was lost but someone who had a vulnerable heart, someone who just wanted to be acknowledged.
His grip around my neck loosened and so did the plate in my hand slipping out of my hand and falling on the ground with a clacking sound bringing us both back into reality from the dreamland we both were in.
We immediately backed away from each other; me towards the wall and he towards the counter. That's when I realized he wasn't wearing shirt and my eyes immediately cascaded down. The only thought in my mind was that he was the most beautiful man I had ever seen. The more I thought the more my cheeks heated and I can guarantee that I would be blushing shitless.
As I kept on staring down I realized the fact that he was bare feet in just his PJ's. OH brother ! couldn't this get any better. My train of thoughts came to a sudden halt when I noticed his foot bleeding from the remnants of the broken ceramic plate.
"oh my! you're bleeding !!"
I immediately kneeled down to look at his foot and he turned his attention to his injured foot.
"It's fine, I'll just wash it, forget that, what were you doing in her-"
"Would you for once in your life shut up! And no you are not just washing it, let me clean your foot, don't put much pressure on it!"
Truly his attitude was now becoming a nerve wrecking pain in the a*s. Not caring one bit of the look on his face I grabbed his arm and helped him to the couch in the living room. As soon he was seated I rushed back up to my room and into the bathroom cabinet, picking up the first aid kit I rushed back down.
Adrian was almost about to get up again; glaring at him angrily I walked into the kitchen and brought the mixture of lukewarm water and turmeric powder that was an old remedy my aunt had taught me of, grabbing all the accessories I walked back to him and sat down on the floor picking his injured foot and keeping it on my lap.
I looked up at him, his eyes were transfixed towards his foot on my lap. Ignoring his piercing gaze I carefully caressed the cut and analyzed it; slowly I took out the shard of the broken plate from his foot and received a silent hiss of pain in return from him.
Squirming as if aware of the pain he must have felt I replied.
"sorry... I'll try to be more careful, just hold still, this might sting a little..."
He just plainly nodded and I began to concentrate on my task again. Rinsing the cloth which I had dipped in the lukewarm water and turmeric powder mixture I dabbed it on his cut. Brushing away the blood and carefully caressing the foot with as much tenderness I could provide him with.
"I'm sorry..."
"what ?"
~Adrian~
I looked down and the clenching feeling in my heart increased. The guilt that I had been trying to bury down came slashing back at me, the moment I saw her in the kitchen when the lights came back on.
Her flame brown eyes looking up at me, with innocence and the way she blushed noticing the absence of my shirt to the moment when she bossed me around when I had cut my foot.
It amazed me surprisingly the the way she tenderly was taking care of my so called injured foot, it wasn't that much of an issue I was prone to cuts now, all sort of them, paper cuts were a usual thing my assistant usually had kept a pack of injury bands for me in my office drawer.
Ailey truly had a heart of gold and I had done wrong to her more than once; I mistreated her her, hell I had even crossed boundaries and insulted her parents, her late parents, which I didn't know of, how could I have been so cruel.
Without a second thought I said the first thing that came to my mind.
"I'm sorry..."
"what ?"
"I truly am sorry... Ailey... about what I said before... about your parents... I shouldn't have".
For a second I thought she would get up and slap me or more probably stab me with the shard lying beside her but what she did surprised me more. She opened up to me.
"I was six years old when they died you know. My mother was a librarian and my father botany teacher. I was their only child. They loved me so much. Every night when I was scared of those bed monsters, my dad would lie down with me and tell me that no matter what happens his arms would always be open for me, in which I would always be safe... And I used to always believe him and sleep in peace..."
A few tears slipped out of her beautiful eyes and I felt a heavy stone being placed on my heart. I wanted to take her in my arms and protect her the way her father did. I couldn't leave this innocent girl to survive on her own. She needed protection and care.
"...My mother would always take me in the kitchen and I would help her cook whatever I could...well... passing spoons and bowls seemed a lot of help back then... It was my sixth birthday when my dad and mum were told that they would have to chaperon for a cruise party for the graduating seniors... that night I wailed and cried for my parents not to go... but they promised to make the best of the best belated Disney little mermaid birthday party for me the day they returned... the last words my parents said to me after kissing me good night were 'that they will be back in a blink of an eye... but no-no... matter ho-..how much I blinked or b-blink... they don't come b-"
She broke down in front of me and I crumbled in front of her too, kneeling beside her I hugged her tight while she sobbed in my chest and without further ado I pulled her in my lap hugging her tight, shushing her. Pulling back a little I held her face in my hands and wiped her cheeks, she looked up at me her face all pink and cheeks all moist from tears. I pushed the strand of hair that had loosened behind her ear and looked back down at her.
"I am so sorry... I didn't know... I promise I will try to do whatever I can to make it up to you..."
"You know y-you shouldn't make promises which w-would be hard for you to k-keep..."
"Ailey... I promise nothing can stop me from making up to you... give me a chance to make it up to you".
Bringing her head close I kissed her forehead and hugged her tight while she hugged me back. We both laid down on the comfortable carpet in each others embrace and it surprised me even more that I felt more comfortable, at peace and a feeling of satisfaction and pure calmness that I had never felt before.