I woke up the next morning feeling numb all over, I had passed through all the five stages of grief in just one night and I was currently on the acceptance stage, Accepting the fact that daniel played one of the biggest role in ending my parents life and almost ruining me and my brother's entire life.

I honestly don't even know how I felt about him anymore. Yes!!! I had to hate him for sure, he was no good and was a complete jerk, I really had to make sure I detested him completely.

I sighed and groaned as I ruffled my hair trying to get the thoughts out of my head, I wanted to forget all about Daniel and Andrea, I wanted to run far away but I couldn't do that, I wouldn't be a coward, not before and not now either, I had to be strong for henry.....Only for Henry.

"Breakfast is ready." Henry suddenly announced bashing into my room unannounced, I jerked back to reality by the sound of his voice, he always had a bad habit of not knocking before entering my room.

"You cooked???" I asked forcing a smile, I had always being the one cooking for us ever since he was a kid so hearing him say he cooked was kind of a surprise to me, it wasn't enough to lift my mood though but I was still happy he cared for me. He was the one trying to get me to sleep all night, one would think I was the younger one. It was obvious he could read through my fake smile, I still tried to make it look genuine though.

"Go and wash up.....You look like a zombie from an horror movie."He replied rolling his eyes, typical of him. He never tried to show he cared even though his actions said otherwise, it was really fun to watch him act that way.

I went to bathroom and took a quick bath before heading for the dining, my hair was packed in a messy bun and I wore an over sized shirt which stopped just a little below my knee.

"I know it might not be good.... I just looked for some similar recipe on the internet." He said anxiously as he watched me settle down, he just made me more curious about the food, never have I ever tasted a food cooked by him before.

I took my first bite and trust me when I say I was about to throw up, it was too spicy and salty at the same time..I began to cough out loud and was hitting my chest as if something was stuck in my throat, henry quickly brought a glass of water which I gulped down really fast, I then sighed in relief ,it was as if I was about to choke to death some minutes ago.

"It's not all that bad..." Henry pouted after I calmed down, he looked soo innocent with his doe eye and it was at that moment I could see the striking resemblance between us, I couldn't help but laugh at how cute he looked.

"You are sure one hell of a cook." I commented as I started examining the food, the appearance was good and it even had an inviting aroma but the taste gave it away.

"You are just exaggerating , I am eating it and not choking." He said as he munched another mouth full of the rubbish he cooked.

"Are you sure you even have taste buds?." I chuckled, this would be the second time i would laugh genuinely that morning, because how could anyone eat that without chocking.

"Order some food if you feel it's that bad." He pouted once again as if he was begging me to tell him it was good.

"Anyway you tried for a starter... I could teach you if you want to learn." I replied putting my palm under my chin, trying to act cute.

"I would learn from the internet instead."He scowled

"Soo stubborn." I muttered, glaring at him but he just non-challantly picked up his fork and continued eating.

"I would eat it eitherway.... since this is your first hand made food." I said as I watched as he kept on eating, ignoring me.

No matter how bad the food was, the fact that he cooked it for me was enough reason for me to eat it...

"Are you going to work today?? " he finally asked, changing the topic, I just shook my head in response to his question, I really didn't want to talk about anything relating to work or rather... anything that would bring back memories of Daniel.

"OK." He replied shrugging his shoulders without asking any further questions, he probably knew how I felt about the whole situation.

"Are you going to school today??" I asked, he shook his head too and I didn't also want to question him further, he had his reasons just like I had mine.

On a normal day I would have queried him about not going to school but since he chose not to pester me I decided to follow suit too. We would talk to each other when we both felt comfortable enough to share our problems... I smiled at him as I kept watching in amusement on how he cleared his plate, one would think the food was delicious, based on how vigorously he kept munching the food.

A week had passed and I still refused to go to work nor the school because I didn't want to come across daniel for any reason. I knew I would still have to resume if I wanted to make ends meet for both me and my brother but I would most definitely still quit working at the office. Henry had resumed school after not going for about three days , I chose to remain silent about it, he was old enough to start making decisions for himself and I certainly won't want to be an imposing elder sister.

"Who's there??" I shouted as I heard the door bell ring , I wasn't expecting anyone and it was too early to be expecting henry to be back from school.

I flung the house door open only to be met by a worried looking Jasmine, concern was written all over her face and she stood on a spot as if she wanted me to speak first. I didn't want to worry Jasmine so I always kept telling her I was fine over the phone and that I was just too tired to go to work.. But seeing the look on her face made it obvious that she didn't believe me.

"Jasmine... You are here!!" I yelled with fake excitement... Even a toddler would know I was just putting on an act to be happy due to my overexaggerated performance.

"You are not fine Anne." She replied not impressed by my acting. She still had that worried expression on her face.

"Why won't I be??? I just honestly think I'm getting too old for work." I said as I led her into the living room, she followed behind me as she shut the door behind her. We both sat in the sofa together after strolling in.

"What's the problem? " she asked as she sat upright.

"You are just over thinking things jasmine, I told u i'm good...I'm even smiling right now." I replied as I forced an eye smile which didn't move her at all.

"Mr rogers hasn't come to work since last week." She announced

"And what does that have to do with me." I replied, it was obvious she noticed my sudden change in demeanor at the mention of his name.

"You were also screening some of my calls." She continued then paused as she watched me stare into space.

"Henry got soo worried about you that he even stayed back home for three days."

Did he really skip school because of me.

"He said he always heard you sob silently in your room and couldn't bear to leave you alone. I asked him what happened but he refused to tell me and said I should hear it directly from you instead."

"Did henry really say that??" I asked.... He was soo worried about me yet he always pretended not to care.

"Anne....talk to me."

"Why should I??" I replied sternly then paused, Jasmine was confused, she tilted her head trying to process what I said or what I was about to say.

"Talk to you?? And get betrayed and deceived for the third time." I snickered, I knew jasmine was a true friend but I couldn't help having an ounce of doubt based on what happened recently.

"Do you really think I would betray you??After all the years we spent together?." She asked squinting her eyes as if she was trying to read me but I didn't reply her and just kept staring into space.

"Fine then...." She said as she took her bag and was about to leave.

"I didn't mean it that way." I said holding her hands preventing her from leaving, I knew I hurt her by my words but that was because I couldn't even trust myself. Jasmine was trust worthy and I knew for a fact that she won't ever betray me even henry confided in her sometimes, my emotions had taken a better part of me that's why I said those words to her. Tears welled up in my eyes and it was hard trying to keep them in, I didn't want to look weak in front of Jasmine, I had always wanted to be strong, just like her.

"Its gonna be fine." She whispered as she pulled me into her embrace and kept patting my back.. I had already burst into a full blown round of tears, my ears were blood shot, my head was throbbing and I kept sobbing loudly like a three year old kid.... it was only around her I didn't need to pretend, she understood me and I was sincerely grateful for that.

She pulled me out of her embrace after I had calm down so I decided to tell her about what happened the previous week. She looked soo shocked after the whole story and I could tell why, no one in their right senses wouldn't be shocked.

"He did that to you??" She stuttered and i just nodded my head like a kid.

"Daniel... sorry i mean did Mr rogers really have to......."she paused not knowing how to frame her sentence. She face palmed herself as if she was trying to fix the puzzles together. After a long silence of her deliberating what to say she looked at me again, she had finally calmed down, she seemed soo agitated few minutes ago, one would think it was her own problem.

"What matters right now is...... How do you feel about him???" She asked calmly pushing a stray hair behind her ear, the way she kept staring at me intensively made know that my opinion about him was the most important in the discussion we were having right now.

"I absolutely hate him!!! He disgusts me!!! I could kill him right now!!!" I yelled.

"Are you sure that's how you feel?"she asked again, then I went silent.

Was that how I felt or was I just saying what I was supposed to feel. The thought of him was supposed to disgust me but it didn't and it hurts to think I still wanted someone soo pathetic.

"I don't know anymore Jasmine." I murmured as tears began to well up in my eyes again. She pulled me for another round of her warm embrace and I couldn't help but cry into her shirt.

"Just do what you think is right."she whispered.

*****

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