AMELIA'S P.O.V

The most traumatizing task to do in this world is find a little peace. People fritter their whole life away in finding it, and then at last they get it, but unfortunately by that time, they are buried six feet under the ground while some don't even find it after reaching their demise.

However some are lucky. They are fortunate enough to find it while they are still viable. Some find peace in soothing melodies, while standing in the middle of magical hills and watching the ball of fire setting in, in solitude and sometimes even in cluster of people.

But I found my peace in just a man. A man who was there with me when no one else was. A man who brought me out of my past all the while being a part of it. A person who took away my worst nightmares, leaving me fantasizing about him all day long. And that man is none other than my love, my Alarick.

I gazed at him as he snored lightly. His chest moving up and down with his steady breaths. My hand reached out to trace his features and that was the moment, I realized that he wasn't that perfect. His nose was pointy but had a slight tilt in the bone. There were three little stitches below his chin covered by his light stubble. Dark circles surrounded his eyes like black clouds showing the result of multiple nights he spent sitting in his office in front of laptop. But of course these flaws were only visible when you were this close to him. This close, where you are sharing the same air.

People are lonely. They want someone to stand by their side and provide them a shoulder to cry on. Everyday you come to know a number of people. Its really hard to find the way to get closer to them to a point where you can see their flaws clearly, or get closer to them to a point where they present themselves to you as an open book. But the thing that's necessary, is to find some way. When you find a way to relieve them, the same time you find a way to relieve yourself. Relieve yourself from all that sorrow which you had buried deep inside a long time ago.

My fingers scraped against his light stubble and he stirred in his sleep bringing me even closer to him. This all seems so right. Me in his arms. So good, so right.

His eyes fluttered a bit and he opened them fully smiling at me.

Finally, I found the very first morning person in my life.

"Good morning." I whispered running my hands slowly through his thick hair. He closed his eyes for a moment leaning into me and taking a deep breath.

"Morning." He mumbled against my skin and tingles ran along all the way from my core to the back of my head.

We stayed like that for a few minutes when I felt his hand move. He began caressing my sides all the while descending towards my lower abdomen.

"Alarick."

"Yes?" He mumbled in my hair like he was doing nothing being the innocent monkey he is.

"You just woke up." I stated the obvious shivering under his touch. He hummed, his hands not stopping for once.

"What do they do?" I asked creasing my brows a little.

"Who?" He shuffled closer to me. My body relaxed in his grip and I sighed. I don't want this moment to ever end.

"People. When they wake up together, what do they do?", I asked again. A question which was always on my mind. Alarick looked up at me and stared at me for a minute as if in deep thoughts. Then a smile crept on his lips and he shook his head. His gesture confirmed, telling me whatever he was thinking was just a worthless thought and nothing else.

"They shower." He chuckled and in one swift motion he got up with me in his arms. He adjusted me in bridal style and practically leaped out of the bed.

"What-"

"Shush." He sprinted towards the bathroom grinning like a little child. A child who was at last going to get that candy at which he had been gawking at for a long time.

And well, yes. It happened. We did took a shower together. It was really awkward and I came to know that its not only shower that people do when they wake up together.

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I sipped my nerve soothing chamomile tea as Alarick kept grumbling on phone and occasionally yelling too.

"I don't give a flying fuck about what Harper wants! I need that to be done by you. Got it? And wait. I am on my way." He disconnected and stood up buttoning his suit jacket.

"Where are you going?" Although the name Harper had intruiged me and at the same time scared me by reminding me the promise I made a few days ago but I still acted normal.

"Just work."

"Oh. Um...where's Dwayne? Its been a while since I last saw him." I said tracing rim of the cup.

I heard him breathing heavily which caused me to to look up.

"What is it?" He was definately keeping something from me, "where's Dwayne?"

He looked up at me for a while and then released a staggered breath.

"Nina. She took him with her. She finally realized that she had a child. She came here days ago and took Dwayne with her." He paused for a moment and then smiled, "You know what, that day I realized something. I realized that my life isn't perfect at all. And when they say that money can't buy happiness, they say the truth. I lost everything that day. My sister, Dwayne, mom was never mine....and you. I even lost you. I thought this is the end. Nothing's left but it was you. Only you, who never lets me give up...there was always something about you...that even if I wanted to give up, I could never do it."

I couldn't say anything to this. I had no words but that made me light enough knowing that he knows nothing's perfect in this world.

"Anyways, I don't think I'll be back home, soon. You can stay here, but if you want, then I can drop you off at Asher's." He said slipping his phone in his pant pockets.

"Oh no. Its alright. I'll manage. I don't want you to get late." I smiled gulping the whole juice down.

"No. I can-"

"Its alright!" I interuppted before he goes all possessive and over concerned about me.

"Are you sure?"

I stood up and pecked him on lips, "Yes. Now go!"

"Yes my woman!" He chuckled and went out of the house leaving me in the solitude of a hauntingly peaceful house. I wasn't planning on staying here anymore since Alarick wasn't here. Plus I didn't call Madeleine or Regina after coming here.

So I picked my bag up and saying a quick bye to Ria, I went out. Finally getting out of the main gate, I looked for a taxi. But what I saw wasn't pleasing at all.

Daniel Harper.

He was standing right out of my apartment building beside his sleek Aston Martin.

I was dreading this, the moment word 'Harper' left Alarick's lips. I had literally forgotten about him and the fact that I had a date or whatever you call it with him.

Our eyes met and whack! He waved at me.

"Hey!" I waved back and walked towards him languidly.

"I thought you were inside." He said removing his shades and giving me a scrutinizing look.

"Ah no. I am living with my sister these days." I scratched the back of my head.

"Oh. So...um...are we still in? Can we go somewhere?" He asked motioning towards his car.

I know I was willing to go with him when he asked me out, but not now. I know, that it was too selfish of me to say yes when I knew I just wanted to take my mind off from Alarick. I used him, and that made me feel even pathetic. I gathered the jumbled up words in my mind, and released a sharp breath.

"Look Daniel. You're an amazing man and surely a very good friend but..."

"But?"

"But we can't be together." I blurted out. He creased his brows in confusion. He was surely thinking what made me change my mind so quick.

"Wha-"

"Yes. I hope you-"

"Hey hey listen!" He grabbed my arm shaking me a little so I would come out of my blabbering, "I think you got it wrong. I don't want to take you out on a date. I just wanted to talk about something."

"Talk about something? What?" Now it was my turn to crease my brows and look confuse. What was he talking about?

"I think we can go to that cafe over there." I glanced at the way he pointed and cringed so hard when I realized it was the same cafe where they sell croissants with ginger sauce. "I can explain everything."

"Uh sure." I nodded at him frantically.

We went inside the cafe and and took a seat in far corner.

"What is it?"

"Umm...its awkward." He looked around as if he had done something really embarrassing and now he's wishing that no one had seen him.

"Actually its about your sister." He said so fast that I almost missed it. And then it hit me.

"Made? What happened to her?!"

"No! Not Made. Its...its Ana...Anastasia." he was now looking everywhere but me and that made me even vexed.

"Ana? You want to talk about Ana?" I asked tipping my finger on table to gain his attention.

"Yes. Actually. She wanted me to talk to you." He paused, "We've been together for a few months now and we want to get married after her studies are complete. Ana think if she talks to Regina then there's no chance for us. She says that you're much sensible and will take the things better. You know what I am talking about?"

I was gawking at him like a frantic bull. Did he just say that he wants to marry Ana? Am I hearing right? A cold gush of wind passed over my face from nowhere when I realized that I had just been shot with a humongous ball of humilation. I was thinking of a date with him and there he was, wanting to talk about marrying my sister.

"You all right?" He shook my hand bringing me out of my embarrassing reverie.

"Ah yes! Thank god. Thats amazing." I paused momentarily, "I'll talk to Regina about this and don't worry, she'll not get paranoid. Ana just take her for granted."

"Really? Will you do something for us?" His face brightened with a sudden happiness that I almost forgot about my humilation and laughed at his enthusiasm.

"Yes. But wait a second." I narrowed my eyes a little, "that D. Oh my God. You're that D! She was talking about you!"

"I don't know what you're saying but yes she calls me sometimes D or Danny, Dan, and sometimes even Harpie. First time, I thought she was asking for a sharpie and you know what word she uses as an endearment? Harp. My little Harp. It sometimes feel so awkward."

"I like that Harpie though. Harpie the great Sharpie!" I laughed so unlady-like that I had to look around for people staring at me. And yes they were looking me like I was a lunatic.

"What will I get?" I asked tapping finger on my chin.

"So you want me to do something?" He arched his brow.

I chuckled a bit. "No. I was just joking around. I am not that selfish. Well, I'll talk to Regina about this."

His face lightened up again and he practically leaped out of the chair. I stood up too looking for some cockroach which might have been the reason for him leaping out of the chair.

"Thanks. Thank you so much." He neared me and took me into a tight bear hug, "You're the best girl I've ever met." He quickly pulled away remembering something, "Ah...of course after Ana."

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nza💙💙💙