Chapter 3

Loving Me

I tried as much as I could to ignore Gale, whenever he would see me at school, I would find a way to disappear.

Good enough he didn’t know where I stayed, he knew the street but not the building.

But, he knew my work place and used it to his advantage, he would come over more often.

Gale had made this place his hung out, his research and notes were all done here.

He would try to talk to me when he thinks I’m free and I would just ignore or get angry.

He never left and soon I realized that avoiding him wasn’t helping so, I let half of my walls down.

We became close friends, then Rebecca appeared. That’s how I got two best friends who cared for me.

I was so ignorant to Gale's feelings for me, I always called what he felt for me friendship but that changed a year later.

We had all graduated.

I was still trying to search for the perfect law firm to work with, And Gale...

He took over his father’s hospital though he had mainly majored in cardiology.

We all still kept in touch.

Rebecca had become a lawyer like me, it was because of her that I managed to secure a good job.

Well... Gale and I… things become complicated between us, his feelings made me realize a lot.

Gale wasn’t a bad man, in fact he was a very handsome, tall, and lean man that any girl would die for.

He had chestnut eyes, and dark brown hair. His lips were thin with a natural pink, high jaw.

He had a simple nature, and loved to cr*ck silly Jokes. Even though Gale had a nice heart and everything, he had a scary temper.

But I fell for him, ask me how?

All started on a Wednesday evening, Maggie had left me to clean up and lock up later.

She had grown to trust me and loved me like her own daughter.

I had learned to be free and happy, it was easy for me to make friends and let go of certain things.

That’s something I had difficulty doing in the past.

I was cleaning the counters when the bell above the door chimed, I raised my green eyes as I wiped my sweaty forehead with the back of my hand.

My lips curled into a smile and I leaned forward against the counter.

Gale stood by the door with open arms, waiting for me to jump into them like I usually did.

“Don’t deny it, you do want a hug,” he said, and I chuckled.

I shook my head with a smile, “I will just stay right here if you don’t mind.”

He sighed.

“Hey, doc, I wasn’t informed about this visit?” Wiping my hands on my apron I stepped away from the counter while smiling at my friend.

Who am I kidding? He never informs me about his coming.

“Oh please Mel, we’re best friends. Don’t I have a right to come and see you?”

Even though Gale was smiling, I felt like he was trying to point out something serious.

I sighed and, without warning I ran to him, almost throwing him off his feet. His arms wrapped around me tightly and I laid my head on his chest.

I didn’t know why but being in his arms always made me feel a kind of peace that I could never find anywhere.

And I missed him well… I stayed away because I felt like a loser when he and Rebecca set out their carriers, I felt like I was lurking behind.

“I missed you, bubble,” he said and I snorted. Gale and his weird nicknames.

With time, I realized that telling him stop is useless. I pulled away from the hug.

“I wasn’t expecting you, Gale, is Becca coming too.” My voice slowly became faint when I noticed the way Gale was looking at me.

My stomach tightened in knots, Gale had never looked at me like this.

That same look made me feel like I had a far higher value than diamond.

He seemed to also realize this and lowered his eyes.

“Um… Rebecca won’t be coming.” I felt the nervousness in his voice and I bit my lower lip in confusion.

Why would Gale be nervous?

I opened my mouth to ask why but his grip grew tight on my waist.

Gale lowered his lips to mine even before I could stop him.

His soft lips made my heart stop for a bit and this scared me. My legs felt weak, the weird feeling in my stomach.

No… This can’t be happening. I panicked and did the craziest thing that came to my mind.

I pressed my hands on his chest and pushed him hard with all my might that he staggered back.

“Amelia...” I didn’t listen, raising my hand I allowed it to connect with his cheek that he gasped.

It was obvious he never expected that but neither did I.

I just didn’t know how to react, that was my first kiss and those emotions that I experienced just scared me.

“I… What?” I sighed trying to get as far away from him as possible.

“What was that about? I mean what’s it supposed to mean?”

“Amelia...” He said lightly as if wanting to explain. I don’t know if I’m ready to listen.

“Please leave,” I practically begged not letting him say more.

“I will go, but let me first say this...”

He looked at me, hoping to catch my eye but I turned away.

“I started to feel for you since that night we met... At first I thought it was just a crush for you...”

“Gale, please leave.” Desperation could be heard in my voice, I didn’t want to hear him express his feelings for me.

I wasn’t ready for all this.

“Amy...”

“Gale, leave...” I tried but stopped.

“I love you, damn it!” He yelled and I jumped back, my hand flying over to my chest.

I had never seen Gale like this before and I’m sure my shock was visible on my face.

Gale loves me!

I almost collapsed to the floor when it started to sink.

Grabbing onto a chair for support, I just sat down. I didn’t have enough energy to stand anymore.

I only noticed that Gale was gone after the bell above the chimed again.

I had my issues with love starting with the fact that my own parents dumped me when I’m just three months old.

I never thought of love once in my whole life because no matter how deep it goes, the people that claim to love us will always leave.

Maybe I was just afraid of getting my heart broken the same way my parents broke my trust.

Even when they weren’t around, I still suffered because they left me.

I suffered because they made me an orphan.

***

I grabbed my handkerchief as a cough shook my whole body. I needed some rest.

Staring at Brenda, she seemed to understand as I gulped half of the water she had handed me.

“I will be back tomorrow, only if you want to continue,” she added, and I nodded.

I laid back on the back.

“Goodbye,” I whispered in a sleepy voice.

My eyes fluttered close, and I drifted into a deep slumber thinking about Gale, the sweet handsome doctor I had for a man.

I hadn’t realized that we had spent much time talking, but I noticed that my coughing was starting to get worse.

My weak fragile heart was starting to yearn for Gale. But he was far away from me…

He had left me and until now I was trying to cope with me.

I missed him.