LOVE IN FLAMES

Grnng Grnng Grnng Nicole's alarm disrupted the serene atmosphere causing her to leap out of bed with her heart pounding beneath her rib cages.

She couldn't help but wonder how she fell asleep and how long she's been asleep.

The memory of her keeping late-night awaiting Chris's calls was vivid in her mind.

"I waited in vanity," murmured Nicole down casted

She picked up her phone, and glared at her call logs without a missed call or message from Chris gave her utter disappointment.

She stared into thin air as the memory of her romantic relationship with Chris over the years replayed in her mind giving her a twitch.

"Have been in love with Chris for 3 years, and it only seems like yesterday"

The romantic affair with Chris caused her to the circle of friends she had built over the years; they always wanted their way.

They were all envious of her, she had to distance herself from them.

The thought of their intense lovemaking made her blood rush and she narrowed her eyes in pleasure.

She paused for a while, put on her lamp stand surveying her room as if she were expecting to see someone.

"Whew", she exhaled

The Big red Teddy bear by the side of the bed caught her attention, she stared at it for a minute running her hands through the fluffy Teddy.

The thought of her Teddy given to her by her lover was still nameless and gave her a second thought.

"I'm still thinking of a perfect name for you darling"

She said with a worried tone.

Her thoughts roamed to her first encounter with Chris's Mother.

"You're the perfect match for my son Nicole, I haven't seen him in years this happy in a relationship"

She recalled the words Mrs. Addams said to her that freezing evening.

Of course, she's aware of how his past relationship with his ex-lover cost him a fortune.

"I'll try my best to please and make him happy again"

Replied Nicole

She giggled.

Her encounter with Chris Adams revived the sparks within her.

She fell in love with him wholeheartedly, with nothing to hold back.

He has been her Man for 3 years, their almost perfect relationship was the talk of town and envied by friends and sundry.

Her thoughts drifted to sessions of intense lovemaking, dates, movie nights, and vacations.

"He's changing, this is not my Chris"

Murmured Nicole

Her thoughts roamed to any possible reason for Chris's sudden change towards her.

They haven't had any argument that warranted a change in attitude for the past weeks.

She sighed and hissed a sign of relief.

"Perhaps he is having a bad time with his company"

She defended her inner thoughts.

She proceeded to do her daily morning routines.

Reminiscing on her life and writing her to-do has been a daily habit for 5 years which she's not ready to break.

Her life has been a wreck in the past years with minimal survival.

Her parents were living from hand to mouth as life was so hard on them.

She had left her parent's house to search for Greener pastures 4 years ago.

Her encounter with Chris changed her life.

"I'll love you for the rest of my life Nicole "

The words rang in her ear repeatedly

Her sad face lit up as she recalled her nights with the man who had changed her life for good.

She plunged her ear casting her thought back to the last misunderstanding she had with her lover

"How much are those artworks paying you, Nicole, what have you asked me that I haven't done for you"

She had remembered the exact words Chris said to her 3 months ago

Urging her to quit painting

She squinted her eyes, fidgeting.

"This can't be the reason for his sudden attitude"

She thought aloud.

As a talented artist, she was able to make a living and send some money every weekend to her parents without having to ask her man.

She didn't want to be a burden,

He was already doing enough.

Chris had earlier introduced her to his wealthy friends to whom she sold her artworks.

Every attempt by Chris to stop her from painting was futile as she was bent on giving those who patronized her perfect artwork.

"I can't depend on a man for everything, I know he loves me but I just can't"

Murmured Nicole

She had a family to take care of with the stipends she was paid.

Her mother's failing health gave her a reason to be worried with each passing day.

Her eyes narrowed as she heaved a sigh of relief.

Her daily morning session was half gone with her reminiscing on her worries.

She was looking forward to seeing Chris later in the day.

Ring Ring Ring…. Her mobile phone disrupted her thoughts bringing her back into reality.

Her face lit up as she saw the name of the caller on her phone's screen.

"He finally Called"

Whispered Nicole thrilled.

In a bit, she pulled off her headset.

She reached for her phone.

" Good morning Dear, hope you slept well"

Whispered Nicole delighted.

She didn't get any response, accompanied by a dead silence from her lover

"Chris, are you there"?

This time around sounding more audibly

"Hsssss … I'm here "

Replied Chris in a cold voice ignoring her greetings.

She was surprised by the response and attitude, this was someone she waited all night to hear from.

Her heart racing,

"I waited for your call last night…. are you alright"?

She stammered while asking,

Chris has never been this silent and cold towards her on the phone.

His call was always her alarm and she smiled at the early morning text messages from her lover each morning.

What changed, she thought.

"I called to have a conversation with you about something very important" thundered Chris with a deep baritone voice

Drops of sweat were already forming on her forehead, her hands were sweaty.

"I'm all ears Ever"

She said, quivering.

Different thoughts were already on her mind wandering the kind of conversation her lover was up to.

"It's Over Nicole"

Said Chris without any trail of emotion.