Thorns and Roses

Jake called Beverley Lucas to his apartment just one week after his birthday, he didn't propose to her on his birthday nor did he propose on her birthday,it was their fifth year in the relationship.

Beverley couldn't help but believe this would happen sooner or later, it had been a while they went out on dates and Jake recently has been giving her flimsy excuses anytime she wanted to visit him in his apartment.

She dressed up looking all ravishing and luring purposely to entice a man. She called her best friend Gwen, to inform her,

I'm so happy for you girl but you know I don't like your boyfriend. Gwen replied teasing,

Gwen the least you can do now is to be happy for me, my man is about to do something I have been waiting for, it's been five years now.

Alright go ahead, he is waiting for you, she said chuckling, I love you.

I love you too,and I will call you back soon,She said and hung up.

Beverley walked into Jake's apartment , dressed in a sleek red gown,her hair well styled up and her lipstick sparkling red.

She walked to the dining room and looked around expecting to see candles, dim lights and petals on the floor leading to a romantic bed setting or table, but all the lights were turned on.

It wasn't a romantic setting after all,but the whole place was the usual way.

She whispered to herself with mixed doubt,"maybe he will surprise me, Jake walked in looking somewhat downcast.

Hi Beverley, he said and gave her a slight hug by the side.

Beverley ignored the point where he called her by her name and not any of her pet names like baby or honey he fondly called, This made her somewhat uncomfortable.

Please sit, Jake mutterred with a gloomy countenance.

Beverley sat and couldn't wait for him to say the next line of phrase she had been anticipating for years.

Let me make this brief, his deep voice echoed, staring at her like he was searching for words to say.

Beverley you are the kind of woman that any man would want to be with and you are so good to be with.

Beverley adjusted her sitting posture while nervousness was written all over her,but she waited for his next sentence patiently.

Her breath became so audible as her eyes fastened on him that minute.

The thing is I do not see you in my future,

This thing between us isn't working anymore. He said avoiding their eyes meeting.

Her eyes were wide open in shock trying to figure out if he was being serious, a joke or maybe engagement line.

He adjusted on his seat and his voice was more firm.

We can't be together, I'm truly sorry and I do not want to continue leading you on.

That moment, she knew he was truly serious,tears fueled up in her eyes, her hands began to tremble,

Jake, tell me this is a joke, right,but stop it now cos I do not like it.

It's not, his voice was faint this time.

Then what are you saying, she stood up and began to yell with almost her loudest voice,

You are breaking us?

That's what you called to tell me, ha ha ha.

Hold on,

We were doing so good, she said this even when she knew she was lying to herself, Jake withdrew love and attention for almost a year now.She knew things weren't like it used to be from the onset.

Tell me why you are breaking up with me you scumbag, what did I do?

You said I'm good, so what changed ?

Jake stood up, his both hands in his pocket,

You need to calm down.

Haha ha, Beverley laughed hysterically, I need to calm down, five freaking years of my life, submission, sacrifice, turning every other man down, she paused for some seconds and looked at him.

Jake,she said holding the top of his shirt,

Why are you doing this?

Who is making you do this? Talk to me, we can work things out.

I'm not in love with you anymore, he said with a slight frown, I haven't been in love with you.

Beverley cleaned her tears and looked at him straight in the eyes.

Is there something I'm not doing,tell me, I want us to work things out, You promised to love me forever,

You cannot leave me now that I need you the most.

You said I was the one made for you, remember?

Jake turned his back on her, and turned to face her again,

I love someone else!

The tears that were dried up in Beverley's eyes welled up again,

No Jake, you can't love another woman, you are just not sure now right? she asked expecting quick answers.

Jake stared at her in pity, I'm not confused, I have lost feelings for you..

Who is she?

Beverley asked holding the chair firmly to gain support,

Who is she? I deserve to know,

It's Olivia,he muttered.

Olivia?

Beverley slept for hours, she tried taking alcohol to get drowned in sorrow, but it was just there on the table beside her bed.

She couldn't touch it,she also wasn't prepared to call anyone to console her and take care of her when she gets lost with a strong drink, at least not yet.

She kept on having repeated dreams about Jake and herself,she dreamt about Jake loving her and adoring her and he made a promise to her that he would treat her like she was the only woman on earth.

Her phone rang countless times but she ignored all the calls, she assumed it could be either Jake or Olivia calling to explain things to her.

Apart from colleagues at work, she had just a few friends and she had already called in sick at the office.

She reminisced on how she got in contact with Olivia.

Olivia was a young girl she met at a mall where she was being harassed by a young man because of the debt she owed him.

That day, she couldn't resist seeing a lady being beaten just for money. She paid Olivia's debt and gave her some money to offset her other debts, Olivia felt indebted to her and decided to be her housekeeper for free, she got so free with her and also introduced Jake to her.

Her best friend Gwen once advised her" Beverley, I know you are too good but I want you to be really careful on how you bring people you don't know too close,

That girl shouldn't be close to you, But Gwen, she is an orphan, Beverley defended.

There's something about orphans I do not like, they are mostly ungrateful.

Beverley sighed, Gwen, I just love the feeling of helping her.

You can help her but enough of the proximity.

Alright, Beverley replied.

Beverley's phone buzzed again, this time she checked it and Gwen's name popped up on the screen.She had slept for a pretty long hours.

Oh Gwen not now, she exclaimed feeling Gwen would judge her.

Gwen called again, Beverley lazily picked this time.

Hello,

Beverley, your mom has been calling you,

She said she was informed you also called in sick at your dad's company.

Yea,yea, Beverley spoke softly.

Are you alright? She asked, how was the proposal?

Are you at Jake's?

No I'm not, Beverley said and raised her voice to avoid her friend's suspicions.

Ok but you don't sound good and your mom sounded like something was wrong with your dad and the company.

He is at the hospital now.

My dad? What happened to him? Beverley asked curiously.

Beverley, I wanted your mom to speak with you but your dad had a heart attack.

For a moment, Beverley was lost in thoughts.

Are you there? Bev, can you hear me?

Yeah I can, Beverley said,trembling.

Please can you come over to pick me up, she cried softly.

Oh my God,Bev, are you okay?

I was heading to see a colleague but I'm coming right away, please be okay, alright.

Yes I will, Beverley said, with tears dropping lavishly on her cheeks.

Her whole world was crumbling in just one day.

What could have caused her dad's heart attack?

What happened at the company?