RedCeiling

[Completed]:
Volume 1: Loss of a firm hold.

[Upcoming]:
Volume 2: Intertwined fingers.

[Excerpt]:
"I think I love you," I told him. The feeling of wanting to be with him for the rest of the time started the day he first visited me at the orphanage.

"You do, and I love you too." Then he walked nearer, "Promise me it'll be the two of us," he asked.

"Promise." 

But was that really possible? "I'm technically your sister," I said. We were old enough to understand certain things.

"Adopted." He stressed. "What I asked them was I wanted to you be with me forever. There will be no one to point on that," he said. Were things really that simple? But listening him say them was all I needed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I found out that I was pregnant almost a fortnight ago and which woman does not be happy? I wanted to tell him first and I did. But the reaction he gave made me doubt my entire life. First it was a surprise and then, as I waited for his response, I watched his eyes become happy. But before he smiled, a very small and indecipherable frown appeared and he hugged me tight not giving me a chance to read his face anymore. His breathing was quick and heavy. After he released me, I took in the smile on his face; only, I didn't know if I should call it a smile. All there was in his eyes was a hue of sadness.

"What's wrong?" I questioned him directly. His face changed once again. He seemed troubled.

"Nothing," he smiled and added that he was happy.

"You're not," I stated. He is not a fool to think that I would not know when something is wrong. And he would be more wrong to think that I would let this slip.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Look at me.” I said calmly. He shifted his head but still avoided my eyes. I walked up to him and put my eyes in his line of sight.

“Don’t you know what I mean ‘every day’?”

He took a quick step back. “Jessie, what’s wrong? Why are you like this?” What’s wrong?

An ear piercing sound rang through the room. I slapped hard across the face. Then I noticed that I started crying. Through my blurry eyes, I saw his eyes tearing up too. This was yet another unpleasant first. The first time I was forced to slap him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Are you okay?” I asked him lifting my head to see his face. His chin rested on my head and I still did not have a proper look. I tried to move my head slowly in another attempt, but he held me tight, not letting me move. Was he still crying? Perhaps that was why he did not like me seeing him.

When we were kids and something troubled him, he used to find me to let it out. Crying was included sometimes. He did not hide his tears back then. Because, boys did not particularly cry in front of their girls, I questioned him how he saw this once. It was a playful teasing that I aimed at. But, he gave me a serious and truthful confession in return. Mentally I am the stronger one and he told me that crying in front of me never felt like he was lowering himself. That was his level of acceptance.

But everything he is doing now is in a stark controversy to my beliefs.

He spoke after calming himself more, “I’m not.”

[Target Audience]:
This story has 3 volumes. From the name, it is not odd that this is totally based on love. The first volume is a little tragic, the reason why it is under realistic fiction. If tragic romance upsets you, then this might as well.

**[UNEDITED]**
I didn't proof read all the parts. But I usually keep an eye to check for mistakes as I write. So hopefully there are not too many of them. Will be editing soon.

Struggle Of Love

"Why are you not?" I forcibly wriggled out of his embrace and took his face in my palms, making him look at me. He took a long and deep breath. Then he tried to say something but later decided against it.


He put his palms one mine and peeled them off of his face. He still did not want to speak. "Will you promise me something?" He asked as he held my hands.


"I cannot say until I know what is to be promised." His eyes softened and he looked at me with sad eyes.


I can the gravity of the situation. To be frank, I'd like to run away from whatever this is. But I have to get to the bottom of this. For the sake of us, our parents and also for the sake of the new life that is yet to step into our world. Only now, I realized how hard a challenge staying calm can be.


"Tell me you'll promise and I'll tell you what is wrong."


As I said so, he revealed a small smile. "Fine then. You should know this anyway. I wasn't really sure for how long I could keep it, but I didn't think I'd have to tell you this soon."


I did not make any sound, but nodded at him asking him to continue.


He made me sit on the bed and then, he sat beside me. My hands were still his.


"This news is not a nice one Jessie. Try to hear me out until the end." I nodded again as my breath slowed down sharply. I gulped as I stared into his eyes.


"I love you. You don't need me to say that but please remember this forever. But things won't always go as planned. I won't be living with you long. Whatever I do, maybe I can hold up a year more, but I don't want to give you any false hope. After three years, I won't be with you.


"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Jessie." He stopped before continuing further. I wanted to say something but I could not. I wanted to tell him to stop speaking. I did not like what I was hearing. His words were too cruel, even for me. I hoped for this to not be the truth. If it was, I can't imagine how it was for James living though this. Before I could gather my thoughts around, he spoke.


"You are just twenty-four now. Knowing you, you won't move on. This is what I wanted you to promise. You have to move on. Dad already knows about this. Mom is still in the dark. I'm afraid she won't be able to handle.


"If things were any different than they are now, it would be so perfect. But Jessie, with things like this, the best outcome for you is to get a divorce and abort the baby. Just find someone else. It's not late at all. Dad thinks the same. You are pretty strong, aren't you? You can do this." I felt a hand softly ruffling my hair. He stopped talking. I did not say anything for sometime as I let things sink in.


"I will die soon, Jessie. It turned out I am so weak."


"It's been seven months since I knew." He chuckled lightly and then said, "I did not want to tell you until I die. Then dad said he will find you someone else. Even then, it would not be too late. But letting you know this soon is also a better idea."


In that moment, the way he spoke so lightly, made him look like he was an angel descended to the earth having nothing to do hear. His eyes were bright, reflecting the light seeping in through the closed glass windows. It was morning already.


"You won't die." I told him shaking my head in a nay. I hugged him tight. "And don't bother yourself with pointless ideas. They will never happen."


He was smiling. "I wish for that every minute."


Sorry