Chapter Ten

Adrian was looking jumpy. Something was up and Munzi noticed it.

"What are you thinking about?" She asked looking away from the novel she had been reading.

"Nothing. Just something I read." He was lying and she saw right through it. She decided not to push it. He would tell her when he was ready. But she would still ask.

"Would you like to share?" She pushed through.

"Why were you crying the day we met?" He asked and she frowned confused. "You were scrolling through your phone. You would laugh and smile and then you started crying."

"It was nothing. I just read a sad story." She said and it was the truth.

"A story made you cry?" He asked interested.

"Don't judge. 'The happy prince' is a very sad story and I happen to be a very compassionate person. And those are very good qualities." She defended herself expecting him to laugh and when he didn't, she knew that something was wrong. She moved close to the bed and lay down next to him.

"Are you okay?" She asked entwining their fingers.

"I got all my documents back yesterday." He said before taking a deep breath and letting it out.

"That's great news, isn't it?" She asked propping herself on one hand to face him.

"It should be but you know what this means." He said and smiled sadly at her. "I have to leave."

She lay back down and stared at the ceiling. She had known that this was bound to happen sooner or later. To be honest she didn't know what she had preferred. But he had helped her. He had pulled her out of a very dark place in her life and showed her the light. She would be okay even if he wasn't by her side. Plus he couldn't get a proper education in this country. He needed to go back to his home and chase his dreams. She wouldn't hold him back.

"You will be a great CEO and owner of the best company ever." She said smiling sadly.

"But I'm leaving you." He said and they both sat up. He sat cross legged while she sat on one leg and swung the other by the bedside.

"I know but before we can complete each other we need to complete ourselves first. We are just starting our lives and we need to grow on our own first." She said looking down the up at him.

"It hurts having to say goodbye." He said taking her hand.

"I once read in a novel that parting is such sweet sorrow. And like the Bible says, the end of something is better than the beginning." She said quoting one of her favorite verses.

"This might be the end of this and it doesn't feel good." He said not understanding what her words meant.

"It's also true that the end of something is the beginning of another. We might find our way back to each other forever. Not everyone gets to have a ready made soulmate. Some of us have to get tested." She explained.

"And we are being tested because we are not compatible or something? I think we have proven beyond doubt that we are a perfect match made in heaven." He said and she laughed throwing her head back.

"Will you do my hair? You are really good at french braiding." She asked and he smiled nodding.

"If you ever tell anyone I will deny it with my last breath." He said and she pushed herself forward and hugged him. She was going to miss him. Matter of fact, she already had started and it hurt. But when you are at rock bottom there is only one way left to go. It would only get better.

"Turn around. We don't have much time. Also can you tell me the story you were reading?" He said and reached out to get her afro comb from the bedside. Once she was in position, he started combing her hair. Another thing he would miss doing when he was gone.

"Once upon a time, in a far far away kingdom, there lived a happy prince. He lived in a palace and only saw the good in the world. He was protected from all the pain and sadness that other people faced. One day he died and a statue of him was erected at the town square. The body was made of steel, his eyes of rubies, his hair of gold specks. His heart was made of lead. He finally got to see what happened in the world outside his own. It broke his heart to see the sick and hungry. He wished he could help. One cold day in winter, a group of swallows who were migrating to avoid the cold passed by. One swallow was tired and he decided to rest on the prince's statue before moving forward. When he was there, the prince spoke to him. He said,"Young swallow, I lived my whole life in the palace and I never got to see the sorrow in the world. There is a family of four four blocks away from here. They are starving. Would you kindly take out my eyes and bring them to the family?"

"Of course." The swallow said and did as told. When he came back, the prince told him to do the same thing with his hair for all other families that were in need. The swallow decided to stay with the prince and day in day out, they helped the needy. One day when all that was left of the prince was the steel and heart of lead, the swallow spoke to his friend.

He said this,"It is my time to go."

"Are you finally going South?" The prince asked.

"No. I'm going to heaven." The swallow answered and they both died.

The statue of the prince was taken down and another person's statue took it's place. However hard they tried, they could not destroy the heart of lead. Together with the young swallow's, the two hearts beat together forever."

***Later that week***

They were at the airport saying their final good byes. Time had flown by so quickly that they had barely been able to keep up.

"Always take care of yourself and don't ever let anyone hurt you. You are the most beautiful soul I have ever met. Let it stay that way." He said and a tear rolled down her now fuller right cheek. She didn't wipe it. She didn't know how to.

"I will do my best. Thank you for helping me find myself. I will always be happy because of you." She said. "Make sure you stay alive and healthy and safe. I will need to find you again one day. And trust me, when I love someone I always find them."

"I will find you too. Stay healthy and alive and safe because I will come back God willing." He said feeling lighter now that he knew she loved him.

"I might not be here when you come back. Life might change and I might move. I started dreaming again. Will you still find me?" She asked looking at his face and taking him all in for the last time.

"My love as long as your heart is beating, I will always find you. I have to go now." He said and kissed her forehead before taking his bag.

"Okay." She said and stood there watching as he walked away from her for what might have been forever. He didn't turn back to look at her and she didn't want him to. As soon as he was out of sight, she lost it. All her self control and strength. She sank into her knees and then lay sprawled out on the ground. 

"Leave her be. She just said goodbye to a part of her." She heard a voice near her say. And it was right. Her heart was no longer with her.