LIFE IS TO SHORT

Mark felt as though his heart got wounded by her words, 'When we became friends, I always held her hand to ensure she was safe.' 

He was so worried from the moment she left the church until now. Seeing her after four long months, the tension in his heart subsided but something about her had changed.

'She doesn't sound like the sweet and gentle Jessy I had fallen in love with.' Asking her to enter he called out to Johanna.

Jessy observed the smug look on Johanna's face as she looked up the stairs. Johanna on the other hand was observing the both of them closely. 

A slight happiness fills her heart when she notices how reserved Jessy is towards Mark. Mark may never understand Jessy's principles but I know her very well. 

"Hi cousin, it is good to see you, I hope you are not still angry at me?"

Jessy laughed making Mark and Johanna uncomfortable, "I am not, I am all over such petty matters."

Mark was shocked, 'All this time I was worried sick about her wellbeing, and she was saying petty matters. Wasn't she the one very clingy?'

Feeling his ego bruised, 'But who could blame her, I was the one who actually hurt her, by what I did.' Coming out of his reverie he heard her saying, "Don't be bothered with trivial matters like that, as you know life is too short to hold grudges, and we all have to move on, jump high, jump low." 

Mark observed the two women closely, he could sense a battle brewing between them, their smiles were a cover-up.

When Jessy said, "In fact, my dearest cousin, I must thank you, you have done me a great favour."

Mark was confused, feeling hurt once more by Jessy's words, 'Was I a burden to her?' unable to contain himself he blurted out, "Jessy, I am so sorry for hurting you, will you please forgive me?"

Johanna on the other hand was angry. Thinking, 'Is this man so petty that he has to apologise to her, doesn't he know that all my life I had no choice but to humble before her although I am older than her.' 

He was even more speechless when Johanna seemed jealous and lost for words as Jessy seemed dominant over her. When Johanna did ask questionably seeing the confused look on her face, "Thank me? What are you thanking me for?"

Jessy confidence was at its peak, she was not going to back down nor was she a pushover, "Yes, because of you I have a job and I am very happy."

Johanna's shrike in shock which causes Mark to jump, "You are working? This is not possible?"

 Unable to understand what was happening, Mark just listened trying to figure out the puzzle. Johanna seemed stunned by Jessy's news and Jessy on the other hand seemed proud of herself which left a glow he had never seen before.

"Yes, my dearest cousin, I know that is too hard for you to digest but I love my job, the pay is not much but I am contented." 

Johanna was so shocked but then she recalled how stubborn and insistent she was that though matter how dominant Uncle was she was the stubonner one getting her way. Uncle always said his girls were princesses and should never work like the other young ladies. That is why he ensures that we always have a million a month added to our account as our allowance, so we don't need to work.'

Jessy words brought Johanna back to the present moment, "Now, my dearest cousin, if it is not too much trouble I would like to get my bag and leave you two love birds alone."

Johanna was baffled, she had seen a calmness in her cousin she never knew existed, "You sound bitter?"

 Jessy laughed seems more like a refute to Johanna, "Bitter you say cousin? I am sorry to disappoint you, but for your information, I am so busy I don't have time to be bitter or ponder about the past. Now if all your concerns for me are over I need to leave, so please get my bag."

Her sternness shocked both Johanna and Mark, leaving them to think, 'When did she become so authoritative? "Jessy where are you working, and if you needed money, why didn't you come to me earlier?"

Hearing her laugh, Johanna could not believe her ears, 'She sounds angry and uncaring. 'Dear God, what have I done to her? She was so caring, never allowing us to get in trouble. She was always making up lies to shield us from getting a good beating.'