Dying silently

"Oh! Come on Debbi, you must not react like that" Mrs Parker continued "ma'am… sorry mother, mm, I do not know how to put it but working with your son is really…" before she could complete her statement Mrs Parker cut her

"Do not worry, we would talk about this during the family dinner?" she said "have a nice day" she stated before walking away

Someone tapped Debbi behind her making her jerk, she whipped around and found Steph

"You scared me," Debbi said, "was that Damien's mom?" Steph asked, "yes, any problems?" Debbi asked, "Is she not aware that you and Damien are not on talking terms?" Steph asked

"Seems like we both are lying to our parents and saying we are fine" Debbi stated, "she is not aware right?" Steph asked

"Yes, and guess what? She is already seeing me as her daughter in law" Debbi shrugged causing Steph to laugh

"And she even asked me to work with Damien in their family company" Debbi added causing Steph to laugh harder

"Come to think of it, I know that you accept this proposal and be on cloud nine if you and Damien were still cool" Steph stated, Debbi paused and looked at her "do not lie" Steph added

Breathing in heavily, Debbi nodded her head in agreement "do you still love him?" Steph's question made Debbi freeze

"No I do not" she replied, a voice a little bit rough and harsh. Steph cocked an eyebrow before she added

"Are you sure? You know you can count on me". Debbi looked away, blinking severally to stop tears from falling

"I had always dreamt of me and him; us together, Damien shattered those dreams and you know that the feelings you had for someone for the past thirteen years of your life cannot be buried in just a day, it would take long for me to get over him," Debbi said

"It is easy to love but hard to forget those you love," Steph said "behind every smile of mine is my tearful eyes, my sadness, I try to act tough but I am dying silently on the inside. I act as if everything is fine but everything is in chaos. Steph" she called out

"Yes," Steph replied, "can I ever love again?" Debbi asked in a pitiable voice, Steph came closer and held her hand and took her out of sight

"You would love again Debbi, trust me when I say that Debbi. It is just a matter of time" Steph encouraged

"I do not think I can love again, it would be hard for my heart to open and accept someone else, I can not even imagine myself with another person rather than Damien" Debbi continued

"I understand how you feel but you have to stay strong, if you have to heal a wound then you have to stop touching it alright?" Steph asked and then hugged Debbi.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Honey welcome back home" Mrs Parker welcomed her husband who had been out since morning, they had already returned from the graduation party and are preparing for the family dinner

"How was work?" She asked her husband as she followed him into their room. "Work was exhausting" Mr Parker replied unbuckling his belt

"I am sorry about that" Mrs Parker said helping him to take off his tie "how was Damien's graduation, I feel awful for being absent for my son's big day, remember those days he was excited about going to college?" He asked his wife

"Yes, my son has grown up into a big boy, sorry a big man, I am happy for him. His graduation was a success and do not beat yourself up too much about being absent, he understands that you are a busy man" she said

"But that is not enough for me being absent, if not for those shareholders that refused to adjourn the meeting I would have been present" he stated

"It is okay, if you still feel the need to celebrate your son then we would have a big party thrown in his name" she suggested and her husband nodded his head in agreement

"There is a family dinner this evening" she announced "which family did you invite this time around" he was already getting tired of all this family dinner

"The Alexanders, you know that Damien and Debbi are in the same grade, they just graduated and it's a mini celebration for them" she replied

"I see" he started putting on his shirt "are you thinking what I am thinking?" She asked her husband after a long while of silence

"What are you thinking," he asked "do you think Debbi and Damien would work out, I mean would they get married," Mrs Parker asked

"Are you matchmaking my son?" Mr Parker asked "no honey, I just like Debbi, she natural, plain and genuine, she is not like other girls who are up to no good, she is not a gold digger, she is from a respectable family, think of it honey, they would make a good match" she explained

"But she and Damien are just friends" he added "I know honey, but I know they would love each other after the marriage, can't you see the way they act around each other?" She asked

"Anything that is not harmful and it makes you happy then I would support you but if Damien is not interested in getting married to her, you would not force him okay?" He asked and she nodded in agreement

Of course, he would be interested, or wouldn't he?

She was sure that she would get both of them married

Why would they not agree to get married? They would make a great pair together, they would be unstoppable if they eventually get married

She quickly sent staff to call Damien to their room, it was time to talk about his marriage, if anything she was excited about him and Debbi

Only if she knew