CRYING SHOULDERS

Lola places her head on the steering still weeping profusely. Thinking of her life in general made her cry more, some of the decisions she made a while ago are now giving her nothing but regrets and pains.

The first painful decision was deciding to marry Judin because of his money, she had always thought money was her only problem and only way to be happy in life. But now, she understands that being loved by someone really means a lot.

Another painful decision was having extra marital affairs with younger boys, not just one but two to three of them. That was the biggest mistake she had ever made.

The last decision that was hurting her was trying to bargain on Ella's life with her shameful and dirty acts.

She wants to talk to someone badly, express her feelings and pour out all her worries, cry on the person's shoulders and seek advice without the person judging her. But who would listen to her story without blaming her for one thing or two?

Her phone rings so loudly that it got her up her sleeves for a moment, she picks it up and it happens to be Malik. For some reasons, the tears gushing out her eyes increased. Lola gathers some courage, exhales deeply and answers the call. "Hello." Her voice trembles.

"Lola? What happened to you? Why are you sounding like that?" Malik asks loudly over the phone.

She begins to weep loudly again. "I am so frustrated right now, I do not know what to do anymore, I am tired."

"Where are you?"

"I am on my way to the market to get the groceries I told you about yesterday."

"Market?" Malik asks loudly again. "Are you sure you can go to the market in your current state?"

"I would try my best." Lola sighs. "I will do the shopping and head straight to your place."

"Alright, make sure to call me if anything comes up, is that clear?"

"Yes." Lola answers with a smile, at least someone is acting like he truly cares about her. "Talk to you later." She says and hang up.

As soon as she drops the call, she felt a little relieved. Somehow, Malik's voice comforted her. She starts up the car's engine and continues her driving to the market to get the things she wants to get for Malik and the kids.

Malik was not at ease after he heard Lola's voice, something must be wrong, why is she crying? He asks himself.

After approximately two hours, Lola arrives but didn't alight from her car, instead she places her head on the steering still weeping over her life. Malik looks at her through the window, expecting her to alight and ask him for help to move the groceries. But he didn't see her, so he walks up to her instead.

He moves close to the car and sees Lola as she had already whined down her window, placed her head on the steering and was weeping bitterly. "Lola! Are you okay?" He asks loudly and opens the car.

She gently raises her head still weeping and try to utter some words. "I am fed up, I am so tired about this life."

"What happened?" He asks again ands bends towards her. "Tell me what happened, please."

Lola shakes her head in disagreement. "I am scared to tell you, if I do that you will stop talking to me and hate me."

If she choose not to talk, she must have her strong reasons behind it. Malik understands that and gives her a very warm hug. "I am here for you, cry all your pains out on my shoulders."

Lola embraces him tightly too and uses his shoulders as her crying shoulders. She cries out all her pain and sorrows.

Ella stands close to the window of her new room, having a better view of what was going on with Lola and Malik. "What happened to her? Why is she crying this bitterly?" She asks in her mind as she can't speak.

The cry lasted a while, but once she felt a little relieved she wipes off her tears and gulps a bottle of water to calm her nerves. "I think I feel so better now."

"I am glad to hear that." Malik says with a smile and stands on his feet. "Should we go in now? The kids have been crying to see you."

"Really? Even Ella?" Lola asks with surprise.

"Yes." He helps Lola out of the car. "And me too."

She looks at him shyly and blushes a little. Things happen to work very fast between them, but the moment he finds out about her affairs, their friendship or whatever would come to an end. "It's almost lunchtime, what do you want me to prepare?"

"Anything the kids want, I am down for anything."

After a little chatting, they enter the house carrying the groceries, though Malik clearly did the most. Ella is in the sitting room, sitting on the couch facing the entrance.

"Hello Ella." Lola greets with a warm smile dropping the groceries she was carrying earlier for Malik to finish the work and sits next to her. "How are you doing?"

Ella looks at her, not smiling back. She bows her head and writes. "Why were you crying?"

Lola smiles bitterly and whispers almost crying again. "Something really terrible happened today, and it really hurt me, that's why I was crying."

Ella writes again. "Is it something you can talk to me about?"

"No." Lola shakes her head. "I don't want to talk about it, besides you are still young to know things like that."

Ella frowns and writes. "If you think I am young, talk to Mr Malik. He is a very good man."

Lola was about to say something when Malik steps out from the kitchen to the sitting room, he had just finished moving the groceries. Lola looks at him from head to toe and faces Ella. "You think so?"

Ella nods.