Painful Past

Chapter 5: Painful Past

Jane wrapped herself in the soft, fluffy towel, still feeling the warmth of the bath settle into her skin. The bathroom's steam slowly faded into the cool air of the house as she made her way through the hallway. Her steps were slow, deliberate. She knew she would have to talk, and talking about her past had always been difficult, but it felt like the right moment.

As she walked into the living room, Michael was sitting on the couch, staring intently at her. His gaze wasn't invasive, but it was heavy with curiosity. He gave her a soft smile, gesturing toward the empty seat beside him.

"Come sit," he said, his voice calm and inviting. "Tell me all about it."

Jane hesitated for a moment, the weight of her past sitting heavily in her chest, but then she slowly took a seat next to him. She could feel the warmth of his presence beside her, and despite herself, it felt comforting.

She took a deep breath before she began,

My parents were lovin, Caring, the kind every child would want. Then one faithful day they were involved in a car crash that ended their lives." She paused, trying to steady her breath, the memory still fresh despite the years that had passed.

"I've been living with my auntie since then. She tries her best to support me, but she's barely making ends meet herself. So, I had to start working early, just to be able to afford high school and pay the bills. The night you ran into me with your car, I had just finished a late shift at the diner. And I got into a fight with the cook there too... I was lost in thought, just trying to make sense of everything. That's why I wasn't paying attention, and before I knew it, I almost got hit by your car."

She finished, her voice barely a whisper, as though even now, talking about it was hard. She glanced at him, waiting for a reaction, but Michael's expression was calm, understanding.

There was a brief silence before she turned to face him, now genuinely curious. "So... what about you?" she asked. "Tell me about yourself."

Michael leaned back, a smile tugging at his lips as he considered the question. His posture relaxed as he began to speak, the confident tone in his voice surprising her.

"Well, my name is Michael Jordan," he said, with a slight chuckle, noticing her raised eyebrows at his last name. "I live alone here. I left my parents' house a while ago because I wanted to make something of myself. I started my own company. And to the glory of God, it's doing pretty well now."

Jane blinked, still processing. Then, it hit her.

"Wait," she said, almost in disbelief, "you're the son of Bryan Jordan? The multi-billionaire businessman?"

Michael nodded, a simple gesture, but it carried a weight of truth. "Yes, I am."

Her mouth fell open. "Wow," she exclaimed, the words escaping her in awe.

Michael chuckled at her reaction. "Yeah, well, I don't talk about it much. I'm grateful for what my parents have done for me, but I wanted to prove to myself that I could do something on my own. I still talk to them, but now, I'm financially independent."

Jane was still processing the information, her mind racing with the realization that she was sitting next to the son of one of the most well-known men in the business world. She couldn't help but feel a mix of amazement and a little bit of disbelief.

They both sat there for a moment, exchanging smiles, and the atmosphere between them began to feel more natural, more comfortable. They continued to chat, the conversation shifting from heavy topics to lighter ones. They laughed, joked, and talked as the hours passed by.

For the first time in a long while, Jane felt like she could relax. The bond between them was growing, and she couldn't help but wonder if this was the beginning of something she hadn't expected.

As the day drew to a close, Jane realized that her world had shifted. It wasn't just the fact that she'd met someone as extraordinary as Michael Jordan, but it was the feeling that, for the first time in a long while, she wasn't completely alone.