CHAPTER 37

April decided a heart to heart was what Aarna needed right now, some tough love could save her a lot of hurt in the end, "Look men go hard for what they truly want in life. If he's not putting in the work to get you then you are not what he truly wants. If you still want to fight for this then I will be there to catch you as you fall. But just message and ask him first so you know where you both stand."

Aarna picked up a pillow and hugged it to her body and replied, "But… Okay. What would you do if you got your heart broken like me?"

April thought of James and now Dean she felt a pain in her heart and quickly shook her head and chuckled at her friend, "The next guy that breaks my heart is getting pepper sprayed, now we are both crying."

Aarna and April laughed. April used humour to break the heavy subject not wanting to think too much and glad that her friend was with her tonight.

Aarna still looked somewhat upset so April comforted her, "Someday someone will walk into your life and they will convince you that love is more than just pain. They will value you for your purpose and existence enough to want you in their life. They will make you understand that you do not need to fight, chase or change for attention and that will be a blessing. I can promise you that." April wasn't sure how much of her own words she believed but she said them to comfort her friend.

After their chat they both showered and went to bed. Both climbing into April's bed and passing out. April slept for a bit then woke, she never had slept well. Getting up she slowly got out of bed a to not wake Aarna. She walked to the kitchen and got a drink of water from the refrigerator.

Looking around she comforted herself as her mother's bits and pieces gave her peace of mind that she was loved and not alone. She now had Aarna and Michael in her life. Her last life she had false faces and people who treated her as disposable. She didn't want nor need those people.

April then brought her bottle of water to her painting room and sat down on the chair in front of her easel, she knew she would not go back to sleep tonight. A blank canvas starred back at her, she sat there for a while before setting down her water bottle and picking up a paintbrush.

With her intuition with some people she could see their beaming auras, feel their healthy energy, their authenticity, and what she wanted was nothing more than to stay. In other people she saw the true nature of their hearts and she felt she now had no choice but to walk away. A skill she had acquired in her new life.

As she painted and filled the empty canvas with life and colour she realised her inner anger at falling for the impossible was actually grief at having hope once again.

The next morning Aarna woke up and stretched as she looked around, not seeing her friend she felt panicked, "April?"

Aarna got out of bed and rushed to the bathroom just off the bedroom, not seeing her friend she ran to the living room, then the kitchen. Worried she looked around and then noticed another door, she walked towards it and pulled on the door handle. That was when she saw April asleep on a high chair opposite a canvas that was a wash of vivid colours. She didn't know that April was this talented, she studied the painting further.

As she studied it she saw that the picture was of a dark male figure carrying an angel. The angel had blood on her back from where her wings once where and the male figure carried her in one hand while he held a sword in the other. The man was strong and trampled on his enemies bodies, his ankles also held by chains. While the angel held onto his shoulders and buried her head into his neck, seeking solace and protection.

Aarna could recognise the pain of heartbreak from the painting alone, she knew her friend hid behind smiles and sarcasm. She just hoped that she would open up on day and tell her what was troubling her. Aarna lifted a blanket of the sofa in the living room and returned s she covered up her friend.

Aarna spoke softly, "I know you have a dream that you have kept to yourself and never told anyone about but just because it didn't come true it doesn't mean you let yourself down. I watched you have hope when you thought you were alone, I saw through your fake smiles and sarcasm when you felt no one was watching but no matter what you always hold on and stay so strong even though you don't have to be. You aren't alone anymore."

After Aarna fixed the blanket she left April to catch up on some much needed rest. Aarna kept busy and she tidied up the condo and made some breakfast. She made them some fresh orange juice and Bagels. She set the table and wen to check on April she had let her sleep for over two hours now. As she walked in she saw April staring at the painting.

"You have an amazing talent in painting I can feel the anguish behind every brush stroke." Aarna commented.

"It's nothing just something I do in my spare time." April then stood and folded her blanket, placing it back on the chair. She stretched before carrying the now dry paining and sitting it on the floor beside her other canvases. "What time is it?"

Aarna smiled as she replied, "Time to eat, I have some homemade bagels and we can fill them with whatever you like."

"Thanks your very kind." April replied and they both made their way to the breakfast table.

April sat and ate along with Aarna and thought by now she would be used to tasting the blood and bitterness on her lips every time she was ripped open. She had hidden her mascara smears and stained eyeliner cheeks as she remembered the rusty needle of her memories in her shaking hands as she sewed up her wounds with slivers of herself yet again.

Aarna was great company but she had work so after they had breakfast together April saw her out of her condo and they said goodbye for the time being.

As Aarna reached the underground carpark she sighed and then she noticed a tall and handsome man get out of his car that wasn't parked too far from her own car. She squinted as she took a closer look.

Seeing Dean Davis walk in her direction she had a light bulb moment. Although she had no confirmation from April her intuition told her this was who had hurt April. She clenched her fists but he rushed on past her and into the waiting lift. Seeing this she opened her car door only to slam it closed once she got inside.

She steeled her mind as today she swore she wouldn't choose violence. You couldn't keep a good woman like April down, she could be cheated on, lied to, taken advantage of… by every man she has ever loved. Yet she would be the one they would miss in the end. She's the one they would swear over for letting go. She's the one that would haunt their thoughts. She has gathered her dignity from their misuse and she had gone on to love again. She was sure April would rise like a phoenix after betrayal and light up the night's sky.

With a smile on her face, she turned on her engine and continued on her journey to work, confident her friend could take on anything that may come her way today.

Upstairs in her condo April had put the dishes away and cleaned up the kitchen, she had lost track of how many times she had now glanced at the door. Who was she kidding, waiting here was the same as the hospital as she still felt the agonising wait… But what she was waiting for she had lost all hope for.

She had told herself not to lose hope and fought between realistically what had happened and a dream she did not dare to speak aloud. She wasn't sure which would win her rational thoughts or an impossible dream. She knew a man could give her candy coated words and she could only trust his actions, after saying everything he had, his actions showed that he had left her in the hospital.

But she did believe in the many beautiful things that awaited her in the future. For sunshine comes to all who feel the rain.

She wondered why he had suddenly left her inside the hospital, did he come to visit her at all that night. Why would he open the heart of someone if he didn't plan to love her in return? She could lie to her mind and heart all she wanted but her soul had said that he was the one, she would never be able to walk away.

April made her way back into her bedroom and went to bed, she laid down on her bed and rest her eyes. Without knowing it she fell into a deep sleep quickly.

Dean exited the lift and strode to April's door, earlier he had heard that she had foolishly left the hospital. He was livid that she would take her health so lightly and so recklessly. But he knew her willpower and independence she wouldn't stay even if Michael begged her, so he could only blame himself for not being there when she woke.

He would have made her stay in the hospital even if he had to lock her up He wouldn't care if she would hate him at the end of the day her health and life was more important to him.

He had been dealing with his uncle and his uncle's men all day and only know was he free to see her. He had wanted to rush to her all day but he was held back by responsibility and his family ties. His uncle had deceived him and had hidden well, none of his men were able to find him. The few allies his uncle had gone underground and the ones he had left behind knew nothing even after an afternoon of torture.

Dean reached her door he fixed his suit and ran his hand through his messy hair. He took a deep breath as he was about to knock he realised he didn't know what he wanted to say.

Dean stood staring at her door for a while before he eventually gave up thinking and knocked on her door. He stood there for a while and then knocked again and again.

At this stage, he had been knocking for a while and he was getting worried. He leant his head against her door there was no noise inside. His heart was beating fast and his anxiety rose. He had to see her.

Bang

In one swift movement, he threw his shoulder against the door and it swung open and fell to the side. Dean stood there and looked around, he couldn't see her in the kitchen or living room. He rushed to the bedroom and that was where he found his angel.

Relief washed over him like a tidal wave. April was sound asleep wrapped up in her duvet, he could see her chest rise and fall and he sighed in relief once again.

Dean made his way to her bed and sat down, he fixed her hair as it messily lay on her pillow. She had been obviously tossing and turning in her sleep. She was very pale and she had dark circles under her eyes, he frowned. Had she not slept at all?