I looked deep into Lia's eyes but I only found assurance, warmth and  patience....Patience that she was ready to listen what I wanted to say but  only when I wanted to. And  so I began.

"When I was 22, I was still working at The Walker Group, but everyone  probably knew I was going to be the future CEO.... so I still had that  reputation. I always did and  that's what scared me the most. My own reputation. I knew that people  wanted power and it was this thurst for power that they could go down to  any means. As a boy, I never really was interested in girls just  because we were already the kids of CEO's and I  didn't really enjoy being asked too many questions or being dragged  around, so I just kept away. Most of the girls were after looks or money  and the some who weren't, well, they we were just not comfortable. So  for a long time, I felt I might never fall in  love...."

I looked once again at Lia who was staring at me and so I continued.

"But  then there was Beverly. Beverly Parker. She met me at a party. Any one  could tell she was pretty, confident and bold. She had to be....she was  runnig to become a model.  And so we talked. She knew who I was but that didn't really matter to  her. We talked and then one thing led to another and then we became good  friends. Of course, media made a big deal out of it but we hardly paid  attention. She met my family and everyone  loved her and at a point I realized so did I. So, I confessed. That's  all I thought about because she made me feel loved and special. Special  like she would wake up late at night to listen to me or talk about  anything or maybe nothing at all......And I told her  to take her time, which she did and said she would give it a try. We had  been friends for months and now we dated.....for a year. And I couldn't  be more happy. And so was she....happy! She became the model she wanted to  be......Natalie was in the fashion industry so  she did help her as well as she became a super model in no time. She  was destined for that and I thought she was destined for me......." And I  could feel my tears blurring my own vision but I did not dare look in  Lia's eyes , whose hand had found mine without  us both knowing. I wasn't shrugging it off though. It felt comforting  to know....to know that she was here while I told her something that was  my past but still succeeded in leaving its blemishes in my future....and  fear.  For a long a time, I punished myself  to be guilty but now I was over it. But with Lia, I couldn't really  say. She was her own judge.

"So  after dating for a year...I proposed and she said yes! I couldn't be  happier, Ophelia.....I couldn't be! And so preparation started. I was busy  with work and so was she  but we took time out because I wanted to get married as soon as  possible. You might think it was soon but I knew I loved her and....and  with the love that my parents had, I knew it could overcome any obstacle.  And that's where I went wrong. I wanted a grand wedding  and many, many people were called. The media, my relatives and friends.  She had her friends but not her parents because they didn't have the  best relation in the world. But all that mattered to me was the fact  that I was marrying the girl I loved and I couldn't  be any more happier. And the day finally came and my family was happy  for me, my friends were and I waited at the end of the aisle for her to  show up.....and that's all I did. I waited........." I said as a lone tear fell  from my eyes upon our entwind hands.

"I  waited and she never showed up. It was all fake....her love, the  happiness....everything. She never actually loved me but just liked me  which she thought was enough.... to  use me to become a model. The best part, she didn't even feel the need  to give a clear explanation as to what went wrong. Was it too soon? Was I  wrong? She left everything and went away. It wasn't easy....why did she  leave? Why did she act this way? Why she  just didn't say a simple no or just.........Nat later told me that she  started being all snobbish to others and at times even to Nat, but she  kept quiet because she knew I loved Beverly. She released a statement  that it was all too fast and what not but I couldn't  hear anything. I continued living....I worked and spent time with my  family whom I had unintentionally ignored as I was always with her.....I  started to heal but then there she was on the television.....with William  Richmond." And I heard Lia gasp. That would be  the most usual reaction because she knew who he was.

"Yes.....William  Richmond.....CEO of the Richmond Company.....he was a competitor then and  even now but she left me for him. I had no idea why she did so but she  did and that's  all I could do. I tried calling her once but William hired lawyers  saying that she was not interested in talking to me and wanted William.  And it was all because he WAS the CEO and she felt that I wouldn't be  because if I would be....I would already have been  by then! So it was all just a game for her and that's when I broke.......It  was all power and for that time I felt like giving up  everything....money, fame and name and fucking everthing in life." I  looked up and gave Lia a sad smile.

"  But then I came to terms with it all. It took time but I did. Many  times I would still think not about her, but about what I did wrong or  where it went all wrong. And  maybe it was only me, because she was soon Mrs. Richmond and I was  invited, to their wedding." A humourless chuckle escaped my lips.

"I did not wish to go but I did because I wanted to show her  that I was okay......she left me broken but I was okay. The media blew it  out of proportion but there she was.....without a hint  of guilt, getting married and then I realised that it was all over. She  never really loved me......and maybe I didn't too. Maybe I was just more in  love with the concept of having someone for you, with you....rather than  just loving her! So, I congratulated them  with a smile, a true one because she wasn't meant for me and so she  wasn't........because it wasn't meant to be, I wasn't meant to be......." And  finally I took a deep breathe. I expected Lia to say something but she  kept quiet. So I once again lifted my eyes to her  hazel ones filled with sadness and warmth.

I  opened my mouth to speak but she was already holding me in a tight  embrace. I could feel her shaky breath on my neck and I froze. Because  yes....I have hugged girls  but she was....different. The time was different. The circumstances were  different. I rarely have talked about all this with anyone and here she  was, holding one of the most shattering truths of my life in the  embrace. At that time, I was too tired to think,  so I simply wrapped my arms around her.

"Stel......what  she did was wrong! I can't say I understand because I don't. I have  never loved someone like that but one thing that I am sure about is that  you loved her,  with everything in you. It was her loss and yes, she wasn't meant for  you. And there is someone out there, a lucky girl, who would love you  more than anyone in this world....and you will deserve every bit of it."  She slowly unwrapped her hands around me and  looked in my eyes.....her eyes now filled with warmth and encouragement.

"The  wrong girl made you happy once, so just think how happy the right girl will  make you. You are a great man, Stel. I have met a lot and you are one of  the few that I am  proud of calling my friend. And if there's god above, he has made a  girl for you....the one who would be the missing part of the puzzle called  Stellan Walker and she would complete you. And trust me, there is....just  believe in yourself and be yourself because  the Stellan I know is an awesome guy and a very great friend and I am  sure you would be a great lover.....so wipe those tears off because I don't  like to see my friends crying......She wasn't for you and its good she left,  now you can search for the one who is...." And  she smiled at me and wiped the lone tear that left a path down my  eyes.

How could someone be so perfect, to understand everything and make you feel safe...?

Because  that's how I felt at that moment. Safe. After a very long time....I felt  safe! I wasn't feeling vulnerable but rather happy.....happy that I told  her, happy that  she listened, happy that she understood and happy that she made me feel  safe, rather than just seemly exposed. And that was her charm.

"She  wasn't.......and maybe its for the greater good plus I think she spoke  less...now I think anout it....I like talkative people! I am an idiot." I  said and the mood lightened  and she smiled.

"Yeah......you should have talkative people in your life considering you don't speak much too!"

"I don't speak much?" I am offended.

"Maybe  or maybe not but don't worry.....we are still friends!"

  No one would have imagined I just told her things she shouldn't know, a  few momets ago but  that was who Ophelia was......she could make you smile in a heartbeat. You  might be the saddest person around but she would do her best to make you  smile and would work until she succeeded. And that was what she was  most loved for.

"You know.....you do justice to your name Ophelia..." and she smiled.

"So I have been told...." And then she looked towards her painting.

"So you are going to complete that......after I just wasted your time?"

"Hey!  We never wasted time. A friend just shared another's pain. That's what  friends are for, aren't they Stel? So don't think that you got me all  worked up or anything.  I am honoured that you decided to share something of you with me and I  couln't ask for anything more......" She had a way with words. Something, I  was starting to fall for.

"So you doing the painting....?"

"Well I do wanna complete it so I don't know....but you tell me, would you still like to watch me paint?" She asked with a smile.

"I would love too!" I definitely would!

"Then Walker.....that's what we are doing!"

And  it began all over again. I spent my time helping her get paints and  then talking here and there. I was sure disturbing her, but she wasn't  complaining and so I wasn't  as well.

I  continued to watch as she calmly changed the painting into something  more beautiful, something more deep and something more meaningful. It  might be a mixture of paint  for some but as I watched Lia putting her everything into that piece,  it wasn't just any piece now. It was like something I shared with her.  Of course, I had not even touched the painting but I guess whenever she  would look at the painting, she would be reminded  of me and I was happy to know that. I was happy that there was  something with her that would remind her of me because maybe I wanted  her too.

We  never kept a track of time and soon it was dawn. With the first rays of  Sun peeking through the window, birds chirping outside, the say announced it's arrival. But Lia still continued to paint and talk. She looked tired but nothing  of that reflected on her work. I was sleep deprived too and would sure  hit my bed once I returned home. I could have slept but I couldn't. I  just sat there and watched. I migth be staring  but you just can't look at Ophelia and simply stare. I was  observing....everything. She painted her masterpiece out but it wasn't the only art in the house.

She was an art herself. And art isn't supposed to be stared at. It's supposed to be cherished.

The way her hair fell over her forehead or how she  bit her lip when she figured what paint she needed or how she smiled  when she saw me looking confused around the familiar colours....it was all the serenity of a friendship I cherished right now. Right in the moment. Cause really, what was better in life than friendships..... 

Soon, I heard Allison and Ian walking into the kitchen, looking everybit confused to see me and Lia.

We  sure had spent the time here so now it was time to return back home.  Allison offered to make breakfast but I thought that returning back home  was better because I  was now suddenly all tired. We greeted each other one last time and Ian  went down with keys because I couldnot drive in this state and someone  might have threatened me to not drive in such a state. I might just snore away while driving.

Allison went to the blacony to wave Ian off as I now quit Lia's door who suddenly stopped me, pulling my hand.

"She  would be a lucky girl, Stel. I know, she would be and you would be  lucky too, to have her....to have a second chance because while many want a  second chance, only  a few get it......and you will! You deserve it Stel!" She said it all with a  small smile and I was speechless. I don't know why but I was. I just  gave her a nod and a smile, the best I could do and went down the stairs  as she closed her door.

I  took a seat in the car next to Ian and looked up to see Lia and Alice  smiling down at us. We waved back and were off to my house, where Ian would drop me.

I reached home and then went straight to my roon. While changing and getting ready to sleep , I could only think about one thing. Ophelia Hale.

Over  all these weeks that I have known her, anyone could pick that she might  be friendly and the best friend you could ask for.......but she was scared,  to get just too attached.  Attached like I was once to Beverly. I have seen the people at my  company and how they do try to make advancemnts towards her but how she  rejects in a sweet but sharp way. She might have a past or maybe not.  She might have her own secrets which, if she would  want, she would tell me one day. The day she trusts me enough.

Ophelia  isn't easy. She likes the chase because she want's to know her  worth.  We all might keep a strong exterior but at some point we all  want to be worthy! I too did  but it wasn't that well last time. But with Ophelia....one wont have to  prove himself but one had to prove her that she is worthy of everything  in this world. She has high walls because her heart is at stake but all  she unknowingly needed was someone who was  willing to break those walls because walls are meant to be broken and  hearts are to be risked in this game. It was only time that tells that  if it was all worth the risk because love has broken me once and it can  either heal me or shatter me this time.

Ophelia  Hale was a puzzle, one I was hell bent on solving and she was worth it  all. The tears and the smiles because I might not love her yet but soon I  would! It wasn't  that difficult, you see.

Our  hearts our monsters with a cage of their own. If they stay in forever,  then you stay safe but if someone risks it all to break it and let your  heart fly free to steal  another, then it opens a whole new world, many are scared to enter.  Growing up with parents like mine, I knew it could be the most beautiful  world if you want it to be. And I wanted to have one of my own. A world  where dreams weren't just dreams but much more.

I didnot know yet if my world would be with Ophelia. But after a long time, I wished for something.

I didn't wish for solace or happiness or warmth.....

All I wished for was Lia to be in my world. Because that would bring me everything I suddenly wished for.

And maybe, just maybe, it was time my luck worked.

And with those last thoughts, I welcomed darkness with open arms.

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