Consequences Of Love

Perhaps I should forget about loving. Or perhaps I should embrace love without fear, and hope that we have a happy ending. Just when I thought I found love. When I thought I had found the right person, just then i was completely shattered. My heart is still broken, and yet I have another girl in my room, in my dress, cooking for me. Perhaps this is what I need. 

They both had one night together, once again in a lifetime. He was happy. She made him laugh so hard. He thought in his mind, maybe he had made a dumb mistake for loving a girl he shouldn't have, and now, the world hates him for it. He just thought he could make a difference. 

Early in the morning, Evelyn made him some breakfast as she was about to leave. 

Evelyn: I have something to do. I'm sorry I have to go this early. 

Smith: It's alright, I appreciate you, last night was the best night ever. Thank you for staying. 

Evelyn: You know you can always call me if you need me around. Or am I still on blacklist?

Smith: No, you're not still on blacklist, I'll definitely call you. 

Evelyn: You should. Don't keep me waiting though. 

Smith: I won't, once again, thanks for last night. 

Evelyn: Thank you for having me. 

She left, Smith quickly removed her contact on blacklist. Smith has finally found someone new (though she wasn't new.) But the main thing is he is in love with someone else. I'd like to say he has moved on. "Evelyn and I are dating". He would respond to anyone asking. Antonio had been seeing him now. With someone else. He doesn't talk to him, so he'd like to keep him quiet. But one day he couldn't hold it no more that he decided to ask him. 

Antonio: So now, you're dating someone else, huh? I thought you said Ava was your ride or die? 

Smith: Yeah, she was, but you see, there are times in life you have to make some changes. It's life, and you just have to accept it. But if you don't mind me asking. Since when do you care? 

Antonio: I'm your senior brother, I can ask you anything I want, and I care. 

Smith: It seems to me you stopped caring, since Ava happened. 

Antonio: Yeah, you dated a sister to my friend, and you lied to me about it. You expect me to smile with you about it? Even when I found out, I told you, you should stay away from her. You said you wouldn't, you fought me about it, and you want me to clap for you and be the big brother you want? No, that's not how the world works. 

Smith: Yeah, I couldn't just delete her off my head, I loved her. The things you were asking me to do were impossible. 

Antonio: impossible? And yet where is she now? Why isn't she still the love of your life? Why aren't you calling her, texting her every damn minute no more? Yeah, that's what I thought. You proved to me that you're a big man, that you've grown up, so I think it's best we both live like grown-ups. 

Antonio walked away. This was the first time since the fight that Antonio and Smith had a conversation. And the conversation wasn't a kind of conversation Smith was expecting from his brother, but Antonio got his reasons for not talking to him. Perhaps he was right. Some minutes later his phone started ringing and it was Evelyn, 

Smith: Hello Evelyn, how are you doing today?

Evelyn: I'm doing well. How about you? I was hoping we would see you today. I'll understand if you say no. 

Smith: No, No, I mean yeah, that'll be great, I'll be expecting you. 

Evelyn was blocks away while she called. She walked in minutes later. 

Smith: Hey, I see you are already here. 

Evelyn: Yeah, I was in the neighborhood while I called, but if it's not a good time I can go back, then maybe I'll come back when it's a good time. 

Smith: No, you don't have to do that, it's okay, you're welcome. 

Evelyn: Thank you, look, I brought you some food. I made it myself.

Smith: Wow, that's very nice of you. I can tell it's delicious. My God, I'm starving. Let's eat.

Evelyn: Nah, it's only for you. I've already eaten mine, this was just for you. 

Smith: Nah, I can't finish this alone, it's a lot, and also, you know I'll love to eat with you, it's lovely that way, don't you want that? 

Evelyn: I'd love it. 

Quickly, Smith pushed the food away. He drew her much closer to him. He kissed her so hard, she couldn't resist it. She's been dying for his touch these few days, but he's been avoiding him. She's been craving for him. She longs for his kiss, his touches and his warm breaths. Tenderly they kissed. She whispered to him, "I want more." Smith hadn't been with another girl since Ava, but now he was about to. He was with Evelyn, but he pictured Ava. Just like she knew, one more time she whispered to him slowly, "Don't stop, do to me like you'd do to her." Smith was obsessed with the word. He just kept going till she couldn't take it no more, till he had nothing left to offer. 

After that, they both took a bath. They shared the food Evelyn brought. Evelyn said to him. 

Evelyn: Were you thinking of her when you were with me? 

Smith: No. 

Evelyn: You don't have to lie, I'd understand, just don't lie to me. 

Smith: I don't want to lie to you either, but I can't keep talking about her while I'm with you.

Evelyn: It's obvious you haven't been with anyone else since her. 

Smith: No. 

Evelyn: it's cool if you feel somehow, but I'm here, I'm here for you, I'm yours now. If you want to talk about anything, you can always talk about it with me. We're together now. 

Smith was silent for a time. Then he said, it's alright. I won't think of anyone else. 

Evelyn: You know I love you, right? I always do. I won't leave you, that's if you want me to stay. 

Smith: Please give me time to process this. It's too much for me right now, I just need to think this through. 

As Evelyn was about saying something else. Smith got a call. It was his long-time friend (Ezekiel) who lives next to Ava. 

Ezekiel: Hey bro, how are you holding up? 

Smith: Am okay, it's been a while. 

Ezekiel: Yeah, alright, listen up man, you know there's a party Ava's hosting. I thought you'd be here, but I couldn't find you. But the whole thing was clear to me when he came out with another guy to cut her cake. I'm sorry man, I didn't know you guys were not together again. 

Smith: Alright man, it's cool, thank you for sharing that. 

Ezekiel: Anytime man, be good man, you gotta move on, it's obvious she has moved on already. 

Smith: Yeah, maybe that's what I should do. Listen man, I gotta go, and once again, thank you for, I really mean that man, thank you. 

Ezekiel: It's nothing man. Bye, I'll see you around. 

Smith really felt it. Tears started dropping from his eyes, he wiped them out and turned to Evelyn and said, 

Smith: I don't need more time to think about it anymore, I'm done thinking, there's nothing left to think about. Did you really mean it when you said you loved me? 

Evelyn: Of course I did. I've loved you since school. I love you. 

Smith: I love you more. Come on dress up, there's a place I want to take you. 

She dressed up and he took her out. There's a place he loved going to. He had always planned to take Ava there, but there was no perfect time. 

He took her to Hilltop or Mountain Viewpoints, a peaceful spot with a panoramic view of the city or nature. It was always quiet out there. Smith loved to be in a quiet place. He said his mama used to take him to a peaceful and quiet place when he was small, so going to places like that helped him stay close to his mom even while he is away from home. 

Evelyn: Wow, I love it out here, it's beautiful.

Smith: I know you'd love it.

Evelyn: it's nice out here, thank you for bringing me here. 

They both had a wonderful evening together, enjoying each other's company. As night fell, they left for home.

As they say, we love someone deeply, give ourselves completely to them, and cherish them with all our soul. But one day, we simply forget all that once was. We move on, teaching ourselves to let go, often believing the other person is to blame.

But how do you define love if you can't stay committed to one person? If you're not willing to let everything go, to learn to love, forgive, and fight for what matters? True love means holding on despite everything, choosing to love endlessly and never letting go.

Have you ever been someone and your mind is not there? You keep thinking of someone else. Smith was in that position. He loved Ava more than he had ever loved someone else. Letting her go without thinking about her in a day wasn't so easy. But now that she has clearly moved on with someone else in her life. I guess it's time to let go. 

He learned to forget about every one of them, everyone who had been against him loving Ava, even if it meant forgetting about his brother too (Antonio). It was time to let go and finally move on. 

Ava had a second brother, Duke, who came to stay with Mateo and Ava for a while. When Duke arrived, he learned about everything that had happened between Ava and Smith. Though Duke knew Antonio as his brother's friend, he was more interested in befriending Smith.

Smith, however, understood that forming a friendship with Duke could reopen old wounds with Ava—the very thing he was trying to forget. He knew that, at some point, Duke might invite him over, but Smith had already vowed never to set foot in their apartment again. To avoid any possibility of that, he distanced himself completely. He had no desire to be friends with Duke.

Duke hated him for that for a long time, but Smith didn't really mind. Smith was happy with someone else as much as he could be. He had been with her for a while now. Evelyn was everything a man would want and more. She was a nurse in a government hospital just a mile away from Smith. She was financially stable, she didn't depend on anyone, she took care of herself without having to bill Smith. She would appreciate any little thing Smith offered her. When Smith's business was falling apart, she helped him with some money so he could keep his business afloat. That's why Smith loved her so much. She was everything he wanted and more. "Finally, there was someone he could count on", he would say. A woman so beautiful and mature. Some women believe that true love means a man should always give them money whenever they ask. To them, this is a sign of care and commitment. If he doesn't, they may assume he doesn't love them, isn't the right one, isn't ready for a relationship, or is simply too stingy—leading them to move on to someone else.

For Evelyn was different and Smith loved her for that. 

She moved in with Smith. They loved each other so much, they did almost everything together, they hit the gym together, went to parties, went to clubs and all, all the life he planned to live with Ava. Everything was perfect. One day Evelyn had a program she had to attend. She didn't come back for three days. They talked over the phone with Smith for a long time. They joked, laughed and all. Then she got busy and promised to call back right after. Just after the call, Smith had a call coming in. He rushed to pick up his phone, thinking it was the girl he had just finished talking to. But it wasn't, it was Ava. 

Ava: Hello stranger. 

Smith: Ava? 

Ava: Hi, it's me, how are you doing ? 

Smith: I'm okay, how about you? 

Ava: I'm okay, listen, my brothers are out of town, they won't be back for the next few days. Would you mind coming around? Maybe we can spend some time together, get me something while you're coming. 

When Smith was about responding to her, she ended the call. He was tempted to call her back, but he didn't. He did something else.