The relationship between us had always been a mix of warmth and confusion. She was the girl I couldn't imagine living without, but lately, things had started to feel different. Whenever we spoke on the phone, I could feel the distance growing between us. She would answer my questions, but it was always me who had to start the conversation. She never seemed to want to open up, and it was like she was holding back, keeping a part of herself locked away from me.

I remember one night, feeling frustrated, I asked her to block me on social media. I told her maybe it would be better for her if she didn't see my posts and messages anymore. I didn't want to be a source of irritation in her life. I kept wondering if I was the only one trying to keep the relationship alive.

There was a time when she told me she wanted to marry me, to have kids with me. Those words were like a promise I clung to, but now, it felt like everything was slipping through my fingers. I didn't understand what had changed. It was like she was pushing me away for reasons I couldn't figure out. Her hesitation made me doubt everything we had built together.

One evening, she said she was waiting for her brother to return from abroad before she would talk to him about our marriage. When I asked her why, she told me that her parents didn't approve of our relationship because of my past. She reminded me that I was a former drug addict, someone who had gone through rehab. Those words stung more than I expected. She knew everything or most about me (the good and the bad) yet her family couldn't look past my mistakes.

It wasn't just my past that bothered her family, but it was the rumours that had been going around at the hospital where we met. She had been a counsellor there, and I was a management administrative, handling internal matters along with religious matters for the patients. I'd come a long way from being a patient myself. I had fought hard to turn my life around, earning the trust of those around me. But when she came into the picture, things started to get complicated.

She was stunning and confident (someone everyone admired). But despite the attention, she had always kept her distance. I respected that about her, but things got messier when whispers started circulating about her and another staff member. And one day, there were rumours that they had been seen together in a compromising situation. She was upset, and suddenly, everyone in the hospital started looking at her differently.

She kept her head down, working late whenever necessary, but I could see a change in her. I couldn't ignore the tension between us, especially when I heard about an incident involving some stolen snacks at the hospital. It was never confirmed who was involved, but the rumours were hard to ignore. I knew I had to talk to her about it, to try and steer her away from making any more mistakes. But when I did, my words seemed to hurt her, and that's when our friendship began to feel strained.

Despite all the rumours and the tension, I couldn't shake the connection I felt with her. I saw something in her, something beyond the gossip and the mistakes. There was a depth to her, a vulnerability I couldn't ignore. I loved her, and I couldn't help but ask her to marry me. But she turned me down immediately. It broke my heart. She told me she was scared of marriage. At first, I didn't understand why, but later, I found out that she had gone to talk to the wife of one of the doctors, seeking counselling about her fears. It left me feeling helpless.

But I didn't give up. I kept reaching out, hoping one day she would change her mind. There were nights when I would beg her to love me, desperate for her to see me differently. I lost myself in that desperate pursuit, sinking to a low point I never thought I'd reach. And then, one day, she said it? the three words I had been longing to hear: "I love you."

It took me by surprise. For a moment, I didn't even know how to react. She loved me. Really loved me. We spent hours talking that night, losing track of time until the call was automatically cut off after a continuous 3 hours by the network provider. But we'd call back, again and again. It became a routine In our lives. It felt like everything I had gone through, every moment of doubt and struggle, had led me to that one beautiful moment.

There were times when we would meet in secret, away from the prying eyes of the world. I would look at her and see the beauty she had, not just on the outside, but deep within her. I loved her even more when we were together, just the two of us, away from everything else. But things weren't always easy. She was under so much pressure at work, constantly trying to please everyone around her, but never getting the appreciation she deserved.

One day, she told me she couldn't take it anymore. The stress was too much, and she had decided to quit her job. I supported her decision, even though it meant losing a part of my heart. I wanted her to be happy, even if it meant stepping back and letting go of a dream I had held onto for so long. When she left work that day, I followed her to the bus stop. We shared a tight hug, and I whispered in her ear, "Stay strong in our relationship. Distance might test us, but I know we can make it."

As the bus pulled away, I stood there, watching it disappear around the corner. I couldn't help but wonder what the future held for us. It was uncertain, filled with unknowns, but I knew one thing for sure? I was willing to fight for her.

No matter what came next, I was ready to face it with her, because I couldn't imagine life without her by my side.