MY FIRST LOVE
EPISODE 6
WRITTEN BY RUKEVWE MERRY
Henry and Mr. Thompson anxiously waited outside Margaret’s hospital room. Finally, the nurse allowed them to enter.
Margaret lay in bed, her eyes sunken, but her gaze still piercing.
“Henry,” she whispered, her voice weak.
Henry approached, mixtures of emotions swirling within him.
“Mom, why did you do that?” Henry asked, trying to understand.
Margaret’s expression hardened. “If you go back to Isabella, I’ll do it again. And again. And again.”
Henry recoiled, horrified.
Mr. Thompson intervened, “Margaret, stop this. You’re harming yourself and our son.”
Margaret turned away, refusing to listen.
Hours passed, and Margaret’s condition stabilized. They returned home, the atmosphere tense.
Henry stood at a crossroads, torn between love and family loyalty.
“If I go back to Isabella, Mom might harm herself again,” Henry thought.
“But if I abandon Isabella, I’ll lose the love of my life.”
Henry struggled with guilt and anxiety after his mother’s dramatic attempt to harm herself. He knew he had to make a difficult choice.
“Telling Isabella goodbye will hurt her, but I must make Mom happy,” Henry thought, his heart heavy.
He took a deep breath and approached his mother.
“Mom, I’ve thought it through. I’ll leave Isabella and be with Anita,” Henry said, trying to sound convincing.
Mrs. Thompson’s face lit up with joy. “Thank you, son! You’re making the right choice.”
Henry forced a smile, hiding his inner pains.
Margaret excitedly dialed Clara’s number, sharing the news.
“Clara, dear! Henry has chosen Anita. We’ll be visiting soon to formalize the engagement!” Margaret announced.
Clara’s delight echoed through the phone. “Wonderful! We’ll prepare everything.”
Meanwhile, Henry struggled with his conscience. Behind his forced smile, he hid unbearable pain.
How could he tell Isabella the truth? He opted for a cowardly text message.
“Isabella, I’m sorry. I can’t be with you. I’ve chosen Anita,” the message read.
Isabella’s world crumbled as she read the words. Tears streamed down her face.
TWO WEEKS TIME
Henry returned to the office after two weeks, arm-in-arm with Anita, proudly introducing her as his fiancรฉe. Isabella’s heart sank, reality hitting her like a ton of bricks. Henry’s avoidance and Anita’s presence confirmed the painful truth.
Days passed, and Henry continued to dodge Isabella. Exhausted from crying, she decided to give Samuel a chance to be her friend. Samuel, a coworker, had been vying for her attention. Isabella didn’t love Samuel, but she needed distraction from Henry’s rejection.
One day, Samuel visited Isabella’s office, suggesting a weekend getaway. Noticing Henry eavesdropping, Isabella played along. “Yes, Samuel, we’ll have an amazing weekend. Maybe I’ll even say yes to being your girlfriend.” She stood, rubbing Samuel’s cheek, and hugged him.
Henry burst in, fury in his eyes. “How dare you hug my woman! How dare you touch her!” He punched Samuel repeatedly until Isabella intervened. “Henry, stop! Why are you embarrassing me?” Henry’s face contorted in anguish. “You belong to me, Isabella. No one else.” Isabella’s eyes flashed. “You lost that right when you chose Anita.”
Henry’s eyes locked onto Isabella’s, his voice trembling. “Anita was my duty, but you… you are my love.”
Isabella’s expression softened, but her words remained firm. “Your love? You have a strange way of showing it, Henry. You chose Anita, remember?”
Henry’s face contorted in anguish. “I was trapped, Isabella. My mother’s man:pulation, the guilt… I thought I was doing the right thing.”
Isabella’s voice cracked. “The right thing? You shattered my heart, Henry. Now, you’re jealous because I’ve moved on? You need to let me go.” Henry’s grip on her arms tightened. “I can’t. I won’t.”
TBC
