Chapter 27

"Wow, that was quite...something",Gabby laughed out at the way Joshua had given us a tour of his house,in a business like way, which was quite funny actually.

After we all went to our rooms, I freshened up and thought of lying down, but since I had slept during the course of the whole journey, I wasn't feeling sleepy. So, I decided to go ahead and explore Joshua's garden.

I came outside and headed off to where the garden was. It was even more spectacular to see up close, and I felt the strongest urge to sit in the swing so, I allowed myself to do just that.

I felt like I was in my element, swinging in the swing and enjoying the scenic beauty of the garden. I didn't even realize the time go by as I reminisced my childhood days,which were spent swinging in my mom's garden, and dreamt of happily ever afters, but reality was harsh.

Very soon, my happy thoughts became occupied with thoughts about my sad present. My hand went to my stomach automatically as if reassuring myself that I still had my baby with me. I brushed off my tears and tried not to think about Roy. How ironic, I had told myself the same things earlier too, but I was still unable to forget him.

My phone ringing jolted me out of my melancholy. "Issy, have you reached yet?",my mom's worried voice came from the other side. "Yes mom, don't worry. We're currently at Joshua's place,and we'll be here for a few days before we find our own place",I replied to her.

After we talked for sometime and reassuring her that I was just fine, we hung up the call.

"You don't rest do you?", Joshua's voice came from behind me. I smiled at him and replied,"I got plenty of rest in the car ride,and your garden's allure drove me here. Its amazing". He gave me a chuckle at my remark,"Thank you. I like to garden and try to do as much in my free time".

"Wow, do you mean,you did all these?",I asked in amazement,gesturing towards the garden and he nodded. "I'm really impressed at your excellent gardening skills",I said honestly and he replied with a shrug and his warm smile.

"I don't want to pry and you don't have to tell me if you don't want to share but I was wondering why would someone smart and beautiful as you are, be still hung up on some jerk and cry herself out here in the garden",he said and I was taken aback. So, he must have seen me crying but what could I do now, I couldn't possibly undo my actions.

"Have you ever given your heart to someone, trusting them completely,loving them with all you have,and just believing in them, only to have them toss it out to your face?",I asked him after a long time.

Without waiting for him to answer, I continued,"Well, I have. I gave my heart to Roy, despite everyone telling me that he was a player,that he would break my heart. I didn't listen to them and look where it got me. I know I have only myself to blame, but the Roy I knew, he was just a small town guy like me, and had simple dreams."

"Our problems started with he flirting with other girls on social media, and though I was against it and we did fight over it, he brushed it off saying it was only to keep his jock image",I smiled ruefully.

"When you love someone, your common sense goes down the drain, and you turn a blind eye to their bad side,trying to desperately hold onto the mirage created at the start of the romance. That's what happened with me as well. I should have left him, but that hope,that he might change, kept me stuck with him".

"As for the other parts, you might have known by now",I smiled at him. "Not so smart,am I now?",I tried to joke and laugh,but I was caught in a choke. He gently rubbed my back to comfort me and I felt better.

"We can't change what happened,but I am always of the mind that whatever happens,be it good or bad,happens for shaping our lives. We learn from our life experiences and grow. We need to learn to let go of the bad stuffs and the good as well",he said looking at me and I nodded.

After sometime I said,"That's my story. What about yours, Dr. Williams?". "What about me?",he replied.

"I've noticed that you and Zeke are obviously pretty close, but when I tried mentioning about your similarity, your expression was somewhat aloof",I told him and just like last time, his look remained distant, so I quickly added,"You don't have to tell me if you don't feel comfortable talking about it,I was just intriqued".