Pressured

Orchid Estate, Government Reserved Area

Miss Rose had just concluded her conversation with J. Cole when her phone rang once more.

Ringg.

Her eyes swiftly locked onto the caller ID display, and she was taken aback by the unexpected call from her cousin. With a blend of curiosity and caution, she pondered for a moment before deciding to answer.

"Hey, sis," she greeted, her thoughts racing as she braced herself for the potential surprises and challenges this call might bring to her day.

.....

A massive iron gate stood in the distance, marking the entrance to a luxurious estate. The opulent surroundings included a stringent security check, meticulously landscaped rows of decorative plants, and grand villas. As J. Cole drove through the gate, he calmly took in the grandeur around him, eventually arriving at Miss Rose's villa.

(Destination Reached)

J. Cole pulled into an open garage a few moments later, parked his vehicle, and made his way to Mr. Collins, who stood with a stoic expression.

"Hey, Mr. Collins, what's good?" J. Cole greeted warmly. The middle-aged man responded with a nod of approval and said, "Miss Rose is resting, and she'll likely call for you tomorrow. Now, please offload your luggage before we move to your room."

In a matter of minutes, J. Cole found himself alone in his room, ready to indulge in some well-deserved rest. But the same could not be said for Miss Rose, whose thoughts and concerns continued to occupy her mind.

Miss Rose lingered on the phone, the lingering happiness in her voice apparent. "Alright, Faith, I'll hang up now... Congratulations once again," she said, her voice warm with genuine happiness for her cousin's impending nuptials. It was a moment filled with sincere joy, and she had shared in her cousin's bliss with wholehearted enthusiasm.

But as the call ended, a transformation occurred. Her once radiant smile slowly gave way to a self-deprecating grin. She leaned against the window frame, her thoughts diving into a sea of uncertainty.

"Why does love always elude me?" she whispered softly to herself. The weight of her own longing and loneliness echoed in her voice. "Does it mean I'll never walk down the aisle in a magnificent wedding gown?" The dreams of her own romantic future seemed to crumble before her eyes. She peered out of the open window, her gaze lost in the vast expanse of the clear blue sky.

The weight of her own insecurities and regrets pressed upon her as she mumbled, "Am I truly the cause of my predicament?" Her voice trembled with self-doubt and a sense of helplessness, and her emotions were raw, exposed to the harsh reality of her unfulfilled desires.

Earlier, a mere half an hour ago, a call had come in with the caller ID displaying "Faith." Miss Rose's cousin, who was five years her junior, had eagerly extended an invitation to her upcoming white wedding ceremony. Miss Rose had congratulated her cousin with genuine enthusiasm and assured her she wouldn't miss the event for anything.

However, once the call ended, all the suppressed emotions came crashing down like a tidal wave. A profound sense of sadness washed over her as she retraced the path of her own romantic journey, contemplating where it took a wrong turn and how she ended up where she was now. It was a moment of introspection filled with heartache and uncertainty, as she grappled with the deep emotions that had long been buried within her.

....

Throwback 9 years ago.

Rose, a brilliant 22-year-old graduate of the prestigious Landmark University's Business Admin Department, was not just an academic star but also the epitome of beauty and grace. She had the world at her feet as she graduated with distinction and was crowned the top-rated beauty goddess of her graduating class. Her life seemed like a fairy tale with Nelson, her dashing boyfriend, by her side. Their love was the stuff of legends, and they proudly won the "Best Couple of the Year" award during their grand graduation ceremony. Their future was as bright as the midday sun.

However, a few months after their joyous graduation, the light in their lives dimmed drastically. Nelson, the man Rose was head over heels in love with, was diagnosed with leukemia. At first, it seemed like an unimaginable mistake. His family refused to believe it, hoping that the doctors were wrong. But after three consecutive tests and countless nights of worry and fear, it finally dawned on them that this nightmare was indeed a cruel reality.

In the face of this unexpected tragedy, Rose's and Nelson's worlds were turned upside down. The once-vibrant couple found themselves in the midst of an emotional storm that threatened to tear them apart.

Chemotherapy was scheduled quickly, a necessary step in Nelson's battle against leukemia. However, as the months went by, Rose watched in heart-wrenching agony as her once vibrant boyfriend's cognitive state began to deteriorate. The side effects of the treatment were harsh, and the jovial, witty man she fell in love with seemed to slowly slip away. His memory became fragmented, and his once-sharp mind was clouded by the relentless battle with the disease.

A year into their turbulent journey, Rose witnessed Nelson's transformation into someone she could barely recognize. His aura had taken on a shadowy, desolate hue, and the word that neither of them dared to speak aloud - "suicidal" - hung heavily in the air. The emotional toll of his illness had pushed him to the brink, and he teetered on the precipice of despair.

Rose's life became a ceaseless cycle of caring for Nelson, putting on a brave face, and trying to coax even the faintest glimmer of a smile from him. She had to pause her own ambitions, dreams, and the promising future that once seemed assured. Her love for him was unwavering, and she was willing to sacrifice everything to ensure he found moments of happiness and peace.

In their darkest hour, Rose and Nelson reached a regretful agreement, one born out of desperation and love. They decided, without the consent of their parents or anyone else, to visit a mysterious shrine priest. Rumors swirled about this enigmatic figure and the supposed miracles he could perform. With nowhere else to turn and nothing left to lose, they embarked on this uncertain journey, hoping against hope for a miracle that might save Nelson from the abyss that threatened to consume him.