Wise choice

JOHN'S POV:

'Jenny... the name which will always stay with me, no matter what, she will always be the one for whom my heart will beat. No one will ever take her place in mine. A drop of tears escaped from my eyes while still holding her letters in my chest.

How can I re-marry? Why are you so cruel? Don't you know how much I have loved you? Since childhood, I have always admired you. It was YOU JENNY!!!! And it will always be YOU!!!'. I screamed while breaking down in tears.

'Why? Why have not waited for me Huh? Just a few more hours... I came for you. I know I am late... But I never forgot our promise, Jenny. I came back for you. I know I have been a bad husband... who never fulfill my duty as a husband... But... But I have loved you with all my heart.

During my stay in WitchWorld... there was not a day that I have not thought about you. I am a fool... I should have come back earlier... I should have... I should have come back taking you into my embrace... wish I could tell you how much I have missed you in these years... wish I could hold you in my arms... and kiss you over and over again... just like the day we took vows. I wish...

What an unlucky man I am!!! I have lost the love of my life... failed to keep the promises I made as a husband... and...' I chuckled bitterly. ' what a disgusting father I am... My son... I have never known I have a son... How could I? I know Jenny... you have gone through a lot.... alone... But please know that I have suffered too... And I am still suffering.'

Tears were rolling down my cheeks uncontrollably... I was sitting there kneeling while holding the letter to my chest. That was the last thing I have of hers. The room was silenced. Only the sound of my sobbing can be heard. the breeze was blowing slowly while touching my skin. It was cold, making me shiver a little.

'The memories of our happy times started flashing in my mind. Her laugh... her giggles, her beautiful eyes that always have made me feel like drowning more into her. Her smiles never failed to flutter my heart. Her soft voice, which use to make me lost in her. Her tears have always broken my heart. I remember when we were kids when she use to fall while playing and started crying. She was always precious to me. I was the one who use to make her laugh every time while giving her candies. She was such a sweetheart.

I remember when my mother told me about marriage and my heart skipped a beat thinking she cannot be mine. I didn't waste much time confessing my true feelings in front of my mother. And lucky I was, we got married. I was so happy when she gladly accepted my proposal. I knew she was unknown of the feelings of love. But I was sure, I would be successful to make her fall for me.

Now I think, have I been selfish? was it selfish to make her mine despite knowing she didn't love me back then? But love made me selfish... I wanted her. She was the one for me, and I knew it from ever. How can I ever let her go? The moment when the father of the church announced us as a husband and wife, my heart never stood still. The butterflies inside of my stomach had taken over and I smiled in satisfaction, that she is finally mine. I leaned to kiss her soft lips, which tasted like the sweetest candy I have ever tasted in my life. I was happy to know she responded. I knew this was our beginning.

But now, I have failed...failed to keep her safe.. failed to look after her... failed to keep the promises I made. What choice do I have now? I cannot go back... and make everything turn around... I have to live like this. With the burden in my heart, feeling guilty over and over again. '

Guilt and anger took over me as I started to scream like a mad person. I stood up and started throwing everything in the house. 'How? How can I be so irresponsible? How can I ignore her? How???? I have loved her... Than How? How can I not know how much pain she was in all these years? AAAHHHH!!!!'

The noise of breaking things echoed in the room. Everything in front of me started looking useless without her. I started screaming and throwing things. Tears were still running down my cheeks but the pain in my heart took over.

I stopped suddenly when my eyes falls on the little figure at the door. It was my son. He was looking at me with a terrified look in his eyes. He was scared. He was scared of my version that has turned into a broken beast without Jenny. I stopped immediately not trying to scare the kid anymore. I don't want him to look at me like that. I sighed heavily as I blinked a few times with a straight face, still trying to hide my emotions from him.

I forced a smile as I took a step towards him. But he flinched while looking scared of me. He started going back. I spoke with all my courage, while still with a broken voice-" Jo-Jonathan!!! Son, co-come here..."

I forwarded my hands and waited for him to respond. He took a glance inside the room and his face turned into a scared one. He slowly nodded his head. I walked two steps further towards him, but he got scared by my action as he started crying. His little sobs were breaking my heart. He called-" Mu-Mummaa!!!!"

Hearing his cry, Patricia came running. She was confused as she took a look at me and Jonathan. She understood the situation and immediately took Jonathan in her embrace, patting his back, trying to calm him down. She said-" SHHHH!!! baby... I am here... Don't get scared. Dada is just upset. He will be okay in the morning, hmm?

He wrapped his little arms around her neck and hides her face in the crook of her neck. He was scared. Patricia looked at me giving a nod assuring me that he is okay. She took her to his room.

'I am happy to know at least she has loved me. More than I have loved her. She made so many sacrifices without even showing, I am truly thankful to her. I know she left me, but she gave me the most precious gift, our son, Jonathan. I must look after him. I must be a good father now. I have to take responsibility for him.'

I whipped off my tears and put myself together. I took a deep breath before whispering in the air-" Don't worry Jenny, I will look after our son"

I was lost in her thoughts when hands at my shoulder made me turn around. It was my mother!!!

My expression changed to an angry one as soon as I saw her. I remember how she treated Jenny while I was away. I thought She would have understood her as a daughter, but she never look after her. How can she? I was confused and angry at the same time with her behavior.

She looked at me with her guilty eyes. But I looked away from her. I asked in a cold tine-" What are you doing here?"

She replied slowly-" Son!!!"

I looked at her furiously as I replied-" Don't call me son. You have never kept your responsibility as a mother."

Tears were visible in her eyes, but it didn't melt me at all. I remembered how Jenny had suffered only because of my family. Have they never misunderstood us and have taken care of her, she would have been with us by now. She was the one who mistreated her. How can I forgive her?

She said softly-" I- I am sorry so-son. I know it was my mistake. It was my fault... I have neglected her all these years. I was blinded by the love of my son. I thought... I thought... she was the reason you left. I was angry at her. But after she gave birth to Jonathan, I had come... believe me, I had come to take back my grandson and Jenny with me. But... But she was stubborn. She.. said she will stay here waiting for you. there was nothing we could have done son. Even... Even her family had come to a lot of time to take them, but she refused."

She stopped as I turned around while looking at her with still anger. I asked-" What in the first place did you think she was the reason I left? I have asked her to tell you I am on the duty towards WitchWorld... Then why mother? .....Why....." I started crying as she took me in her embrace and started patting my back.

She said-" Trust me, not till the last few months ago we came to know about her disease. Brad and Jenny kept it a secret. I know it was my fault. I have mistreated her. But I have loved her... I came back a lot of times to look after her... She refused. Trust me, son."

I sobbed holding on to her. There is nothing I can do now. She is gone, and she has asked me to forgive others. She was kind. I will keep her last wish. So I forgave her.

Accidentally the letter falls from my hands and she looked down. She put up the letter and read it. She had tears in her eyes. How can anyone possibly hate her? She was such a beautiful woman I know.

AFTER TWO MONTHS:

I was sitting and playing with Jonathan. Patricia was in the kitchen and my mother with us too. She walked inside the room with food in her hands and she sat down beside Jonathan and me. She asked Jonathan to eat as she holds the food in front of him. But he moved his head away as he said in his little voice-" Jonathan will eat from Mumma!!!"

My mother sighed as she said-" My little strong boy, Mumma is busy... She said you should eat this if you want to grow up strong like your father.

Jonathan looked at her with his doe eyes. He asked innocently-" Does eating will make me strong?"

I smiled and took him in my arms as I replied-" Yes, it will."

He smiled and replied-" Okay. Jonathan will eat. But Mumma?"

My mother sighed as she replied with a smile-" She is working my dear, If you eat this she will come"

Jonathan nodded and completed his food. He asked-" Now will you take me to Mumma?"

I frowned with his question as I asked looking at him-" Do you not want to spend time with dada? Do you not love him? hm?"

He smiled with his most innocent smile and replied-" I love dada too. But I want Mumma now. Jenny said I should protect Mumma"

He got down from my lap and walked away with his little legs towards the kitchen. I sighed as I kept looking at him.

My mother looked at me. Her eyes were saying she was about to ask me something but she was hesitating to do so. I said-" Mother? what is it?"

She immediately cleared her throat and said-" Well... If you already know I am about to ask you a question now okay?"

I nodded and waited for her to ask. She looked down and said slowly-" I have read the last letter of Jenny. And also It is about Jonathan."

I frowned as I asked-" What do you mean?"

She looked straight at my eyes and said-" I am thinking about the marriage of you and Patricia"

My eyes widened in shock as I stood up with a frown on my face. I asked-" WHAT?"

She stood up and kept her hands on my shoulder making me understand. She said-" This is just not about marriage son, It is about Jonathan too. He is a small kid, he needs his mother. Also, you need him too..." She walked away from a few steps as she continued-" Jenny had made him say as a mother to Patricia, it was her last wish. Think about that too son. I don't want you two to differ without her, Patricia is a good girl and a good mother. you should consider...."

I stopped her immediately as I replied-" No mom!!! Do you know what are you even saying? I love Jenny!!! NO one can ever take her place... I cannot marry..."

I was cut off by Brad as he entered the room. He said-" I know John"

we turned back to him and I asked-" Brad?"

He nodded and continued-" I have read her letter too... She even has told me this a long ago. Patricia is a good girl. She has made a big sacrifice in her life to look after Jonathan. You should marry her and give her the respect she deserves. "

I looked at him in disbelief as I asked-" You are telling me this?"

His face was straight. He nodded and replied-" Yes because that was the last wish of my sister. Jonathan and you both needed Patricia right now."

He came towards me as he put his hands on my shoulder and said-" Now, please. Agree to this"

I had no other choice than to listen to them. I know this was her last wish... How can I not... But I will always be hers.

AFTER A WEEK

Mother and Brad had convinced me to marry Patricia. I agreed for the sake of my son. He needs a mother and I need my son. Patricia also agreed. The wedding date was set. But I needed to talk with her before the wedding. I must let her know why I have agreed to this marriage.

I called her to the park to talk alone. I was waiting impatiently when I saw her. She walked slowly towards me while looking down. she asked slowly-" Why did you call me here?"

I sighed and said-" I called you to let you know a few things"

She stood silenced waiting for me to speak. I was feeling a little guilty so I looked away as I said-" You must know, I am doing this marriage because of my son's sake. You will just be my wife in the paper. I love Jenny and will always only love her."

This time she looked up at me. From the corner of my eyes, I can see her disappointed face. I said-" If you want you can back off!!! But as my son can't live without you, and I cannot live without my son, I am requesting you to kindly agree to this. If you do, you must not have any hopes from me"

I left leaving her there. I can not face her. I know she is sacrificing a lot for us. But I cannot help either. I will continue to love Jenny. A drop of tears falls on my cheeks as I rode back in my horse. She kept looking at me from the far.