THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US

Chapter Ten

ike immediately collected the pictures from Ann and Ann looked at him startled. Why was he so protective over it. She knew it was about Rina but he hadn't expected him to be so defensive about it.

"You shouldn't just go through people's stuff especially when they don't give you permission to" Mike said abruptly as he stared intensely at Ann who had a blank look on his face.

" I was just really looking at the pictures, nothing serious" Ann defended as she didn't know what to say again.

"I just really like my stuffs not around and everyone being in my business" Mike explained

"I think I should go now" Ann said standing from the chair, she could see that Mike felt a bit unease about how he had spoken to her. He had been so overwhelmed my his emotions and had shouted at her not thinking about how she had felt.

Ann picked her bag from the couch and as she was about to leave, he held her back and she faced him as both there eyes met in an intense stare. He wouldn't be able to live the rest of the day if she left like that. He didn't like the way he made her feel.

They stood in front of each other staring intensely.

"Don't go yet"Mike said as he held her hand

"Sit" Mike offered

"What's wrong" Ann asked as she looked at Mike, she could see he was uneasy and she really wanted to help. She didn't know how she could, she wasn't sure if she could but she wanted to.

"The picture you saw and checked was of Rina, I and her. All of our memories together" Mike explained and one could easily tell how much pain he was still in. It didn't seem like he had moved on and Ann could tell with his facial expressions.

"Who is rina" Ann asked pretending like she hadn't heard of her from Sophie already.

"She was my ex" Mike answered

"Do you want to talk about it. It's fine if you do not want to" Ann said

"I want to" Mike said and for the first time in Two years he actually wanted to talk about it with someone.

"I really loved her, we were supposed to get married, she got diagnosed of cancer. We thought it was going to be treatable" Mike explained and his face lit up as he talked about her, one could easily tell he had so much love for her.

"She fought, she really did fight, she was strong" Mike said as he let out a little smile and Ann watched him.

"She had so much dreams she didn't get to achieve, she had so much places she wanted to visit, she even had a list" Mike smiled as he remembered the kind of free spirited person Rina was. He loved her and the conversation with Ann made him even realize that.

"You really loved her" Ann said as she smiled. Ann loved love. She was an hopeless romantic but she hated sad love stories too.

"But she left and that's why I feel love really isn't worth it" Mike said

"But you loved, it's better to love once than to not have loved at all. Remember how she made you feel, how much you loved her and how much she loved you. Love is beautiful , it's sacrifices, it's compromises and so many other things in between. Love is everything good in life and no matter how much it can hurt us some times, the many beautiful moments and feelings love can make us feel is worth it all" Ann explained. She was glad Mike had opened up to her. She loved to talk about love.

"I just can't see myself falling in love again, Rina would always be my last and no matter how much I try, I don't think it will ever work" Mike explained

"Do you think Rina would love to see you like this, depressed and not living your life to the fullest. I am sure she wouldn't. She seemed like she wanted to take on the world, do you think she would like you stopping yours because hers ended. She wanted to make her dreams come true, do you think she would love to see you not go after all your dreams. I am sure she wouldn't. Thank about her and know that she would have wanted something different for you" Ann explained As Mike just stared intensely at Ann. He enjoyed watching her talk. She was so passionate about all she was saying and he was glad he was able to share all what he was feeling with someone and Ann was a very good person to talk to.

"I am just really tired" Mike said ad he stool up pacing back and forth in the living room.

"It's all so frustrating, I am angry at the world, I am angry at everything and I can't seem to be able to let this anger get away" Mike said sadly

"I know, it's okay to be angry" Ann said standing up as she walked up to meet him "it's okay to not be okay everytime, get angry, scream , shout. But what is not okay his to stop trying once life let's you down. You need to pick yourself up and start again. Fight this true. Live both you and Rina's dream and I am sure she would be happy to see you happy" Ann said as she held Mike's hand trying to make him feel better.

Mike immediately pulled Ann into a hug as she finished talking. The hug was warm and for the first time in forever he felt safe and at peace again.

"Thanks for letting me talk to you about this" Mike said as he let go of Ann

"I am glad I could be of help" Ann said with a smile.

Ann was glad she could help Mike out, She couldn't have hoped for anything better today. it felt like a good day already.