THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US

CHAPTER 14

Ann and Mike decided to take longer in the shop since they still had so much to do. They didn't want to leave it all. They had new designs to finish and all.

"It's going to be a long night" Mike said as he sat in front of Ann prepared to start work on the designs they were working on.

"Bye you two, don't stay up too long" Rose said as she waves both of then good bye ready to leave the house.

"Alright rose, good bye"Ann said

"Bye Rose" Mike said

"So, let's get started" Ann said as she brought out the sketches they had made ready to start work and as she brought then out putting on the table her phone suddenly beeped.

She picked it up and it was a picture from Troy, she smiled. It was a picture of him and the stuffed bear he had won at a fare. She had Troy had gone to the fare every year and had always failed to get the stuffed bear even after several trials. Troy had captioned it "got this for you my love". He was always so extra and the more romantic one. Ann smiled as memories of both of then going to the fare every year clouded her memory.

"What's it" a curious Mike who had watched Ann smile as her face was fixed on the phone asked. He wanted to know why she had such great smile on her face and even though he probably knew it was wrong for him to have asked. He did anyways.

"Here" Ann turned the screen of her phone to Mike. "It's a stuffed animal I have been trying to win for years now and Troy finally got it for me" Ann said with a smile as Troy looked at it briefly before turning his face from the phone and Ann picked it back up to reply Troy.

"We should get back to work" Mike suddenly said

"Yeah, we should" Ann agreed.

"What do you like about Troy" Mike suddenly asked as they started to put the fabrics together. Ann looked up from what she was doing ready to answer all the questions concerning Troy. She loved to talk about him, it was that one conversation she never gets tired of having.

"With Troy, it's hard to pick one thing to like, I think I love everything about him. His smile, the way he talks, the way he loves me, the way he cares for me, the way he talks about me. I love everything and more" Ann said excitedly. She could go on and on about Troy all day. He was the best thing in her life, so why wouldn't she.

"You seem to really like him" Troy said

"I really do and it seems I even like him more with each passing day"Ann said with a smile on her face.

"Have you ever thought of getting into a new relationship, like a commitment" Ann asked

"Relationship is a lot of stress, I don't think it's want I want right now. I have a lot of girls around me with no commitment I don't have to get my heart broken" Troy explained. It seemed like his mind was made up and there was nothing that could change it.

"That's not true actually, love doesn't always hurt. You just need to let yourself love" Ann said.

"What's tomorrow's date please" Mike suddenly asked.

"1st of February"Ann replied and she saw the sudden change in the facial expression of Mike. Something was definitely wrong.

"What's wrong" She asked concerned.

"Tomorrow makes it three years she left" Mike said and then Ann understood the sudden change of mood.

"Is there anything you all do for her on the day" Ann asked.

"Her parents most times do a little remembering for her and all but I have never even been there since the night she passed. I didn't even attend the burial" Mike explained.

"This all just explains how you're still holding on to so much hurt, you really need to make yourself understand that you need closure from all these" Ann explained

"I don't know how to let go, how to forget, I still sometimes feel like she is around, I don't know how to not feel the way I am feeling" Mike explained, rubbing his hands on his head in confusion.

"First, you need to want to, you need to want to do all that, want to let go and have closure" Ann said

"You should understand that the hurt you feel will only make you shut yourself out of the world and it will consume you" She continued

"Think of what Rina would say if she saw you this way, you need to accept that she's gone and not coming back, that's harsh but it's the truth."

"It's not that simple you know"

"Maybe it isn't or maybe you wouldn't even know since you wouldn't even try" Ann said

"For tomorrow, why not try something you have never done in the past three years. Visit her grave maybe, go and see her parents maybe. Try, it's fine if it doesn't work out but at least you tried and you put in effort"

"I don't know, maybe I will. It's hard but I will try and see how it goes"

"That's the spirit right there" Ann said with half a smile. "I know you can and I want to see you be able to overcome this feeling of sadness. It has consumed you for too long and it's only going to get worse"

"I will try" Mike agreed then they continued with the fabrics they were bringing out.

"Thank you"

"For what"

"For listening and wanting to help me. I don't know why you do it but I am glad you do" Mike said

"I am glad I am doing this too. You're a good person and I know that" Ann said.

Ann loved the fact that she could help Mike stop being the sad, hater of love that she has known him to be and that beneath all that facade there was something beautiful and she was determined to let it out.