In search of happines

9

His leaving was a wake up clock. She was seeing through her mind all the things she had done until then and got angry of her naivety, of the stupidity and the way she used to treat those around her.

Pick up the phone and prepare to call for rescue, but realized that there wasn’t any signal. Thousands of thoughts crossed through her mind. She relive the moment when her hands give up and she was seeking desperately and scared something to cling to as if this will be the last thing she does…. How could she be so superficial? What was she doing here? Why did she accept all this crap? She felt his leaving as abandonment …. As if it were lint of his shoulder and he took it and threw it away. And, she could not believe and forget the naturalness of Bogdan in doing this.

She started to cry of pain, of anger. But realized that this is the right moment to take her life into her hand and not relieving on anyone else. So ... she tried to get up, but the adrenaline already left her body and, in that moment, she felt thousands of knives ripping her leg, so she fell down... it was a pain that increased in intensity by each moment. But Ana did not give up. She was looking for solutions. She had to get out of this situation quickly! And then... she saw a few meters from her a stick. She uses it to get to a signal point.

Called for rescue. Until they got her, the effort and the pain left her almost unconscious.

They rushed her to hospital. One of the doctors that operated her was Andrei, now her husband. His daily visits and warmth conquered here. Day by day, Ana opened her eyes and become another woman.

Bogdan was angry with her. Therefore, he did not visited here at all at the hospital... but neither Ana wanted to see him. While she was in surgery Bogdan gave interviews to TV presenting his great achievement. That was Bogdan.

Now Ana left everything in her past. Kept in touch with Andrei and, he fall in love with her. Later on, he returned back home, in Romania, where he opened a medical clinic and asked Ana to marry him. She said YES, as she loved him as much.

Now they were working together at the clinic and they were the perfect team.

-       Hi Esther. Thank you for coming to our wedding.

-       My dear that was the best party ever.

-       Yes, i couldn’t get out of the bed today.

-       We are in park

-       How lovely. You two are two romantic guys.

-       Maybe we will see all together these days.

-       That will be great!

-       Ok, i’ll leave you now. Have a great time. Kiss you both.

-       We too.

She turned off the phone. Lean on her back and cuddled in Sorin’s arms. The wind was blowing her hair bringing with it news ... not pleasant.

The sun ...

(to be followed)

 

8

After 3 metres, Ana’s arms gave up and she fall. In her fall, the rope stretched and she hit violently the rocks. First, she felt how the rock rips her knees, and then the carrying bag pulled her upside down and hit the rock with her head.
The inertia rope pulled Bogdan, which fell also. But unlike her, he had a little experience in climbing so, in a split of second, regrouped and cling the rock. In his fall, the rope relaxed and he had the inspiration to let go to it. On mountain any mistake costs. The mountain does not forgive you.
The fatigues, the lack of experience have said their word.
He looked at Ana, who was down. Fell from 2 meters and was screaming. Come down to her. Gently, calmed her down and after that check her. At first, the adrenaline didn’t let her feel that her leg fractured in the fall. Only when they sat down she saw the bone coming out through her skin.
Took the bandages and bandage her as he knew.
- We should call for rescue, she said with a scared voice
- Yeah.... does it hurt?
- A little.
- I’ll make you a cup of tea first.
She calmed a little bit when she saw him so calmed. In addition, she did not feel the pain.
But his mind was at the summit. Oh, and Ana had to damage all his plans. He knew that to reach the summit will take him only one hour. What could go wrong in an hour, right? He could not give up at his dream, so close to reach it, and only for a simple scratch.
When he told her that, Ana was shocked. It was not for what he said, but the way he said it, so natural. Instead of calling for help, he asked her to wait for him to reach the summit and at this returned he promised her to call!
Firstly, she thought he was joking, bur when he put the carrying bag on his shoulders and kissed her goodbye, realised that he spooked very seriously.

His leaving was ...
(to be followed) 

 
7

The phone rang. It was Ana. She wanted to thank them for coming to their wedding. There was no need to ask if they enjoyed the weeding because everyone spent all the night on the dance floor. Towards morning, barefoot, they were still dancing. This was the best party ever.
Ana married Andrew. They were the two AA as they used to call them. Ana come from a very rich family. Her parents spoiled her very much being an only child. So, now she was doing only things she wanted to do it, whenever she wanted and whit who she wanted. She was a rebel that loved the excitement and the entertainment, who spent money without carrying and treat her parents like laundry. In a curios matter, they used to tolerate her behavior.
This situation amplified when she meet Bogdan. An adrenaline lover, just like her, Bogdan was a guy who considers himself a very intelligent human being comparing with all the others, which he saws them only as the „crowd”. From his point of view he was the smartest human being from the planet. He was perfect. Ana fall in love with Bogdan, because he gave her the necessary dose of adrenaline and Bogdan of Ana, because it gave him the necessary financial support. And well, because she was....  phenomenal in bed.
He introduced her mountains. They used to go every weekend there to climb, rappel, jumping with the paragliding, bungee jumping and anything else at the edge of safety. One day,
Bogdan told Ana about one of his plans to climb higher mountains than those in Romania. Animated by a sense of excitement and encouraged by him, who always used to say about them that they are two professionals and for that reason can climb any mountain; they decided to go and climbed Toubkal Peak, 4167m altitude, on winter!
In vain, the professional climbers who knew Bogdan, tried to convince him that he is not ready for that step, and more than that, to take a woman with no experience or training with him. He was determined to do it. So it happened, at the end of September, they left. Ana bought the best equipment for both of them, so she had no worries. For her, it was enough. Very excited they started the trip.
On the first day, they climb until the 3000m refuge, where they remained overnight. They already felt the fatigue... but.... they were not thinking to stop. They awake early in the morning and hit the road. After that passed through Taddete Step and stayed over the night at 3207m refuge. At this time the weather started to get ugly. Firstly, the come the fog and after some snow.
Normally, from here, they should rich the top the next day. But, on weather like this they could not do it. Bogdan hoped that the next day the weather improved.
So it happened.
They awake in the morning cheerful, the sky cleared up, so they were eager to reach the top.
After two hours they were so tired. The route through mud, snow and ice, was very hard.  After hours of carrying it, Ana felt the carrying bag as it broke her back and the shoes as if someone hung two anvils. Yet, she was determined not to stop... They reached a rock wall that didn’t look so difficult to climb. To go round it, it would have taken too much. Moreover, it was an area full of crevices, so Bogdan did not thought on that.
Without any questions, without a second of break, without even looking at Ana, Bogdan started climbing. Ana was tied by him, climbed the first 5 meters, feeling her muscles exploding. She had to stand against the wall, to clench and pretend that the 20 kilos from her back did not exist.

After 3 meters, Ana’s…
(to be followed)

6

Meanwhile, Sorin and Esther were sinking in their permanent silence. She, an ex-top model, had her own agency of models. The agency was a gift from her ex-boyfriend. At her insistence, he helps her to open it and recommend her to all his friends. Slowly, her business glowed and signed contracts abroad. That’s why she’d travelled a lot with the girl from the agency. After a while, the guy got bored with her and find him another woman, who’d he married shortly after.
It was then when she meets Sorin. Apparently, a dull lawyer, Sorin was not that kind. He loved beautiful women, to have fun and more than that, he’d loved to live his life ... discreetly. He was part of an exclusive world, knows people in high places and had access to sensitive information.
At first, Esther was fascinated by his lifestyle and his world. Both liked the adrenaline and to get what they want always. They were the perfect match.
But now, they had reached on that part of their relationship, when they could feel the routine. More than that, she travelled a lot and, he used to found the comfort in the arms of other ladies.
Moreover, Esther could see it all and didn’t know what to do. He was aware that Sorin will not give up until he’s have Maria and, as always, after that he’ll came back into her arms. She got to love him very much and she was not willing to give him up for nothing in the world. But she had confidence that Maria will not fall into his trap. She had faith in her but the jealousy was still there...
She knew she had only a way to make it hers, but had no courage.
Tormented by thoughts, she’d fall asleep eventually.
It was almost afternoon. As usual, the maid prepared them the lunch. They ate together; she with a smile on her face, as she would clear all the dark thoughts from the morning. Everything seemed alive around them, and they could barely move. They drank too much alcohol. They start laughing each other and their headaches.
They decided to go for a walk in the park. For a moment, everything was like the first time. They start to feel the effect of the orange and lemon fresh. Now, their laughter could be heard far away and their behaviour was worse that of kids. Lying on the grass freshly cut, he caressed her hair in a way he only knew and she responded back to him by looking “I love you…”

The phone ringed...
(to be followed)


5

He took her into his arms ... for a second they were only two of them, two people in silence.... He felt her soft skin trembling at his touch, as if it was expected it. His hands slide slowly on her arms, on her breasts, on her abdomen, on her thighs... while he overwhelmed her neck and lips with kisses. Her entire body trembled in pleasure, in desire...Their bodies sweating exploded in a simultaneous ecstasy.... In that moment he kissed her long trying to prolong the moment. And succeed it.
She felt his love. Forget everything about her and fall asleep in his arms.
The sunlight awakens them. Nothing was the same, everything shine around them. Their eyes still watching each other were still making love. 
Tom prepared a surprise for her... He came up with that idea right that morning. He wanted to kidnap her like in a fairy tale.
 -Come on. Let's dress. I want to take you somewhere.
- Where?
- You'll see, said Tom kissing her.
They hit the road, stopped at a gas station and bought two coffees and two sandwiches. They were in the way to the seaside, end of September. On the beach, they walked holding hands, running through the sand ... like to kids.
He watched her breathless while the wind bowled her hair and her sincere smile entered straight in his heart.
Took her in his arms and felt the sand.... and the love.
They closed their eyes and flew away above the sea, the sunset and then the sunrise.

Meanwhile, Sorin and Esther...
(to be followed)

4

Here he draws the curtains. Now it was a dim light in the room, but their eyes closed. For one second, the time stopped. The twinkle from her eyes, almost made him lose his mind... but he’d return to senses.
He slightly turned to her, looking deep into her eyes and said: 
- I’ll let you change now and ....have a peaceful sleep. I will be in the other room if you need anything.
- Tom... thank you.
-  I thank you.
He didn’t want to leave; he wanted to stay there, to feel the smell of her skin, the smell of her hair and to fall asleep in her arms because he...loves her. Knowing what was in her soul, he had to be patient.
They were falling asleep. He spends every minute in thinking of her, and she was trying to forget...
It was night, when she’d wake up ... he was standing in the door with a big smile in his face, looking at her. 
- Oh. I’m horrible, don’t look at me.
- You look more beautiful than ever. I’ll wait for you in the living room, he said smiling.
A few moments later she entered the living room. On the table, two candlesticks lighten the room, surrounded by flowers. Two seats at the table were waiting them. He came near her, took her by hand and put her on the chair like she was a child. After, he came with the dinner: grilled salmon with vegetables...
They ate in silence and they looked at each other in silence. 
- Tom....
- Maria, no words tonight. Will speak only by signees.
- But.
- Shhhhh, he said gently touching her lips.
They looked at each other all dinner long... and at the end, came the dessert ... another tiramisu. She smiled for the first time from deep heart and took the spoon, like she was waiting for him to see her joy. Both started to laugh.
At the end, she’s approached him and kissed him on the cheek.
They sat on the couch. No words were said.

He took her in his arms....
(to be followed)

3

He followed her, grabbed her hand and took her gently in her arms. He felt his shirt getting wet from her tears and, for the first time, he felt helpless. However, je had trust in him and in what he was feeling so all he had to do was to be patient.
He started the car. She closed her eyes and leaned on her back. In one second they were there, at Tom’s home. Maria sat on the couch, doing all and feeling like a robot. He approached her, wiped her tears, kissed her eyes one by one, her forehead and her cheeks right over her lips…
Then, he grabbed her ankles and lifts her feet on the couch and took off her shoes.
-  I’m going to make you a tea. I’m coming right now.
She wanted to disappear from the face of the Earth; he wanted to cry, to scream…
Tom comes back with two cups of tea in his hands; he put them on the table. Then, he’d come back with a plate of tiramisu and a big smile on this face.
- Today you will see what a great cooker I am.
- It looks incredible. You… cook?
- Ha haha! Yes. Would you like to taste it?
- Of course.
(“Easy, easy, with small steps … he was thinking”) 
-  I have only one condition. 
-  Hmmm
-  Let me … feed you. 
- ….
With each piece she’d eat, she felt much more closed to him. And he was enjoying every moment and wished he could the time right there.
- No more. 
- I won’t insist, but I know you’d like to eat it all, Tom smiled. 
- Thank you for … 
-  This sweet moment, he interrupted her. 
-  Yes, she smiled. 
-  Finally, a smile. I’ll always have tiramisu in the fridge because it brings smiles.
-  You should.
-  This means that you promise to come again?
-  We’ll see about that… You know, I have to go now.
-  I know, but…. I want you to stay. I’ll sleep on the couch. Please, stay.
-  I don’t think it’s a good idea.
-  Please. I don’t deserve it after that tiramisu?
-  But….
-  No but.  I’ll bring you something to change.
She did not have any chance to say anything. In an instant, Tom was back with a tee-shirt and a sort in his hand. With the other one he grabbed her and led her into his bedroom.

             

Here ...
(to be followed)
   
2

The morning come and Tom offered to take her home. She accepted, without much reluctantly.

- It was a nice weeding.

- Yes, very beautiful.

- Would you like to drink a coffee with me?

- Sure, she replied indifferently.

- Now?

 (She smiled surprised)

- Don’t tell me you don’t drink coffee in the morning!

(She giggled)

- You are very beautiful. When you wake up in the morning I think you are more beautiful than ever.

- Thanks.

A little bit jolly as the alcohol did its job, she did not realize yet what happens. Only when she got out of the can and breathe the cool fresh morning air paid more attention to Tom. He was a tall man, well done, dark hair with blue eyes with a dimple in his right cheek when smiling.

She began to shiver.

Without saying anything, he approached her, removes her jacket and places it gently on her shoulder. Then take her hand and put it in the left sleeve and did the same with the other arm. He did so sensual and protective in the same time, that all her senses awaked. Thought her dress, her voluptuous breasts betrayed her feelings.

He smiled slightly. “I think she finally noticed me”

“A Don Juan”, she thought.

They entered the coffee shop. It was empty.

- Two coffees, please and two mineral waters. It’s that ok?

- Perfect.

He was standing on front of her, not knowing what to say. For the first time, a women made his silent.

- What are you thinking?

It took him by surprise, but the order come and save him.

- I was wondering how you drink your coffee, he smiled.

- No sugar and a little bit of milk

- Same as me.

- And what are you thinking about?

- How beautiful you are. I was wondering why your eyes are sad and you are abstracted. I know you for some time, and you’re not like that. Where is your smile? What happened?

- Don’t worry, I’m fine.

- I know you are a strong woman. But … (he took her hand and kissed it) ….  I miss your smile.

For the first time she felt naked in front of someone. Her eyes welled with tears.

In that moment, she got up and left the coffee shop.

(to be followed)

1

She had a strange feeling and for no reason. For her adolescence she dreamed that she’ll meet “him”, her soul mate.  Now, over 30 years old, she sees it differently. The beautiful tale with “him” appearing on a white horse that makes her happy ever after, remains only a story … or maybe not?!

She closed her eyes for a second. She was afraid to open them and see that it’s only a dream. They were there, him and her, her in his arms…

He followed her while she was headed to the bathroom, took her by the hand and pulled up behind him in the garden. There, he stunned her with kisses.

She opened her eyes and realized that he was there in front of her. Then, in that second understood that everything is real.

-  Are you crazy?

-  I know you feel the same as me.

-  What? I think I’ll better leave.

-  I’m crazy for you … I was looking at you, dying to touch you, to kiss you, to make love to you.

-  I think you are confused. It’s me Maria! And you came at the party with someone else!

- Let me explain it, please.

- It’s time for me to leave.

- I’m going to call you.

- Under no circumstances! Esther is my best friend

- Maria…

She turned on her feet and walked away. The party has not been the same, everything moving slowly. Men swarmed around her, but her mind was flying to that stolen kiss in the garden.

His eyes pursuit her relentless; the whiskey glassed emptied quickly one by one until morning. Next to him was the same beautiful woman Esther as cold as her beauty.

(to be followed)