Chapter 2 Point of no return

The journey to town X was not long as Annette slept all the way. With little anxiety, she did rest quite well after spending sleepless nights and so much crying.

Finally there was a light at the end of the tunnel or so she could say!

On the other hand, Douglas was restless. Anxiety was killing him. He loved this girl yes but he was now taking steps to the unknown.

Did he make promises he could keep? That really bothered him. What did he have, he made Annette believe he was her hero? More than ever, Douglas believed he was a dumb ass

The ringing of his phone startled him out of his wits. No. He took more than he could chew this time.

He picked the phone from the ground as it continued ringing.

Luckily it was not broken and so he answered immediately. "Babe I'm here. Where do I meet you?" Those words dawned on him there was no more thinking but acting

"I'll get you from the bus station in a few, sweets", came his tender assurance.

Was he assuring Annette or himself? Either way he had to get her. He did not plan on keeping His love waiting, would he?

He left the room in a hurry. In place of doubts, Annette filled his mind. That calmed him. Yeah, his brain agreed to feed on good thoughts finally.

At the station, Annette waited patiently for her hero. Her face was something Douglas could never miss even in a crowd. But she was so skinny!

Douglas' knees almost stopped supporting him, he rushed forward and hugged her so tight she wished he would not let go. He hugged her so long afraid of loosing her as he saw the impact whatever she went through had on her.

She smiled with relieve but her lips were dry. He realised his girl was starving! Without thinking he took her hand and bag and hailed a taxi.

Food or freshen up? These two things confused him. Especially after seeing how Annette was skinny. He stopped the taxi driver after a while and paid. He never left Annette's hand, but the bag as he did all the moving. He felt entitled to protecting her forever even if it meant guarding her safety with his life.

He entered into a hotel and ordered a cup of tea for Annette. "Aren't you ordering yours sweets?" Annett asked softly. "I already broke my fast sweets", did he lie just now? He wanted to watch her eat all his life.

"What else do you need sir?" Came the waiter. He made orders he thought would warm up his girl and watched with satisfaction as Annette dug into the servings.

It was long since she had a proper meal. Having Douglas around was an assurance she had longed for and with little talking she filled her belly. Not long after, Douglas took his usual spot and led her to a room not very far from where he had her dine.

Annette looked exhausted, so Douglas showed her where she would take her shower. Within no time she was all refreshed and changed into clean clothes. No sooner had she laid her head on the pillow than she started snoring lightly.

Her relaxed face made Douglas smile involuntarily. He was not sure of what he was going to do before meeting her, but now he thanked his guts.

He did not know when he fell asleep, but he was woken by Annette's hand as she was turning. She placed her hand on his chest. He stiffened with shock and did not know how to react. At least she was sound asleep, and that saved him the embarrassment.

He lay still fearing any movement as he could disrupt her sweet sleep. Annette's hand was light on his chest, he imagined it on his bare chest. What a naughty way of thinking about his distressed girl without her knowledge!

But what was wrong with that anyway? He touched her hand lightly with a smile on his face. Why was it so new to him?

She was skinny but her skin was soft and felt like velvet under his touch. He could not resist touching her anymore. He moved a stray strand of her hair from her face and could not withdraw his hand.

She was so soft and so close. Temperature seemed to rise by minute, but he could not dare take off his shirt so as not to scare his sweet birdy. What was that name he had in his mind, thinking of his girl?

This was not Douglas. If it was, this then was a new transition.

All his previous worries as to what he would do next, vanished into thin air. In place were wild thoughts.

It was some time since they had come to bed and Annette blinked as her eyes were registering to the light in the room. She smiled when she met Douglas' eye contact. Her eyes were huge against her slim physique, yet so inviting.

"Had a good sleep hah?" Douglas smiled as he spoke so softly. Did he fear hurting her if he spoke loudly? What was wrong with him. Since when did he become so considerate? It was really a transition he was yet to witness.

"Yeah", came the angelic murmur.

He wanted her by his side all his life and was ready not to die before her for he could not entrust her safety to anyone else. Never.

He did not care who hurt her before but whoever dared hurt her from now onwards, had a death wish. He would not be sorry for whatever would happen to whoever hurt his sweet birdy. She was his and his to protector. There was no turning back now.

He smiled and bent over and kissed her cheek. Oh! Did she just close her eyes! Was he imagining all these? She nudged and moved closer to him until he could feel her soft quick breathes on his chest.

He held her tight into an embrace and kissed her hair. He was sure he had her even when the future was not known due to his financial strains.