A letter to the post man

I couldn't help but wonder why Diana was so utterly concerned about me. She wasn't even my real mother, yet her worry seemed genuine. It was written all over her face, in her every gesture, as if my pain were her own. I wanted to brush it off, but deep down, her concern touched me. Perhaps it was possible for someone to care without blood ties, after all.

But my mind couldn't linger on Diana for long. I needed to find Nath. Where was he? My love, my anchor—how I had longed for his presence. As I stood to search for him, my eyes caught a figure leaning casually against the barrister. It was him. Nath.

He stood there, his gaze fixed on me, and as our eyes met, his lips curled into the reassuring smile I had come to adore. That smile had a way of making the world feel right, even in its darkest moments. Without thinking, I ran to him, throwing my arms around him in a tight embrace, not giving him space to breathe.

"Nath," I whispered, my voice trembling with emotion.

He held me just as tightly, his hand stroking the back of my head as if to reassure me that this was real. Then, he leaned back slightly, his eyes searching for mine, and before I could say a word, he lowered his lips to mine. It was a kiss filled with passion, longing, and relief—the most affectionate kiss he had ever given me.

My heart raced, not just from the intensity of the moment but from the fear of being caught. "Nath," I said, pulling back slightly, "someone might see us."

"I don't care anymore," he said, his voice firm but gentle. "Let them see."

His words took my breath away. Nath, the man I loved ardently, was willing to risk everything for me. But as his eyes scanned my body, his expression shifted. His gaze fell to the scars on my arms and legs—the ones my clothes couldn't fully hide. His jaw clenched, and I saw the fury flicker in his eyes.

"What did they do to you?" he muttered, more to himself than to me. He cursed under his breath, his hand gently tracing the edge of a scar on my wrist.

"It's nothing," I tried to assure him, though the pain was still fresh in my mind.

He shook his head. "You should rest, Reina. I'll make sure the police handle everything tomorrow. You've been through enough tonight."

I nodded, knowing he was right. But as he leaned in to kiss me again, my heart sank. This love—our love—wasn't something I could share with anyone. It was a secret that could destroy everything.

"I didn't know what I'd do to myself if you didn't return," he murmured against my lips.

His words struck a chord deep within me. Nath loved me, truly and deeply. But as he pulled away and prepared to leave, the guilt gnawed at me. He was my everything, but he wasn't mine to love.

Nath was the husband of my best friend, Catharine .

I couldn't let my family know about us. If Alex ever found out, he would hate me. Archie, my younger sister, would learn the worst lesson from me. What kind of role model was I? Was being the other woman the right choice?

My mother had always taught me to love with all my heart, to cherish love until my last breath. But she had never taught me how to love someone else's husband. And yet, here I was, tangled in a web of emotions I couldn't escape.

As I tried to steady myself, my thoughts shifted to Geynie. Where was she? I hadn't seen her since my return. I made my way through the house, searching for her, but before I could go far, my father approached me.

"Reina," he said, his voice warm and filled with emotion. He opened his arms, and I fell into them, feeling the strength and comfort only a father could provide. "I missed you so much," he whispered.

"I missed you too, Dad," I replied, tears brimming in my eyes.

"I've always kept your room upstairs," he said softly, his voice trembling. "I knew you would come home one day."

He led me carefully to my room, his hand resting protectively on my shoulder. But as we entered, I froze. Archie was there, sitting on my bed, holding my diary in her hands.

My heart raced. "Archie!" I snapped, rushing to her and snatching the diary from her grasp.

"Did you read it?" I demanded, my voice sharper than I intended.

"No, sis," she said, her eyes wide with innocence. "I just touched it."

Her words calmed me slightly, but I knew what was inside that diary—my deepest, darkest secrets. Things no one should ever know.

As Archie turned to leave, I stopped her, pulling her into a tight hug. "I'm sorry," I whispered. "I didn't mean to yell."

She hugged me back, and I felt the warmth of her love. Archie had always been perceptive. I knew she would figure out that something was wrong, that I had disappeared and returned under mysterious circumstances. She was smarter than anyone gave her credit for.

"I missed you, Reina," she said, her voice breaking as tears fell from her eyes.

"I missed you too," I replied, holding her tighter.

"You should rest," she said after a moment, pulling away. She walked into the kitchen and returned with a glass of warm milk.

As I took it from her, I couldn't help but see my mother in her. Archie had the same nurturing spirit, the same kindness in her eyes. It made me miss Mom even more, a dull ache settling in my chest.

I sipped the milk slowly, letting the warmth soothe my nerves. But as the night wore on, I couldn't shake the weight of everything that had happened. The secrets I carried, the scars on my body, and the forbidden love in my heart—all of it felt like a burden too heavy to bear.

Yet, amidst the chaos, one thing was clear: I had to help Damian .