The next image was Vickie and Gregory all grown up, of him leaving the orphanage while she stayed behind.
He spoke in a low voice, “The puppy love between the young man and young lady was filled with so many ups and downs. They grew up, believing that they could be together peacefully but as they grew, so did their responsibilities and commitments.
“The young man couldn’t stay by her side anymore and on that day, he left the place they grew up in together. He said to her that if she ever missed him one day, go find him.
“He once thought about it, that perhaps she may never come and see him. Granted, she looked very reliant on him but he knew better than anymore how independent and stubborn she was.
“She would never agree to be a wallflower that was to stay by him forever. So, he silently swore to himself that he would give himself two years. Just two years and he would settle everything and return to her.”
Then, the lights turned and the image changed again.
It was now the two of them meeting again.
His voice softened and held a warm tone to it.
“But so many things in this world are unpredictable, and he thought she would never reappear in his life again but she did.
“They reunited, dated, and he couldn’t help but fall in love. Those few years were the happiest years of his life.
“But one thing brooded over him. He was determined to work towards getting stronger and more powerful to protect the person he cared for.
“However, she was too stubborn for her own good. She didn’t want his protection, neither did she want to live under his watch. She could live a peaceful life with good food and good clothes, free of worries, but she was defiant which threw herself into danger time and time again.”
“He panicked. He was angry, enraged, and had fought with her over and over again until eventually, she was forced to leave.”
At this point, Gregory’s voice became like a cello that had gone mute.
The image changed again, into a bloody and broken scene. This time the theme was red.
Gregory’s voice was strained. The pain in his words was indescribable.
“The two ended up in a situation they never expected to be in. They stood against each other, separated on different sides when they should be holding each other tightly.
“He found out something bad and was forced to kill her siblings in arms. She hated him so much that she wished for his death.
“But she didn’t understand that the siblings she knew were all wolves in sheep’s clothing.
“They never saw her as a true friend and everything was perfectly schemed, but the young man had no proof to show her even if he brought it up.
“And so, they separated for four long years. It was supposed to be a peaceful ending, like a pair of ex-lovers who were to never meet again. But he could not let her go and desperately wanted her to stay. The more he insisted the more fiercely she rebelled.
“He was afraid. He was hesitant. He feared that the next time she rebelled she would get hurt. At the same time, he discovered that those people were hunting her down.
“Riddled with an internal and external dilemma, he had no choice but to throw her in jail for four years to protect her.”
Once again, the image changed, and it turned to Vickie getting out of jail.
“The good thing was that she was safe and alive under his watchful eye for four years. Those years have changed how she felt about him but he didn’t regret it.
“He kept her by his side once more, hoping that they could mend bridges. He then told her the truth about everything.
“The heavens finally granted them mercy. The young man and young lady got closer and closer after their experiences together.
“It was at this point that he finally understood, after everything that had happened, nothing could be better than two people spending time together happily.
Vickie stood there, dazed and stunned.
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