My mom was upstairs resting. I stood in the sitting room, looking around. All I could see were photos of Sally and me.

I picked up the frame on the stool close to where I stood and I stared at it. I was going to ask her to marry me. I had already picked out a ring.

I felt bad we were no longer together. I even missed having her around but somewhere deep down inside me, I knew Sally wasn’t the one for me. I wish I knew a better way to explain it to you. Sally and I didn’t feel special. We felt too ordinary. Being with her didn’t challenge me. It didn’t make me question things, question life. Not like Amora. I think the best way I can explain it is that being with Sally felt very comfortable.

I was slightly heartbroken when she left me. Maybe because I was so used to having her around, so used to sleeping beside her most of the nights.

I grabbed all of our photos hanging on the wall and those sitting on the stools and I put them all in a box. Eight years of my relationship with Sally all packed up in a box.

At least Sally was brave, not like me. She was brave enough to walk away. She was brave enough to leave me because I couldn’t have done it. If she didn’t leave me, I would have stayed committed to my plans.

I’m telling you, Sally leaving me was all part of the Lord’s plan for me only I didn’t know it then.

“Mom? I need to go to the office. I promise I won’t be long. If you need anything or feel the slightest discomfort, call me. I put my number on speed dial.”

“You worry too much son. I know I’m dying but not today. Go ahead.” She said with a weak smile. How could she joke about dying? It wasn’t funny. It wasn’t supposed to be joked about.

As I drove to work that morning, I thought of many things. Things like what Sally was doing at the moment and how my mum felt. Was she afraid? Was she in pains?

Then I thought of my dad. Did he think of my mom? Did he think of me? I’m telling you all those thoughts nearly made me go crazy. I was grateful for the cool breeze that brushed against me as I drove. It acted as an insulator for me.

As I got to work that morning, everybody looked at me. Some didn’t make it seem very obvious that they looked while others just stared. Some wore pity on their faces and others curiosity. I felt sick, very sick, down to my stomach.

I managed to walk into my office with a straight face, acting like I didn’t care while in all honesty I did. I cared. I cared about what they thought about what I was going through. I cared that they were talking about me in their different homes or wherever it is people met.

Then I felt angry. Angry at my dad for leaving. Angry at Sally for leaving me. Angry at my mom for being sick. Angry at myself for reasons I can’t remember. I felt angry at the world and I felt I deserved an apology.

I was still processing all the emotions I felt when Derek walked into my office.

You know those friends you make that you can never shake off and they are always there and you have no choice but to remain friends, just like your brother will always remain your brother? That was Derek, -God bless his soul.-

“Hey man. I saw you walk in. I heard about Nicole. I’m so sorry.” He said with eyes clouded by genuine concern.

“Happens she has known for a while. Did a good job in hiding it from me.” I almost sounded like I wanted Derek to pity me but that wasn’t it. I was just being honest. I was like that with Derek.

“I also heard about Sally. You don’t deserve this you know? You are a nice guy. If there is anything I can do to help, please tell me.”
“Yeah. Thanks.”

“But really, how are you?”

“You want the truth? I don’t know. I really don’t know.”

“Everything will be okay. You’ll see.”

I was about to say something when the door to my office opened and Sally walked in. I was surprised to see her and I was certain she had heard about my mom.

“Talk to you later. Sally.” Derek said and left.

Something was different about Sally. I didn’t know what it was but I was sure she looked different.

“Hey Roman.” She said.

“Sally.” I didn’t move from where I stood. I stared right into her face and I saw how uncomfortable she was.

“How is she?” The question sounded like we’ve had a prior discussion about my mother. Still, I answered.

“She’s home.”

“Roman I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault. Are you okay?” I wanted to know. I spent years together with Sally. I cared about her wellbeing. That should count for something. She didn’t answer. Something was wrong with Sally and I knew it.

“You’ve put on some weight.” No, she had put on too much weight. Was she not eating right? What was wrong? I wondered.

“Roman I’m pregnant.”

My mouth fell open. I walked to my seat and I sat. I needed to sit to absorb what she said. I stayed silent for a couple of seconds before finally asking,

“When did this…”

“Roman, it’s not yours.” She said cutting me short. It wasn’t mine. Sally’s pregnancy wasn’t mine. Shock cannot explain what I felt. Sally cheated on me when I was nothing but faithful to her. It hurt. I felt betrayed and it wasn’t because I loved her. I felt betrayed because I was going to marry her and then grateful that I didn’t.

“How long?” I was asking how long she has been sleeping with someone else and she understood.

“Two years. Roman I’m very sorry. I hope you would be able to forgive me some day.” Sally cheated on me for two years and I didn’t notice. Either she was very good at hiding it or I was too blind to notice. I felt like the world’s biggest fool.

“Do you love him?” Sally had tears in her eyes and I suddenly felt sorry for her. I felt like a bad guy. I should have set her free a long time ago. I should have set myself free too.

“Yes.” She said and the tears in her eyes dropped.

“Then there is nothing to forgive.” I meant it.

“Don’t you even want to know who the father is?”

No. I didn’t want to know. That information seemed useless to me.

“No I don’t.”

After Sally left, I couldn’t help but feel horrible and my nerves felt on edge. I needed some air or a few shots of tequila to help me relax.

I know I promised Nicole I would be back home soon but I needed thirty minutes to myself. Thirty minutes alone.

So I drove to the bar, Domino’s bar. That bar was as old as time. It was there when I was born. The bar had witnessed the joys of many and the sorrows of a lot more. It was a family business passed on to generations.

It was around ten in the morning. The bar was usually empty by that time of the day, so I was certain I would be alone.

There was a woman in the bar. She was seated on a stool in front of the bar, her head bent.

“Hey Freddy. Two shots of tequila please.” I said to the bar attendant and sat on the stool next to the woman.

I rolled up the sleeves of my shirt and ran my hand through my hair that appeared frizzy. I forgot to comb my hair that morning.

“It’s a little too early in the morning to get drunk don’t you think?” The woman said. She didn’t look at me so at first I couldn’t make out her face but I didn’t really care. I ignored her and gulped down the first shot of tequila. Yeah, that’s more like it, I thought.

“You know, there is a saying that goes a problem shared is a problem half solved.” She still didn’t look at me.

I scoffed, “Trust me, sharing my problems will not get any proportion of it solved.”

She laughed. It was the most beautiful laugh I’ve heard my entire life. It was the kind of laugh that pulled you in, comforted you and then made you laugh too.

“I never quite believed in that saying too.” She said and finally turned to face me. “Hold on. I remember you. You are that guy that totally slammed his door to my face. The same guy that was dumped right here in this bar.”

“Really?” I asked sarcastically. I remembered her. I remembered she was in my porch about a week ago. I also remember thinking she was a crazy person.

“That must suck, being dumped like that but you totally deserved it.”

I laughed. “Because I slammed the door to your face?”

“Exactly. You are definitely not a nice guy.”

“Because I slammed the door to your face?” I asked again.

“Yes. Chivalry is gone forever in this world with the likes of you.”

She was crazy. “I see. Cheers to not being a nice guy.” I said and gulped down another shot of tequila.

“Easy there Mr. I’m not a nice guy. You don’t really want to get wasted by ten in the morning.”

I came to the bar to have a moment of peace and quiet but she was ruining it for me.

“Is this because of her? The pretty red head that dumped you.”

I looked at her for a brief moment, “it’s really none of your business.” Maybe if I was rude to her, she would get offended and leave me alone, I thought. I was mistaken.

“You know what I believe?”

“What?” I asked dryly.

“Nothing happens by chance. There is a reason for everything that happens to us, for everyone we meet. Maybe it’s to make us stronger or wiser or happier or to teach us patience, gratitude, forgiveness or hope. To teach us to have hope or teach us how to love or maybe to teach us to believe. Trust me, nothing or no one happens to us by chance. It was all planned by Him.” She pointed up, smiling. That smile hadn’t left her face since we began talking. It was like it was permanently glued to her face. “If you believe that, you’ll feel better about her leaving you.”

“I see.” I acted like I didn’t care about what she said but I knew her words struck a chord in me. Her words were almost inspiring.

“Why are you here? In white Oak.” I asked her.

“It’s really none of your business?”

I laughed again. This lady was something and talking to her was easing my tensions.
“Tit for Tat?” I asked her.

“Nope. I’m a nice person.”

“Then tell me why you are in town. Business or pleasure?”

“I don’t know. A bit of both. I don’t know. I think I might stay for good.”

“That’s interesting. Why white Oakland?”

“You would think I’m crazy if I told you.”

“Try me.”

“I needed to move but I didn’t know where. I prayed and the Lord dropped White Oakland in my heart. So I packed my bags and here I am.”

“Hmm. You really are big on the Lord aren’t you?” I hoped she didn’t notice the sarcasm in my tone immediately I spoke the words.

“Yeah. I am.”

There was something very innocent about her and it made me smile. I wanted to know her and what gave her the strength and courage to believe.

“What’s your name?” I asked her, observing her.

“Amora but my friends and family call me Amor. I remember I told you my name that night.” She said tilting her head towards me.

“I’m sorry. I forgot. I’m Roman.”

Then she did something I would never forget. She grabbed my hand and shook on it slowly, that smile still glued on her face.

“Why do you look so surprised?” She asked, her hand still in mine. “Isn’t this what people do when they meet? Shake hands?”

“Are you always this cheerful?” I asked, withdrawing my hand.

“I think?”

“Must be tiring.” I was being sarcastic again.

“I’m glad we are getting along because I need a favor from you. I promise I’d give a favor back in return.”

This woman was crazy, I thought. But I was still going to hear her out.
“Are you going to ask me to let you spend the night in my house again?”

“Yes. Not just for a night. I need a place to stay. Only temporarily. I don’t have any friends here and I’m really low on cash.” She said too rapidly.

“I’m not following.”

“Can I stay with you? Only for a few days? Please?”

So the Lord asked you to move to White Oakland but He didn’t make provisions for where you’d stay, I thought. I almost said it but I felt it would wipe away that smile on her face and I wasn’t really a heartless fellow.

“Were you just sitting here waiting to move in with the first person that walked into the bar?”

“Of course not.”

“Why me? What makes you think you can trust me? What makes you think I should trust you? What if I’m a serial killer or some pervert or a crazy person? What if you are a serial killer or a criminal or some lunatic?”

“First of all, I’m no serial killer. Have you ever seen a serial killer that looked like this?” She asked pointing her two index fingers to herself.

“Well no.” I said. She looked too innocent to be a serial killer.

“Secondly, I’m no criminal and you can be rest assured you are not talking to a lunatic. And you, I know you are not a serial killer or some pervert or a crazy person.”

“How can you be so sure?” I asked and then she said the words I could never forget.

“Because my heart tells me so and my heart has never deceived me.”
I looked at her totally bewildered.

“What else is your heart telling you?”

“That I can trust you. That you are a good person even though you don’t act like it most times and that I’m safe with you.”

There was something about her. I couldn’t place my fingers on it then. There was something about her that made the insides of me calm. There was something about her that gave me hope. There was something about her that almost took away all my fears.

“Well the answer is no. I can’t let a total stranger come live with me. I’m sorry. Try the next guy.” I blurted out. I saw the twinkle in her eyes disappear and then it came back almost immediately.
Amora grabbed my cellphone.

“Here. This is my number, just in case you step out of this bar and your conscience begins to torment you for saying no to this poor, homeless lady. Again.”

I let out a short laugh. She was dramatic, I’d give her that.
“Don’t count on it Amora.” I said, paid for my drinks and I left the bar.

The first time I met Amora, I felt nothing except calmness; well the second time because I slammed the door to her face the first time.

Sure my mom was still dying and I was still hurting over Sally’s betrayal but I felt calm even in the midst of those problems.

My heart didn’t race, I didn’t feel giddy, and I didn’t feel funny in my stomach. I just felt calm. Till today, no other person made me feel that way. It was just Amora. Sure I noticed her physical beauty but I wasn’t moved by it, -at least not on our first or second meeting-, I noticed her deep brown curly hair, I noticed her fair skin, I noticed her eyes and the twinkle in them, I noticed her thin pink lips that was always curled up in a beautiful smile, I noticed how soft and delicate her hand was when we shook hands, I noticed that Amora was beautiful but it wasn’t her beauty that drew me to her. It was the calmness she brought to my soul.