I got up from the sound of the alarm on my phone at midnight. I'm not sure if uncle is still awake. He is so workaholic now a days, it won't be surprise, if he's still typing on his computer. But nothing can stop me today to show my love towards him. His Birthday.

I tiptoed to the kitchen and took the small cake out, where I actually hid it. I baked him a Chocolate Truffle cake, his fav. Then I lit the candles and slowly opened his bedroom door with a smile, only to find the room empty. I know where to find him. He was in his studies again. The light were on, that means he's still working.

I opened the door to the study and found him sleeping on the table, heads down. I sighed getting inside and closed the door behind me, making sure not to startle him in the process. He looked extremely tired, making me feel guilty because, he doesn't have a personal life of his own...just because he had to work hard and look after me.

When he found me 7 years back, he was then dating a woman name Rose. She was very kind and uncle Ben really liked her but, it didn't work out because, he had to give me his undivided attention. They broke up unfortunately and I have never seen him with any other woman since then. He is afraid they'll not treat me the way he does. I tried convincing him to date again but, the looks he gives me that says, "Can we not have this conversation" I had stopped asking him.

Since I was a child, my biggest issue was to socialize. My lack of interest to interact or meet new people was always a concern for him. He knew about my problems and was always careful not to expose me more to this world. He's afraid, I'm too delicate to handle my own problems, even though I have grown up and learning to overcome my fears.

3 years back, when I joined Jr. High, I got lots of attention because of my unique beauty. Not to brag but, if someone goes rating my appearance, it's 10/10. That's what I heard at school. They rate every one. I was no different. I have very long dark hair, which falls in waves. A pale skin tone with a touch of blush, Big brown doe eyes and just a small beauty spot on the right side of my lower lips. Im 5'9, with a hourglass figure. Im not fat but, have right curves on right places, which I'm sure attracts the male population towards me. Yes, you heard that right.

Don't want to go into details but, any man who approached me, other than my uncle, they had some kind of hunger in their eyes for my body. I still remember getting panic attacks, when somebody would come really close to my personal bubble.

I never like people touching me. Maybe that's why, I never dated anyone. But that doesn't mean, I can't have crush on anyone. I was afterall just a teenager. There was this guy name Ron. Tall dark handsome. Girls just threw themselves on him but, he always eyed me with longing. Now his attention, I loved and craved but, never made it obvious that, the feeling were mutual.

After giving several mixed signals, he was fed up and finally asked me out...And guess what? I couldn't say no. He was really nice to me. He respected my feelings and never touched me inappropriately. We started spending time together and it went for 2 months, without any problems. Then it was his Birthday, and he asked if he could kiss me, to which again I said yes. My first kiss was memorable and heavenly.

He was very caring and romantic. He would never do things which I don't like and never take me to public places because I hate it. We started spending time in his place because, his parents are usually out of the town. I trusted him to never cross his limits with me. We were in love with each other. Or that's what I thought.

Everything was going good until one day he didn't turn up to school nor replied to my messages. I thought he was sick and would wait for his reply, which never came. That got me worried and I couldn't sleep that night, wating for his call. Next day when I woke up, I had a message from him explaining that he was stuck in some kind of family emergency, so he couldn't take my calls. He also apologized for not calling me back. He offered to pick me up for the school today, which made my face lit up and I jumped out of the bed to get ready.

Like he asked, I waited for him but, he never turned up. I had no clue what was happening to him but, It was getting late for school and I had no choice but to ask my uncle to drop me that day. I was upset. Very upset and decided to confront him about his strange behavior towards me today, even if I had to go to his house to find him, I was determined to do so. But there was also this small voice in the back of my head that nagged me to let it go, which I completely ignored and searched everywhere for him.

He was absent again. I never like talking to his friends but today, I was desperate. Henry was Ron's best friend. As soon as I spoted him, I approached him. "Hey...Hi. Do you know where Ron is? I couldn't reach him?" He was taken aback by my sudden approach and fumbled with his words. But assured that he'll check with him. He dialed Ron's number, while I stood there. What shocked me was that, he picked up Henry's call immediately, while avoiding mine at the same time. What is he up to?

"Hey man..where are you? Your girl's here asking about you." Henry asked. I don't know what was his reply but, looking at Henry's expression, it's not good. Then he disconnected the call. Henry was in some kind of conflict but, it was clear that he was about to lie to me. He looked guilty.

"He's not well. He said he'll call you once he gets up. I think he was taking a nap, when I called." he said, smiling acwardly. "Ok" was all I said, and turned around to go back to the next class. Ron was avoiding me, that much was clear but, why? I guess, I just have to figure that out myself.

I decided to go see him at his place after school. Although my mind was asking me not to go that far, my heart didn't listen. I wish I would have waited for him to come up on his own and explained things but, it was bound to happen. I walked up to his front door and after giving it a lot of thoughts, I Knocked and waited.

When the door finally opened, I saw something unexpected. Ron. Healthy. Sweating and a pant, hanging low on his hip. But that is not what caught my attention. The girl sitting on his couch with a grey T-shirt, which I'm very sure belongs to him.

"M..Maya? What are you...You could've called?" asked Ron, panicking. The girl came and stood beside him, running her hands on his arm. "Ron who's she?” but, he was looking everywhere but me. “Is she the one you have been taking about? Wow! you are really beautiful. I'm jealous. Don't worry, I don't mind sharing. I'm Mia by the way."  She said, extending her hand for me to shake.

All this time Ron and me were having a staring contest. Me asking with my blurry eyes and his expression, Nervous, worried and...Guilt. Oh my God. Why did you do this to me Ron? I didn't know what to make out of this situation? "C..come inside...I can explain." said Ron, opening the door wide open for me to get in.

"No" Was my only answer, before I turned on my heels to leave. He caught my hand. "Maya please don't leave. Trust me, I love..." I raised my hand, stopping him from completing it. “I don’t want to hear one more lie from you. Let me go." I said, snatching my hand out of his hold. "Dont ever try to call me or meet me again. I don't want to see your face or hear your voice ever again." That was my last words to him, as I ran towards my house, never looking back once.

He kept yelling my name, begging me to stop but I knew, every thing he had to say, would be another lie. Tears were about to leave my eyes. My body was trembling. I was going to have a panic attack. As soon as I reached home, I speed dialed my uncle's number and luckily, he received immediately. "Hey pumpkin. I'm on my way to pick you up..give me 2 minutes." He said. “U..u..ucle?" I tried to speak between breaths. "Sweety, what happened? Where are you?" He asked, panicking. "H..home" I struggled to mutter. "Im on my way" was the last thing I heard before I blackout.

Next when I opened my eyes, I found myself in the hospital. Uncle Ben was holding my hand, and sleeping in an acward position. My head was pounding. God what on the earth happened? Slowly, the memory of Ron's betrayal came back and I couldn't hold my tears back any longer and started sobbing. Uncle woke up with a jerk. "Sweety you awake? What's wrong? Why are you crying?"

I cried my heart out to him. Told him, how I fell in love with Ron and how he was trying to avoid me, recently. I told him how I caught him redhanded. But regretted instantly, as he looked more broken than me. The pain in his eye resembled mine. "Oh princess, I'm so sorry. Why didn't you tell me about him earlier, sweety? Why did you keep it you yourself?" He pulled me into a hug and tried soothing me. I didn't want to cry anymore but, the pain was too much.

My first love, gone. My first heart break, or maybe the last. I'm not sure, if I'll ever be able to trust anyone again, in my life. He meant a lot to me. I had shared my dreams, my thoughts, my strength, my weaknesses, my love for him. All gone now. Why? That was the only question, I want the answer to. Why he did, what he did?

After a long time, my uncle finally convinced me to get over it saying, people like Ron, doesn't even deserve my tears. They are valuable and I shouldn't waste it on assholes like him. Even if he was cracking jokes to lighten my mood, we both knew, I would never be the same again. Ever.

It was my uncle's sole mission after that to never let me cry again. I was over Ron in no time but, no matter what I do, I couldn't brush away the emptyness in my chest. In other words, I was lost. The only thing that was pushing me to move on was my uncle. His faith that, I would meet someone better in my life. Someone who would sweep me out of my feet and treat me like a princess, that I really am. I laughed after he said that. He was very happy to see me smile again.

On my next birthday, he made me promise that no matter what, I should never give up. I should fight. I should be an optimist because, god never gives us what we want but, what we need. Live every moment, like it's the last. I don't know what would have happened to me if uncle Ben was not in my life. He is my strength and I'll do everything in my power to make him proud of me.

So I shaked him up a little, after placing the cake on his study table. "Uncle Ben?" I called. He hummed, waking up. He looked really tired. "Happy birthday Uncle." A big smile spread on his face and he sat up straight, wide awake. "Thank you pumpkin." he said, patting my cheeks lovingly. "Come on. Let's cut the cake and celebrate one more step toward your old age." I said teasingly.

"Are you calling me old?" He asked in disbelief.

"Who else? I don't see anybody else in this room, other than you." I acted like I'm searching for someone, then laughed at his expression. "Im better looking than everyone altogether, you call professors. They are even younger than me." He said with a saas. I shaked my head in amusement, and let it go for now. You see, my uncle and old age doesn't go together.

"Alright alright, I get it." I said. "Let's cut the cake. I didn't eat much for dinner because, I wanted to leave some space for the cake." He looked at me unimpressed. "So you didn't bake it because, it's for my b'day but you wanted to have it after the cake cutting?" he asked with mock hurt.

"Exactly"I said laughing.

"You wound me princess, you wound me." he said, rubbing his hand over his chest, where his heart is. "You know me very well uncle. How much I love anything made of chocolate." I said dramatically.

"That's me not you...I love chocolate. Anyways, if you ask nicely, I might consider sharing this cake with you...What say?" he asked, with a creepy smile on his face. He knows, I hate to beg. “I would rather attend Mr.Ross's karate class, then begging you for something, I really deserve. You know, I kind of made it, literally. And I have every right to eat some." I said, glaring at him.

You see, Mr.Ross was my marshal arts teacher, who I hated with everything I have. When I was 12, uncle Ben forced me to learn self defense. I never wanted to attend it because, he looked like a gangster, who just came out of the prison after a long time. "Alright! you can have some...I was kidding. Lets cut the cake and go to bed." he said, with an amused look. "That better" I said.

He laughed and then I asked him to make a wish. He closed his eyes and a small smile spread on his face. He then blew the candles and cut the cake. We ate in peace, while occasionally pulling each other's leg. Later we decided to go to bed. I wished him goodnight with a kiss on his cheek and went back to my room. As soon as I fell on the bed, my eyes closed. But before going into deep sleep, I checked my phone to see if I have set the alarm to get up early.

I wanted to surprise uncle Ben by making breakfast today. That's when a message popped up from an unknown number. When I opened it to check who it was from, I took a sharp breath. I never thought he would dare try to contact me again, after what happened. The message says :

we need 2 talk. Please, it's been 3 years. U didn't even let me explain myself. Im begging you Maya. Call me. I'll b waiting. Ron.

We never spoke after the incident, when I caught him red handed. He tried calling me and sent messages. Never once I responded because, he had broken my trust and I'm not brave enough to forgive him or forget it. It is over. No matter what he does, he will never find his way back to my heart. I have shut it permanently. Not him nor anyone else could penetrate it. I am sure of it.

I didn't know, how wrong I was then?