The unheard story

Jimmy had always been a shy person right from his childhood. He usually found it difficult to express himself in words. Now at 30, he had a likeness for Susan, a young widow of 23 who had a son, Kelly. They had been living in one housing estate for three years yet, Jimmy hadn't the courage to tell Susan how much he loved her.

As neighbours, they simply greeted each other casually when they met but, deep down in Jimmy's heart, he was at war with himself, trying to put his love in an audible sentence for Susan to hear.

Jimmy was fond of little Kelly whom he usually called "My friend" as they waved at each other when they passed on the way. This contact with Kelly helped to make Susan to begin to have a semblance of interest in him.

As their familiarity began to take root, they sometimes had a brief exchange of pleasantries along the way. This was how they knew they were all bicycle lovers. From there, they agreed to have an occasional bicycle riding exercise.

It was on one of those exercises that Jimmy told Susan he had an important story to tell her. Susan was curious and wanted to hear of it immediately but, Jimmy promised it would be later.

At a time they were getting tired while on their bicycle ride, and needed some rest, Jimmy pointed at "Extraordinary Restaurant", "Let's have some refreshment there before going back", he opined.

"It's as if you knew what's in my mind", replied Susan. "I'm famished already," she disclosed.

"My friend, this way", Jimmy directed Kelly as they headed for a corner in the restaurant.

Midway into their refreshment, "Time for the important story, remember", Susan said as she took another gulp of the lemon juice, looking across the restaurant, through the window, as if not referring to Jimmy.

"I remember", replied Jimmy, nodding his head yet, looking for a tactics to use to resolve the ongoing war in his head on how to disclose to Susan openly about his love for her.

After a short while, when they were done with the refreshment, and Kelly was clued to the TV screen, watching a favourite cartoon story, Susan started again with a smile on her face, "The story?"

Jimmy avoided her eyes, looked away through the glass door and expressed a partial smile. When he turned to look back at Susan, he broadened his smile sheepishly. He held her palm, stood up, lifted her from the seat, as if to say, "Let's go", he embraced her, almost unconsciously. "My story is a promise in my heart. You must have heard it loudly for long," he whispered into her ears.

"I didn't just hear but, saw your story," Susan replied.

That was the beginning of their journey into marriage.