She Couldn't Get Through To Him

"Why would you ask such a question when you have already known the answer?" Stanley asked hopping into the car immediately.

Although she just parted ways with the two guys, the joy of meeting the one she has longed for couldn't make her stop smiling.

She smiled all the way home.

The first thing the always observant Bertina noticed about the lady who came back five minutes ago was the beautiful smile on her face that refuses to disappear. "Boss, why do you keep smiling? Since I know you I have never seen you smile this way, is everything ok?" Betty asked out of pure concern. She went to sit beside the lady taking off her clothes.

"I am smiling because I am happy or what else do you think?" Yelena asked with a smile. "The only way to express happiness is by smiling and not by crying and that is why I am smiling...,"

"One doesn't just get happy by sitting around so what is the reason you are so happy?" Bertina interrupted Yelena with her curious questions.

Yelena picked up her cell phone she kept on the glass centre table. She navigate it before she handed it over to Bertina. "Who else is capable of making me happy if not him?" Yelena said continuing with what she was doing.

Bertina lowered her gaze upon the cell phone in her hands. Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open when she saw the picture of the man she was very familiar with.

Although she hasn't met Riley before he disappeared, every corner of Yelena's real home were filled with his pictures; from the sitting room up to her bedroom. If that's the case then how could she not recognise him at first glance?

"He is not who I am thinking he is right?" Bertina asked not believing that the one in the picture was Riley. She doesn't believe in spirits or ghosts so she was certain the one she is staring at on the screen is not a ghost but a human.

"Of course, he is my Riley. I had to sneakily take his picture that is why the quality of the picture isn't that great...,"

"If he is your Riley then why would you have to act sneaky around him? Didn't you say he loves you so much to the point that he didn't hesitate to sacrifice his life for yours so why...,"

"Because he doesn't remember me or our past," Yelena said. Her mood dampened just thinking about this fact.

Bertina's once curious expression turned to that of confusion hearing Yelena's last sentence. "What does that mean?" Bertina asked inquisitively.

Yelena went ahead to narrate what she discovered on the trip after she met Riley. She didn't miss any detail and this is because she trust Bertina.

At the end of the narration, Bertina was very surprised at the discovery. Bertina had a lot of questions especially concerning Riley being alive

Even the deceased Aunty Caroline was so certain that Riley was dead so how come he surfaces thirty years later with a new identity?

He couldn't possibly rise from the dead after thirty years so what happened during this thirty years interval?

"If you ask me why he doesn't remember me then that is a question I don't have an answer to. Even I am curious to know where he was and what happened during the thirty years he was gone," Yelena said in a sad tone.

Yes, she is happy that she has found Riley. Also, she is determined to make him fall in love with her once again but the fact that he forgets all their wonderful memories together still makes her sad.

He loved her so much to the point that he thought little of his existence so why did he forget her so easily?

What happened to him when he disappeared?

These are some of the questions and many more whose answers she desperately wanted but unfortunately, none is available to give answers to her question. "I want answers to these questions and many more but with the way things are, I have to be very patient or else I am sure he might just drag me to a mental institution if I bring up the topic in front of him," Yelena said not looking or sounding excited like she was a while ago.

"So what are your plans now? How do you plan to confirm whether he is or not your Riley?" Bertina let her curiosity take over once again.

"Since I have Stanley contact, getting in touch with them won't be a problem so I will use this to my advantage. I will use Stanley to get close to him, that is the fastest and most convenient means if you ask me," Yelena told Bertina her plans although not in detail.

"I am wishing you all the best," Bertina said with a smile. If there is one thing she wants, it is Yelena's happiness and she knows that the only person in the world who can give her genuine happiness is Riley.

Even though it hasn't been verified that the guy she saw was Riley, she still hopes they get together.

Yelena after offloading her luggage showered and got into bed. The mere happiness that she will be able to see him anytime she desired puts a smile back on her pretty face.

The next day, Yelena went through her daily routine. That morning Bertina made reports on everything that happened in her absence. She reported the progress they have made on the mission she gave them before she went on the trip.

After everything was sorted out, Yelena settled down to call Stanley's line but surprisingly his line wasn't going through.

At first, she thought maybe there were some problems so she called again but the result didn't change even on her third attempt.

She became so frustrated on the third day. Yelena could see all her hopes and dreams falling before her eyes after over a hundred times she had tried to reach Stanley on the cell phone line he gave her.

"What the f*ck is wrong with this goddamn line?" The angry Yelena shouted throwing the cell phone on the floor.

Bertina previously in her room appeared in the sitting room when she heard shattering sounds. She didn't need anyone to tell her what was wrong when she saw the broken cell phone lying on the floor.

"He assured me I could reach him any time I want on this line so why can't I get through to him?".