Chapter seven

"Never lose sight of the fact that the most important yard to stick to your success is how you treat other people"_ Barbara Bush

ASHLEY'S P.O.V

"Dear diary,

   Lately, I've been kinda fond of Ace. He's been of good help to me and I can't stop being grateful to him. I had been feeling kinda weak since morning but I took it as a normal weakness. I feel so weak the more right now, I can barely stand up. Ciara had visited me not long ago and got me some beverages and food stuffs and we chatted for a while. I know she knew that I was weak even though i tried so hard to hide it, and she decided to make me breakfast. Three hours later, she left. I understand....she is now a mother and a wife and she has things to do"

I closed my diary as I was feeling too weak to continue. I managed to take my bath, took my lunch and did a little clean up because I'd feel more sick if I were in a dirty environment. After that it was already evening and I had to make dinner but I was becoming weaker than before so I had some cereals even though it won't be able to satisfy me that much. The time was now eight in the evening and I laid down on the bed as the sickness had taken over my body completely. I took my normal drugs and closed my eyes. I had no strength in me to go get some drugs for my fever. I had closed my eyes for what seemed like two hours and was suddenly woken up by the instantaneous ring tone of my phone. my phone was quite far away from me so before I was able to reach my phone's, it ended. I had to keep my phone close to me and immediately, the call came again and I picked it.

"Hello" I managed to call over the phone faintly and i think that made him worry cause he replied immediately with a worried voice

"what's wrong your voice sounds faint?" he asked and I coughed slightly

"I'm...I'm...fine, just a slight fever" I replied and the call ended. Why did he end the call? did it end mistakenly? I thought. After few minutes passed and still no call from him, I gave up on expecting his call and kept back my phone. I closed my eyes once again to rest. I was starting to shiver so I reached for a blanket besides me and covered myself with it. Not expecting anyone to visit me_ not like I have someone to anyways, and not expecting any calls, I slept off.

" knock knock" I heard a masculine voice call out at the door. He kept on knocking which woke me up from my sleep. I had no strength to worry if a thief would barge in or if I was in danger or to find out who was knocking as I managed to open the door. And surprisingly, I saw Ace. He was the last person I thought would show up and here he was standing three feets from me with a bag.How come he's here? I thought. I never imagined him to come visit me at this time of the day.

"what are you doing here?" I asked him "I'm fine, so you can go ba...." and he cut in just before I could finish my statement.

"No" he said firmly and made his way into my house which shocked me. I didn't even ask him to come in and he just did

"I didn't ask you to enter" I said to him faintly with the blanket still covering me.

"well I'm already in" he said and seeing how adamant he was, I knew whatever I say would be like pouring water on a stone. I closed the door and sat down on the sofa still shivering. Ace stood up from his chair and touched my forehead checking my temperature and noticed it was high. He went through the bag he had with him and it turned out to be that he bought drugs for me. He brought them out and before I knew it, he made his way to the kitchen, opened the fridge and brought out a bottled water and handed it to me and I drank the drugs. I was amazed at how he felt at home in my house.

"Do you ever cook? your kitchen looks neat and you have lots of provisions" He asked me as he sat down on the chair.

"I cook most times....and thanks for the drugs" I thanked him

"No need" he said as I laid down on the sofa. Ace got up and got a wet towel and placed it on my forehead to calm my fever. Few minutes later, I fell asleep.

I woke up the next morning and surprisingly,I was in bed. I was about to get up when I saw Ace on the floor. I looked at him for a while before getting up. I decided to make breakfast while waiting for him to wake up.

"you should've woken me up if you were hungry" a voice said from behind and I turned. It was Ace and he had woken up.

"you were fast asleep and I decided to make breakfast for us" i said as I dished the pancakes I made with tea. " I wanted to wake you up when the food was ready"

"how can you make breakfast when you are sick?...you should've woken me up, I don't want you to stress yourself" he said I saw how worried he was.

"I'm okay now, thanks to you" I said and we sat down. I'm enjoying his company lately and I can see how close his coming into my life. I noticed him looking around, observing the house.

"is he your boyfriend?" he asked while signaling to a picture by the side and my mood changed, I know he saw that too and felt guilty.

"my ex husband"I answered as I looked at the picture closely. " we got separated five years ago ago that would be when I was twenty nine" I said

"I think he's blind...He married an angel but didn't appreciate it"

"we were married for three years then suddenly, the love, the affection care and everything ceased. I noticed he started keeping his distance from me and I later discovered about his affair with a female co_woker, I filed for a divorce.We were so in love before, or should I rephrase it, I loved him so deeply. I gave up my chance of being a top writer for him but it ended in vain. consequently, all I do now is just to focus on my novels and my work at the library then house. I don't do anything more than this"

"then you are living a boring life" he said " I wish I were the lucky man to get married to you....an Angel" he smiled. Wait!! was he flirting with me? or was I just over thinking? I must admit, he sure has a sweet tongue.

"well that's all in the past now, I don't want to think about him" I said as we continued eating in silence.I watched from side eye and saw him taking quick glances at me which made me to flush.

I would never forget his help and I'm forever indebted to him. As they say, all limitations are self imposed. And I'm beginning to see a light at the end of my tunnel, a tiny little light that can hardly be seen. Will Ace be the light to my darkness?