“Hey, hey, hey, what happened?” Jasper asked me through the phone.

“Just please, come over,” I was crying through the phone.

“Ok, I will be there in a minute.”

I hung up the phone and collapsed on the couch, crying my heart out.

“Melissa? Mel! Mel!” he called out.

I couldn’t utter a word to him.

“What happened?” he rushed to the couch where I was.

I couldn’t speak, so I just threw myself into his arms. That was all I wanted at that moment.

“I am here now…don’t cry anymore. Tell me what happened? Ok shh…”

I tried to pull myself together, but I couldn’t. Tears were running down my cheeks like a waterfall after heavy rain. I don’t know when I fell asleep, but when I woke up he was still there, staring at me on the opposite couch.

“I made you some coffee,” he said.

“Thank you, but I don’t feel like I need it.”

“Yes, you do. Here we go,” he handed me a mug.

“Thanks, but how did you know where the stuff is?”

“Everything is labelled here. It’s like a smart house. I rolled my eyes once and saw everything,” he demonstrated how he rolled his eyes, and it was so hilarious I laughed and accidentally spat on him.

“I am so sorry.”

“No, I am sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. So, can you tell me what happened now?”

“Yeah sure,” I placed my mug down and looked at him in his eyes and told him everything, including that my friend was on duty so she had to leave me and rush back to work. I didn’t know who else to call, and that is when I called him.

“I don’t mind at all, in fact, I am happy that you phoned me,” he said.

“Thank you,” I smiled.

Well, that was the start of something new for me. He began to visit me more often, and I enjoyed his company more than anything. He never forced me to do anything, neither did he say anything that made me uncomfortable. He was the kindest man I have ever met; we did crazy things together, and we were secretly falling for each other, but no one wanted to express the feeling until one night.

“Mel, look, I have to tell you something,” he had sounded so serious.

“Couldn’t that thing wait till we finish the game?” I responded sardonically.

“No, the game will have to wait,” he switched off the TV.

“But I was…” I didn’t finish the sentence.

“I love you, Melissa.”

“What?” I never expected those words to come out that way, not to mention the moment we were currently in. I was shocked and also relieved by the fact that he felt the same way as I did.

“Well, to be honest, I loved you the first time I laid my eyes on you but never had the guts to tell you how I felt about you. Look, I know you are bruised by your past relationship, and I also know that you are not ready to be in a relationship, but all I am asking for is a chance.”

“But Jas…”

“Let me finish, please.”

“Ok, go on.”

“Ever since I met you, I never looked for any other woman but you. I want to prove to you that not all men are the same to show you that someone can love you inversely. I want to wake up next to you every day, to be with you in delirious and dolorous moments. Look, I am not perfect. I make mistakes too, but I vow to you that I won’t put you in the situation I met you in. I want to be next to you when you need me the most to prove what real love is. Please, give us a chance,” he was looking straight into my eyes, holding my hand.

The house went silent after those words, and I ran out of it.

“Say something to me,” he supplicated.

“I don’t know what to say, Jasper…”

“Tell me you don’t feel the same way?”

“I…just,” I stood up from the couch to the window, and it was pouring outside.

He followed and stood behind me.

“Tell me you don’t love me,” he came close to me.

“I love you too, Jasper,” I know I meant it.

That was the inauguration of something new for me. I knew I shouldn’t rebuke someone for a misdemeanour he didn’t commit. I was ready to start over again with the man I honestly love, although I’ve not been in many relationships, but I know what is real and what is not. This was for real; I could feel it.

Things were running smoothly between us; my friends knew about him and his friends knew about me. Everything was real.

Tell us: Do you believe in new beginnings?