Where Hearts Finally Rested
1379 Words
The night had quietly wrapped itself around the city.
Neither of them had realised how much time had passed.
The stories they had shared had stolen the evening from them, replacing the setting sun with a sky filled with stars.
Fáde glanced down the road.
The buses had stopped passing.
The few shops that had remained open were now dark, their owners long gone.
She let out a small laugh.
"I think we walked farther than we planned."
Shola followed her gaze before looking at his wristwatch.
His eyebrows lifted.
"It's almost ten."
Her eyes widened.
"So late?"
He nodded.
"I didn't even notice."
"Neither did I."
For a moment, they simply stood there, listening to the quietness around them.
Then Shola cleared his throat.
"It's too late for you to be travelling."
She looked at him.
"I can't let you go back alone at this hour."
She smiled gently.
"So... what do you suggest?"
He hesitated.
The words sat on his tongue longer than he expected.
"You can stay with me tonight."
He quickly added,
"It's only one room, so it won't be the most comfortable arrangement."
A nervous smile escaped him.
"But I'd rather lose a night's sleep than spend the whole night worrying if you got home safely."
Fáde looked at him for a long moment.
Everything she had learned about him told her the invitation came from concern, not expectation.
She smiled.
"Alright."
The relief on his face made her laugh.
"You really were worried."
"I still am."
Together, they made their way to his room.
The room was small.
Simple.
A neatly made bed stood against one wall, with a wooden chair beside it and a narrow table holding a few books, a Bible, and a lantern.
"It isn't much," Shola said.
Fáde looked around before turning back to him.
"It feels peaceful."
He smiled.
"I'm glad."
She sat on the edge of the bed while he poured two glasses of water.
They talked about little things.
The funniest customer he had ever met.
The first meal she had tried to cook by herself.
The way children could somehow make even the worst day better.
Every now and then, laughter filled the room.
Then...
It slowly faded.
Not into awkwardness.
Into something quieter.
Something deeper.
Shola looked across the room.
Fáde was already looking at him.
Neither of them looked away.
The air between them seemed different now.
Not heavier.
Just... quieter.
Warmer.
He slowly walked towards her.
Each step unhurried.
When he finally stood before her, he spoke so softly she almost didn't hear him.
"Can I tell you something?"
She nodded.
"I don't think I've ever met anyone who makes silence feel this beautiful."
A smile spread across her face.
"I was thinking the same thing."
Their eyes met again.
This time, neither of them smiled.
There was no fear.
No uncertainty.
Only two hearts that had finally found a place to rest.
Shola slowly reached for her hand.
His fingers brushed against hers.
He waited.
When she gently intertwined her fingers with his, he smiled.
He raised his free hand and carefully tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"You're beautiful," he whispered.
She lowered her eyes shyly.
"No one has ever looked at me the way you do."
"I couldn't help it."
His thumb lightly brushed the back of her hand.
Then, after one last searching look, he asked,
"May I kiss you?"
She looked into his eyes.
There was no pressure.
No expectation.
Only a question.
A choice.
Her answer came as a quiet smile.
"Yes."
He leaned in slowly, giving her every opportunity to change her mind.
She didn't.
Their lips met gently.
The first kiss was soft.
Almost hesitant.
As though both of them wanted to remember every second of it.
When they drew apart, they remained close enough to feel each other's breath.
Shola rested his forehead lightly against hers.
"I've wanted to do that for a long time."
"So have I," she admitted with a smile.
He laughed quietly.
Then he kissed her again.
This time, she responded without hesitation, and what began as uncertainty slowly became familiarity.
Outside, the wind whispered through the trees.
Inside, time seemed to stand still.
The first rays of sunlight slipped quietly through the window, resting gently across the room.
Fáde stirred before slowly opening her eyes.
For a brief moment, she forgot where she was.
Then she smiled.
The memories of the previous night returned one after another.
The long walk.
The stories.
The laughter.
The quiet moments.
The kiss.
She lowered her eyes shyly, unable to stop herself from smiling.
Across the room, Shola was already awake. He stood by the window with his Bible open in his hands. The morning breeze lifted the curtains as he quietly finished his devotion.
Hearing her move, he turned.
"Good morning."
"Good morning."
"Did you sleep well?"
She nodded.
"I did."
"I'm glad."
He closed his Bible and placed it carefully on the table.
"I made tea."
She laughed.
"You cook too?"
"I try."
"Should I be worried?"
"Only after you've tasted it."
They both laughed.
A few minutes later, they sat together, sharing a simple breakfast.
Neither of them seemed eager for the morning to end.
When they finished eating, Shola remained unusually quiet.
He kept turning his cup slowly in his hands.
Fáde noticed.
"What's on your mind?"
He looked at her.
Then smiled.
"I've been thinking since yesterday."
"About what?"
"Us."
Her heart skipped.
"I told you yesterday that I love you more every day."
"You did."
"And I meant every word."
He took a slow breath.
"I've spent my whole life believing that when I finally found the woman God had prepared for me, I would know."
He reached across the table and gently held her hand.
"I know now."
Fáde couldn't look away.
"I don't want to keep saying goodbye after every meeting."
"I don't want to imagine a future that you're not part of."
He smiled softly.
"I want to build that future with you."
A tear gathered in the corner of her eye.
"Fáde..."
"I'd like you to become my wife."
Silence filled the room.
Not because she was unsure.
But because she had dreamed of hearing those words for so many years that she never imagined they would actually come.
Shola squeezed her hand gently.
"I know there are things we need to do properly."
"I know we have families to speak with."
"I know marriage isn't built on feelings alone."
He smiled.
"But if you'll let me..."
"I'd like to start that journey today."
He paused before adding,
"I want to meet your parents."
"And I'd love for you to meet my uncle."
"The man who raised me deserves to know the woman who has brought this much joy into my life."
Fáde smiled through her tears.
"I'd love that."
She nodded.
"Yes."
His eyebrows lifted.
"Yes... to which part?"
She laughed, wiping away a tear.
"All of it."
"Yes, I'll marry you."
For a second, Shola simply stared at her.
Then he laughed—a laugh so full of relief and gratitude that it filled the little room.
He stood, gently helping her to her feet before pulling her into a warm embrace.
"Thank you," he whispered.
"No," Fáde replied, resting her head against his chest.
"Thank you... for seeing me."
Outside, the city was waking to another ordinary morning.
But inside that little room...
Two lives had just changed forever.
Shola released her slowly, though his hands lingered in hers for a moment longer.
"I think," he said with a smile, "we should leave before I change my mind."
Fáde raised an eyebrow.
"Change your mind?"
He laughed.
"I might decide to keep you here forever."
She playfully nudged his shoulder.
"Then my parents will come looking for me."
"I suppose they would."
"And trust me," she teased, "you don't want my father looking for you."
Shola chuckled.
"I'd rather meet him properly."
"So would I."
She looked at him with a softer expression.
"I've always imagined introducing someone to my parents."
He noticed the hesitation in her voice.
"But?"
"I never imagined it would actually happen."
He squeezed her hand gently.
"Then let's make it happen."
- Writer
