Love to Marriage

MORNING ROUTINES OF THE HEART

When he went home for vacation, everything about our daily connection changed. He had registered to do his internship at the law court during the break, something he had always looked forward to. But being back home made him relax in a way he couldn’t on campus. He slept deeply, freely, like someone enjoying peace after a long semester of stress.

Meanwhile, I was still on campus, dealing with early morning lectures, hostel noise, and the usual campus rush. One morning, he called and said softly;

“Please, can you wake me up early, every morning? These days I sleep too much at home, and I don’t want to be late for my internship.”

I laughed, but I agreed.

That simple request became our new routine. Every morning, before the sun even stretched across the sky, I would call him;

“Wake up… it’s time to get ready.”

Sometimes he would groan sleepily, sometimes he would laugh, but he always woke up. And during the day, he would call me from work to check on me. I also checked on him. Little by little, we became part of each other’s daily lives without even trying.

As we talked more and more, I discovered things about him that made my heart soften. He was calm, gentle and peaceful, the kind of person who didn’t like trouble. He had big dreams and was determined to make something meaningful out of his life. He told me he wanted to become a political lawyer, that is a politician and a lawyer.

I liked that. It matched my own determination. I told him I wanted to make it in life so I could help the poor and the needy. When I said that, he smiled and replied;

“Then we will do it together. We’ll fulfill that destiny.”

Those words sank deep inside me. It felt like maybe this was destiny, maybe meeting him wasn’t just luck.

We talked about everything; our families, our childhood memories, our hopes, our fears. Even though we had known each other for a short time, the comfort between us felt like years.

One day he asked if he could come to campus to sleep over. I immediately refused.

“My roommate! No, you can’t sleep here,” I told him. “Girls have their own attitudes, and I don’t want anyone disrespecting you. I respect you alot.”

He didn’t argue. He simply asked,

“Okay… can I at least come and visit you?”

This one, I couldn’t say no to.

He came, and before leaving, he gave me money to buy something small for myself. The second time he visited, he did the same. The third time, he arrived late. Very late.

He looked worried. “It’s dangerous to go home now.”

I hesitated… then nodded. “Okay, you can sleep at my place tonight.”

He was so happy, I could see it.

But entering a girls’ room isn’t easy. I told him to wait outside while I checked inside. My roommates were dressed, thankfully, but the room was extremely messy. I begged them;

“Please, someone is coming. Let’s clean up a bit.”

They helped me rearrange everything. I laid my bed nicely before calling him in.

He entered quietly and respectfully. Later that night, he ordered food for me when I said I was hungry. I ate, we talked a little, and then we slept. Nothing happened. Just two people lying on a bed like siblings.

The next morning, I woke up before everyone and helped him leave early so he could get to the court on time. When he arrived home, he called me;

“I’m here. Thank you.”

That became our life. We grew closer with each passing day. I eventually wrote my exams and went home for my own vacation, and we kept talking, video calls, long chats and laughter.

Until one morning…

I woke up feeling strange and heavy. Then something whispered inside me;

Are you sure he’s the one? Maybe you should step back. Maybe you should rethink.

Without understanding myself, I told him;

“I don’t want to continue this relationship again. We should break up.”

He was shocked, devastated.

“But we were laughing last night,” he said. “We were happy. How can you just wake up and say this?”

I had no explanation, so I simply repeated:

“It’s my decision.”

He begged me. He pleaded. He told me he had finally found his wife in me, that I was his last hope, that he respected me and would make sure the relationship worked smoothly. But I still insisted.

That was how our vacation ended, with confusion, pain and silence.