LOVING HIM FROM AFAR

It was one Monday afternoon when  Michael Santiago accidentally found a box placed outside their garage door.   He was somehow wondering as to why there is a box when yesterday when he was cleaning, it was not there.   As he was about to approach it, he was shocked by the sudden sound of a crying baby    He hurriedly opened it and saw a beautiful baby girl dressed in a red cozy jacket with a note placed inside saying     “ I am Sophia ”        As he was in a state of shock, his fiancée Cristina honk the car inside the garage while shouting        “  Honey, what is taking you so long? “        He was about to say a word when he heard the baby cried in a volume that is enough for her to hear       “What is that sound? Am I hearing it right?”  shouted Cristina        As she was about to close the window of the car to open the door        Her fiancé Michael suddenly opened the garage door from outside while holding the baby       She hurriedly came out of the car and pulled Michael inside asking …        “ Whose baby is that? ”  while pointing at the baby Michael is carrying with surprised and disbelief in her eyes        Michael answered while stuttering “ I.. I  don’t know, I just  found her placed inside the box “     While still absorbing things Cristina asked Michael to go back inside their house        While sitting on the couch Cristina and Michael thought for a second about what to do with the baby and they both agreed to call the police . . . . .        Then  Cristina made the call. . . .       As they were waiting for the police to show up Cristina opened and examined the box and she found the letter and that there is nothing except for the baby’s clothing, formula, and bottles.           - - - - -    Michael and Cristina have been engaged for about 2 years now.   They have been together for a total of 4 years        They both think that it is still early to really have the wedding saying and thinking that age 27 is still young and that they still need to save up some more money, For the big wedding to really happen and push through.        Michael is an engineer in one of the public engineering firms in their town    He is considered to be one of the smartest and handsome bachelors.        While Cristina is a public teacher and also an online seller as a part-time job        They met through a common friend and somehow they became close  after a few more meetings        Then later on became a couple as Michael confessed his love for her on her 23rd  birthday.    - - - - -            As the police officer came knocking on their door       Cristina hurriedly gathered the baby’s essentials that were inside the box and transferred them to a tote bag.       As she was doing that, Michael on the other hand is opening the door for the officer       After they told the officer as to what happened they asked if they can take a look at the nearest available CCTV   …that is found across their house to know who’s responsible for the baby           The officer responded, “ We will contact you for the further pieces of information and clues we can gather.” And then drove off           -             Weeks passed by and they have not heard a single thing or news about the baby and    Cristina was somehow bothered by the thought of it but Michael was assuring her that the baby was maybe taken to a shelter.           Cristina who’s a curious cat has mustered up her courage and went to the nearby police station       “Ahm, excuse me officer I would like to ask for any updates about the baby who was found outside our garage door like in the pine street and  was taken here for like about a week ago?” she asked the on-duty police officer at the front desk       The officer slowly held his gaze up and answered  “ I am sorry mam, I haven’t heard any news or updates about it as I am new to this station. You can come back at around 10 am tomorrow for the chief will arrive around that time.”        She was saddened by the reply of the officer  but then answered   “ Oh, I will be sure to come back tomorrow officer, thank  you.”        As she was on her way out and something or rather someone caught her eye . . .     it looks like someone from her past.       She froze for a bit but then she chose to go on.       -       When she arrived home from the police station she was looking for Michael but couldn’t see him so she  calls him asking when will he be home   “ Hi honey, what time will you come home?   Then Michael answered “ I am sorry honey maybe in another 2 to 3 hours. “   So  she really thought he was still out working    Or so she thought ….   -    As she was going upstairs        She heard a faint sound of running water, seems like someone is taking a shower inside their bathroom.       So she hurriedly opens the door in their room and saw a figure of a man scrubbing his back inside their bathroom.       As she was about to get a pair of scissors under her bedside table she heard   the bathroom door opens and she gasped looking shocked by the one she saw . . .       it was Aiden. . . Michael's best friend        With the scissors in her hands the one she grabbed from under her table       She pointed it to him and with a loud and accusing voice  shouted  “ WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!, HOW DID YOU GET IN? “       And with that, he chuckled and laughed       “What are you talking about honey? “ he responded In a mocking way        Anger and confusion are visible in Cristina’s face. . .       Aiden was walking past her when she grabs his left arm  and pulled him strong enough for him to make    a halt       “ Nothing is funny here you see, tell me how did you get in and where is my fiancé “       With all strength left in her, she holds onto his arm like begging him to answer her questions       “So you really truly love him, huh, to answer your questions, I guess he is still in the office with his Director  discussing things for tomorrow's party,  he gave me your house key because I asked him to let me stay for the night."       Cristina answered with a confused and disbelief tone   “ Why? did you lose all your money that you now can’t afford a hotel?”       “Tina, unfortunately, I am still wealthy as before it only happens that I am not in the mood to waste money in some hotel when I can just crash in my best friend's house for the night. What is so biggie about that?”       And “Why are you so bothered?” he chuckled while pulling his hand from her and then grab his bag from the bed and left the room. . . . . .   She was furious as to why her fiancé has not texted nor called her to say important things like this..   After  locking their bedroom door she sat down for a while and afterward tries to look for her phone and then called her fiancé  again   -  When Michael set foot on their door and opens it he was greeted by his best friend Aiden who was sitting on their couch   “ Hey bro, I guess you forgot to tell your fiancée about me staying here for the night. “   Michael responded with “ Oh s**t!” then came running upstairs   “ Hey honey, it is me Michael please you can open the door freely now “   Cristina hurriedly opened the lock of the door and hugged him tight as she swings it open  .... then He added   “ Why did you lock the door? You have met Aiden a couple of times ago, right? “   Cristina responded “ I was shocked and so scarred a while back because someone was taking a bath inside our bathroom when you said during our phone call that you will be spending another hour or so in your office. “   Michael hugs her back saying “ So you thought maybe someone broke in or what? “   Then they talked for a while when Michael was changing his clothes from work to sweatpants and shirt -   Aiden’s figures greeted them when they reached their couch . . . . .  Who was watching some vampire movies   After a while just sitting their Michael broke off the silence enveloping them and asks   “ So bro, we have not really had the time to talk much this afternoon.  What really brings you back to town? “ “ Umm, the reason?  its just that grand dad had called me yesterday asking me if I can spare him some time to you know just discuss family things and hang out. “