Soulmates

Kiera Hayes led a very modest life with her mother, Maria, in Buffalo. Their little apartment, though not new, was ever warm with love. Kiera was twenty-something, quick-witted, and elegant in a low-key manner. She was a part-time worker in a local bookstore, and she also took care of her mother, who had been struggling with a long illness. It was another snowy evening in Buffalo, and Kiera was coming back home with a warm bag of groceries. She came upon her mother coughing again, and weaker than ever. Her worry would nag at her, but she would always smile in front of Maria. You did not eat again, and Kiera helped her mother to sit up in bed. Maria said, in a low voice, You need not bear this burden alone. But Maria was not ignorant of her time. Her only desire was to see her daughter safe before she passed away. She called that night, a person she had not talked to in years, Fiona Hayes. Fiona resided in Manhattan, a world that was highly different from that of Maria. She was an elegant, proud, and well-connected woman who owned her art gallery and was someone who was known in the elite circles of New York. Fiona was astonished when Maria called, but she was reluctant as well. But when she heard the voice of Maria, ill but honest, she could not shrug it off. I have little time, " said Maria. I want a guarantee. My girl... she has nobody. Make her a part of your world. That is due to my late husband, your cousin." Fiona paused. She did not like favors, but the words of Maria moved her. She said yes; however, she meant it in her way. In the morning, Fiona went to visit her son, Aaron Hayes. Aaron was the golden boy, handsome, educated, and running a successful tech company. He had established his own life of independence in the hectic Manhattan. Fiona went to him with a surprise. You are going to marry somebody, she said at breakfast. Excuse me?" Aaron's eyes flashed; he thought she was joking. She is called Kiera. She is the daughter of Maria, the only daughter of your late uncle. Maria is dying off. This will be her final request." Aaron was thunderstruck. He could hardly recall Maria, and he had never met Kiera before. Fiona was not joking. She claimed it was something they owed to family, to devotion, and heritage. A silence of some length and weight being over, Aaron at last spoke: Is this the right thing to do? I will." The news was a surprise to Kiera in Buffalo. Marry him?" she exclaimed. I do not even know him. Maria whispered, I trust Fiona. You will be safe. You will be taken care of." The weary yet loving eyes of Maria gave Kiera the strength. She did not consent to love or thrill. She did it out of the love of a daughter- to give peace to her dying mother. Maria died a day later in her sleep. Kiera relocated to Manhattan, which seemed to be another planet. Fiona's apartment was a penthouse. Kiera had never witnessed so much wealth. All around her were glittering crystal chandeliers, costly art, and panoramas of the skyline, yet she was a piece in the wrong puzzle. Fiona was cold, but polite. She did not get too close. Aaron was a respectful, yet distant person. He spent many hours at work, but he didn't talk much. To top it all, the niece of Fiona, Sabrina, was not hiding her hate. She had never imagined that she would not be marrying Aaron. She now viewed Kiera as an undeserving intervener. And you are the country girl who turned into Mrs. Hayes. She smirked when they first met. Kiera smiled a little. I did not choose this. I only came because my mother told me to." On the same night, Kiera, alone on the balcony, covered by a sweater in the cold wind, looked at the lights of New York. She was small and out of place, and her heart was weighed down with sadness and bewilderment. Aaron was frowning at her through the glass door inside. He did not know how to talk to her—how to bridge the gap between duty and emotion. They were two strangers--husband and wife by accident, by word of mouth. Marriage is the start of love, they say, and Kiera could not bring herself to tears. But what was mine to start with, loneliness? The wedding was very silent. No great ceremony. No friends and extended family. Only two signatures were found in the city court; Maria and Fiona were thewitnesses. Kiera had a plain coat of white wool. Aaron was in a black overcoat, and his face was impossible to read. They were man and wife--strangers on paper. There were quiet days ahead. Kiera was trying to fit in the huge penthouse of Fiona, but nothing was hers, the velvet chairs, the glass tables, or even the walk-in closet she was provided, or even the husband she barely talked tos Aaron, however, worked himself to death. Conferences, correspondence, and phone calls at odd hours. He was very friendly, yet indifferent. He made no inquiries about how she was, and he did not console her. He had consented to this marriage through fidelity rather than affection. And it did. The initial dinner they had together was silent. Fiona was seated at the head of the table, in a waiting attitude. Fiona: Kiera, you do not talk very much, do you? Kiera (softly): I talk when I am spoken to. Fiona lifted an eyebrow, a little surprised at her collected answer. Fiona: "Well. That is good in this city." Sabrina was swirling her wine and rolling her eyes across the table. Sabrina: Or just boring. Aaron did not speak. He just stared at his plate and allowed the embarrassment to become dust. Kiera woke up early the next morning. She retained old habits of Buffalo. She made breakfast without making any noise-- eggs, toast, and tea--and did not expect anyone to pay the slightest attention. But Fiona came in. Fiona: I do not need to do that. We have a cook." Kiera (gently): It makes me feel normal. Fiona made no reply. She did not touch the tea and went away. Aaron showed up home late from work later on that week. Kiera read alone in the library. When he came in, she rose courteously. Kiera: "You work too much." This is the only thing about my life that I comprehend at the moment, Aaron (half-smiling) She did not know what to answer after that. So neither did he. One day, Fiona organized a brunch party for her close circle of people, artists, socialites, and wealthy women who lived on gossip. Kiera was sitting next to Fiona in a modest cream blouse and plain jeans. She never said anything unless she was spoken to. The women did not miss it. One of them whispered, Is that your daughter-in-law, Fiona? She is..." plain-looking." Where does she belong? Upstate?" I believed that Aaron had a girlfriend in Boston. What has become of that girl?" Fiona did not stand up to defend her. She only smiled and took a sip of her drink. Kiera was present and heard everything but remained silent. Later on, in the kitchen, Sabrina cornered her. Sabrina (smirking): "You are a charity case. This is not a love marriage." Kiera calmly turned to her. Kiera: I did not want any of this. But I will not apologize for being here." Kiera was crying in the guest room when Aaron arrived home that night. He did not enter the room, but he stopped at the door. He could overhear her talking to herself.