Love Beyond Frame

Chapter 5

Anne who had been feeling unhappy lately. She had patterned her life to a certain direction, and she hardly found anything that really excited her. However, something changed that evening at a special party hosted by her husband, Billy.

As Eve and Anne were about to enter the party arena, Eva paused for a moment and said to Anne, what is behind your excitement tonight? Why are you suddenly happy? Anne replied," Oh wait you don't want me to be happy, she smiled. No, of course, I always want you to be happy, but you are really surprised at this sudden change of yours. Is it not just for tonight?

Anne held Eve's hands and said, I pray it lasts, but tell me what were you doing with Joe? Smiling and laughing out loud, Eva asked. Anne tried to twist the question by saying we were only talking about business and society, looked straight into my eyes and told me that there said nothing more to that discussion. Anne smiled, saying, okay, I will tell you all you need to know when the party's over.

As they both walked back into the party arena, Anne felt an increase of excitement about being alive. She hadn't felt like this for a long time. The party was about to end, and Anne felt totally like a different person. She related with other invited guests and family, shared more pleasantries, and danced a little.

Billy watches her and is quite excited. Seeing that she had lightened up at that moment, he felt fulfilled knowing the purpose of organizing this party had been achieved. The party is about to close. All invited guests are set to leave, where Billy sets some of them in their car alongside Anne.

A few weeks later, something interesting happened. Anne and Joe started communicating with each other through phone calls and text messages. Their inception at the house party had sparked a friendship between them. Each passing day, their communication grew stronger as they shared things they both shared in common and discussed more about their movies and favorite books. They both laughed at the funny jokes they exchanged.

Each day Anne began to see herself looking at her conversation with Joe. He has a very special way he talks that always captivates her, feeling unique and understood. Anne, for some time, had been to herself. The thought of his arranged marriage is ringing some bell and this always makes her sad, so she is always looking for things that can get her distracted, so each time he talks with Joe, there is always this feeling with a sense of friendship that she has been really missing out.

Joe, on the one hand, also enjoys every bit of communication with Anne, but sometimes there is this feeling that comes to him that this is the wife of his best friend. Sometimes he wishes he could fight the feeling. He sees Anne to be kindhearted, passionate and comic, and all of these and more are things that make him draw close to Anne.

One faithful afternoon, Anne was at her office when she received a text message from Joe. Hi, I am at the coffee shop next street from your office. I want to grab a coffee. If you don't mind, can you join me? He asked. Surprisingly, Anne's heart skipped a beat. She thought about it and came to the conclusion that this was just a friendly request, but the idea of talking to Joe always made her happy, and this gave him another opportunity to spend more time with him.

She quickly responded, "I will love that", smiling at her phone.

Anne meets Joe at the fancy coffee shop. The place is good with a unique atmosphere with soft and romantic music playing in the background. They both find a close, quiet corner where they cannot be easily spotted. As they settled the order for some drinks. Anne said, how often do you come here? I have been here since the day I found out about your office, Joe replied, smiling.

They both started a discussion which lasted for a few hours. They talked about their businesses, jobs, experience and fears. Joe shares some encounters and challenges he is currently faced with in his business, Anne listening attentively and sharing some words of encouragement to him. Joe was inspired and also was excited about the kind words coming from Anne.

Anne, on the other hand, opened up about her own life. She talked about how she sacrificed her happiness, dreams and aspiration to marry Billy just to save her family business. Thinking of this sometimes makes me feel disconnected, she said. Joe listened with great interest, and his empathy made Anne feel down with tears in her eyes.

Joe quickly extended his handkerchief for her to wipe her tears. He felt so bad, and wasn't too happy with the way and conditions she got married to Billy. But he finds a way to make her feel happy and make her snap out of her sad mood. He quickly changed the topic of the discussion to make her feel better.

Joe cracked a joke that brought out a side of her she thought would never exist again. He made her laugh the more and smile the more. She felt a renewed strength and a sense of happiness. Anne looked at her watch. Oh no! I have to rush back to the office. I have a lot of things to wrap up for today.

Anne leaves, leaving Joe at the coffee shop. She was so excited when she got to the office that Emily took notice and asked where she had been all day. She responded, I went to meet a friend. She said, Oh! You have a new friend in town whom your colleague is not aware of. Well, you look so happy. I must say, I guess that your friend has really done or said something that caused so much joy and happiness in you," Anne smiled.

Joe was still at the coffee shop with the thought of all that Anne had told him about his arranged marriage with Billy and how unhappy that had made her feel even since then. He couldn't snap that off his thoughts, but imagine why Anne should accept that kind of proposal, giving up her joy and happiness just to save a family business, he wondered!