Love Heals

Chapter Two

“Anthony, you need to be happy again” Mrs Brown walked in on him getting dressed for work.

“Mom, please can we drop this already? My son makes me happy. Besides, you're here by my side” Anthony said softly, adjusting his tie while indifferent to the conversation his mother was raising.

“But I'm not referring to that; you know it. You need a companion, a shoulder to lean on. You need a woman whom you can freely express your vulnerability with. Liam craves a mother figure!” She was practically yelling, as she was deeply concerned about her son's emotional well-being.

“Mom, can we please talk about this when I get back? I’ll be late for work” He turned to her and said halfheartedly.

“What does it even matter if you're late?” She tried to reason with him “You're the CEO”

He hurriedly took off his suit from the hanger, put it on, and glanced at the mirror one more time.

“I'll see you when I return”

“And you're skipping breakfast again” Mrs Brown said resignedly.

“Bye Mom” He kissed his mother’s cheek and dashed out to avoid further conversation.

“Anthony, you're deflecting and it's not good for you” She called out, but he was already out of hearing range.

He arrived at his office 15 minutes later. As he majestically stepped out of the back seat of his black Bentley Bentayga, he stood face to face with a four-story edifice with the inscription “Brown & Brown Enterprises” at the peak.

He observed the structure absentmindedly, as he reminisced and appraised himself for the bouts of success he had determinedly led the company to achieve.

“Brown & Brown Enterprises” has since made it to the list of the top five prominent multinational companies in Oakville, and has won several business excellence awards for being the best at what it does, and for its various contributions to society.

Anthony had built on his late father's legacy and conspicuously raised the company to a formidable level.

He quickly adjusted his tie, and walked into the building, heading straight for his office.

He strode through the lobby of the company, his presence exuding a confident and intimidating aura. He took the elevator to his office which was on the 4th floor.

As he reached his office, he settled behind his desk, beckoning to his assistant and secretary who was standing by the door waiting for him to settle in.

“Good morning sir” the young man greeted, a blend of reverence and apprehension in his voice.

“Yes Phillip, what's my itinerary for the day?” Anthony cut to the chase.

The PA, slightly taken aback by his forwardness, composed himself and began detailing the day's schedule with precision.

As the day unfolded, Anthony delved into his responsibilities with a sense of purpose and determination. His strategic and visionary leadership style propelled the company to new heights, earning him the respect and admiration of his peers and subordinates.

With each decision he made and each obstacle he conquered, Anthony solidified his reputation as a leader to be reckoned with, one who was unafraid to challenge the status quo and push the boundaries of success.

Later that evening, Anthony returned home after a long and exhausting day at work. As he entered the door, he could sense the heavy atmosphere that lingered in the air. His mother was waiting for him in the living room, a mix of concern and determination evident in her demeanor.

"Anthony, we need to talk," she said gently but firmly as he settled down on the couch.

He sighed, wondering what new topic she wanted to broach now. Mrs. Brown sat beside him and looked into his eyes with a mix of love and worry.

"I know you're trying to hold everything together, Anthony. But you can't keep escaping from your own emotions," she began, her voice soft yet resolute. "I understand that Liam is your priority, but you need to prioritize yourself too. You need companionship, someone you can confide in, someone who can share the emotional burden with you."

Anthony listened quietly, the words striking a chord within him that he had been avoiding acknowledging. The weight of his responsibilities and emotions felt like a heavy burden that only seemed to grow with each passing day.

"I miss her, Mom," Anthony finally whispered, his voice barely above a breath. The pain he carried within him was palpable.

"I know, Anthony. We all miss her," Mrs. Brown whispered back, reaching out to hold his hand in silent support. "But you can't keep shutting yourself off from the possibility of finding happiness again. You deserve to be happy. You deserve to find love."

“I know Mom” he replied genuinely, though his tone gave off his tiredness. “But I don't know if I can find that love ever again. Besides, I can't bear any more pain” he whispered in despair, tears lacing his eyes.

“It's okay son. You'll be fine” She made to convince him further but comforted instead. She didn't want to push it. Although she desperately wanted him to fall in love again, she knew he was still hurting deeply, and needed to heal.

“Thank you so much Mom” he kissed the back of his mother's palm as he stood up and made his way to bed.

“I'll go check on Liam first. Goodnight mom”

“Goodnight son”

He climbed up the staircase, making his way first to his son's room where he saw the young boy fast asleep, looking peaceful as he slept. He didn't want to wake the child up, so he quietly gave him a goodnight kiss, observed him for a moment, and left the room, softly shutting the door behind him.

He got to his room that night, took a cold shower, threw on his PJs, and slid into bed. He wanted to pick up his laptop and work a little but then decided against it.

He was exhausted. For 3 years, he had intentionally buried himself in his work to douse his pain and grief, but the weight only got worse with each passing day. His employees and colleagues tagged him as a hard and uptight man because he gave no room for sentiments and vulnerability. He was only sweet to his family, most especially his son.

He had hoped to move on from the grief, but he felt trapped. He didn't know how to move on. He wasn't sure he was capable of loving someone else the way he loved her.

He took out her picture from the drawer by his bedside. As he stared at her, he took a trip down memory lane, relieving all the good times they shared and the love they strongly held on to before the tragic incident occurred.

“My love,” he said to the picture “I don't know what to do. I miss you so much. I tried to move on, but it hurts deeply. Our son looks so much like you. His name is Liam; I know how much you loved the name. He's such a sweet boy” He smiled lightly as his thoughts drifted to his son

“Oh God! I still can't believe you're gone” he was still grieving from her demise. His pain was palpable.

That night, he cried all the unshed tears he had held back until he fell asleep. While he slept, he saw her in his dreams, smiling and reassuring him that everything would be alright.