The Smith's Legacy

Unseen Burden

Chapter 5

Asher's mind was restless, filled with endless thought, but no clear solution. He could not figure a way to convince his father to approve of his decision to marry Ava.

What else does his father want from him? Why did his father's opinion always have to come first? Would he ever have the chance to live his life outside the family legacy someday?

Shouldn't his father allow him to make that one choice…? Especially now that he was no longer 20 but a grown 23 years old man.

It was a difficult decision but Asher knew he desperately needed to decide that part of his life, and not even his father should stop him. But how will that be possible, when his father kept watching him like he was a hawk?

His biggest fear was being financially crippled all his life. But what was the value of wealth without happiness?

That thought jolted him, and he quickly rose from the bed where he'd drowned in a sea of worries and began to pack his clothes.

He was still emptying his closet when Jessica walked in, unannounced.

"Uhm...What are you doing?"

She asked. Her voice startled him and for a moment, he stood frozen. Wondering if she had been in the room all along.

He had to abandon everything and quietly turn around. But right there, was Jessica sitting comfortably on his bed and casually looking through his phone.

"She's really beautiful you know" she said, nodding at Ava's picture on the screen.

"But I think you should listen to Father Asher. He means well"

She tried sounding convincing. But Asher stood silently, staring at her while his thoughts were thousands miles away.

And when Jessica got no response from Asher. She stood up and waved her hand in front of his face.

"Hey Mr. What are you thinking about?"

She asked, and Asher suddenly realised himself.

"Why are you here, Jessica? What happened to privacy? Why are you always creeping in on me?"

He asked, his voice Firm. But Jessica quickly responded "To speak to you, Asher" she said.

" Look, you need to listen to your father. You're hurting the old man already. He's your father for christ sake Asher, and he loves you so much, I think you need to stop right now?"

What is love without happiness? What is love without sacrifices? He thought. Why does everyone want him to believe his father loved him, when all he felt was being controlled? Why was it so difficult to understand that he is Asher and not Smith, who wants his legacy to live on?

He didn't bother responding to Jessica. Instead, he grabbed his two packed trunk and headed for the door, but Jessica followed him up as he moved.

"Hey!"

She blurted, grabbing his arm while trying to stop him from moving.

"What are you doing Asher?" She asked. "Moving out, cause father wants you to be a better man? Are you crazy...? Do you understand what you are about to do?"

Asher looked at her, but shook his head, struggling to hold back the urge to get Jessica off his way.

No! Not even Jessica should stop him from doing that.But it was difficult, because she was In his way. He turned and shoved her off but she fell to the floor.

"Father.....!"

She screamed as Asher struggled to get his trunk out the door.

"Let him go, Jessica!"

Robert said from the stairs, having witnessed the entire scene. He then walked towards her slowly.

"Come here child. Don't worry you won't be alone. I'm here, okay?" He said, as he tried to lift Jessica up from the floor.

Asher didn't look back. He had no plan, no certainty… But he had no regrets. Ava was all that mattered and knowing she was there waiting, gave him peace.

He returned to his one room apartment and Ava welcomed him with open arms.To her, Asher's future was full of mystery and she just could not wait to unravel it with him.

Asher and Ava got married in the church. In the presence of Ava's mother and few others who witnessed the couple exchange their vow.

But as the time passed by, the bills started piling up, even higher than Asher had expected.

But Ava was there, trying her best to lift the burden in the ways she could, even though Asher was against it. He wanted to be the provider and not the other way round.

It was 1:00am in the morning and Ava still found it difficult to sleep, as she kept tossing and turning. She was worried about what the future held with how things were going.

Suddenly she stopped and turned to look at Asher, then gently tapped him to wake up.

"Have you been awake all through, Ava?"

He asked, barely able to open his eyes. But then. The expression on Ava's face. She was looking worried and very distant.

"What happened, Ava? Is it me? Did I do something wrong? Please talk to me" He asked anxiously.

But Ava hesitated for a while, then suddenly spoke in a low husky voice.

"I don't want to lose you Asher. Please come home with me, my Mum would be happy to have us. it's a big house and is basically empty"

No way...That was not even possible. No, Ava shouldn't have mentioned a thing like that. How was he going to explain that to his kids when they start coming, that he was unable to be a man and that was why he lived with their grandmother?

"Please Ava, can we not talk about things like....?"

Before he could finish. He saw tears streaming down Ava's face like a raging river.

"Do you know how hard it is for me right now? Seeing these tears on...?" He barely finished.

"No Asher. You don't know how hard it is for me, seeing you do this alone, everyday. Let me help Asher, I want to help you build this family, let me help lift this burden. I really want to help, please.."