When Love Finds You

The beginning of joy

"Andre, you didn't have to do—" Sandra began, but Andre cut her off.

"Yes, but I wanted to. Close friends, remember?"

"But close friends share their burdens, not carry them on their own. Now that you’ve done that, what role am I supposed to play?" Sandra asked.

"Smile," Andre said, stopping in his tracks.

"What?" Sandra blinked in confusion.

"Smile. That’s your role now. Be happy. So smile and play your part well—I’d love to see you in that role," he said, his expression sincere.

Sandra’s heart raced. She looked down, trying to steel herself, but her emotions slipped through as she put on a stern face.

"Andre, I’m not kidding. I have to pay you back."

"Hahhh," Andre exhaled dramatically. "Why are you so stubborn, Sandra? Fine. Let’s play your version. You’ll pay half, but I give the terms of payment."

"Okay, that’s better. Now go on," she replied.

"You can take as long as you please. No interest. And..." he paused, grinning, "you’ll let me buy espresso worth up to 500,000 from you whenever I feel like it."

Sandra teared up. "Thank you so much."

She knew what he really meant—he wouldn’t let her pay it back. And even if she insisted, he'd simply find a way to give it back through her business.

"Don’t be silly. Let me do this. I’m happy to," Andre said gently, wiping her tears with his thumb. "Now, let’s go pay that money and save Daniel."

Sandra nodded, too emotional to speak.

Together, they went to the accounts office and paid the bill. Daniel’s surgery was scheduled.

"I know I’ve said this before, but thank you," Sandra said again.

"If I got a penny for each ‘thank you’ you’ve said, I’d be drowning in money," Andre teased as he held her hand on the way to Daniel’s room.

Inside, they were met with Emma’s worried voice.

"Sis, I’ve got a hundred thousand here. It may not be enough, but I’ll keep working hard. Maybe I could borrow from my friends—"

"You don’t have to worry anymore," Sandra said.

"Huh? Why, Sis? I know it’s not enough, but I promise to get more."

"No, Emma. There’s no need. Andre has paid for it."

Emma turned, stunned. "Andre? Thank you so much!"

"That’s okay. It’s what friends do," Andre replied. "And by the way, your sister’s already given me a truckload of ‘thank-you’s’—I might start a giveaway."

Sandra lightly hit his arm. “Stop teasing.”

"Now let’s prepare for the surgery—it’s scheduled for tomorrow," Sandra said, her voice trembling slightly despite her calm tone. She hated surgeries. They terrified her.

Andre noticed. Gently, he reached for her hands.

"It’s going to be fine. We’re in this together."

Sandra nodded, gripping his hands tightly.

---

Sunday Morning

It was Sunday, Sandra’s day off, and she rushed to the hospital like a mother hen. She hovered around Daniel, fussing over everything. Her whole family did. That’s how they handled fear—by doing something, anything.

About an hour before the surgery, Andre arrived.

"Thank you, son, for helping us with the bills," Jackson, Sandra’s father, said.

"It’s nothing compared to how your daughter inspires me. She’s truly a gem," Andre replied.

"Yes, she is."

Their conversation was interrupted by Mrs. Mirabel, who walked in with a gentle but serious tone.

"Sorry to interrupt, but it’s almost time. Daniel needs to be prepped. Surgery begins in twenty minutes."

The nurse came, checked him, and confirmed he was ready. Daniel was soon wheeled out of the room. Sandra walked with him, holding his hand tightly.

"Sandra, you need to let him go. I promise, he’ll be fine," Andre said softly.

"Yes, Andy is right," Mrs. Mirabel added. "It’s a simple appendectomy. 90% survival rate. Under my hands? Almost a hundred."

"But..." Sandra looked up at Andre, eyes brimming with fear.

"Let him go, Sandra. He’ll be fine—but not if you delay him."

Scared that any delay could hurt him, Sandra let go.

Mitchell gently took Sandra’s hand and smiled at her. Around her, everyone’s eyes were calm, comforting. Sandra realized she wasn’t alone in this.

Andre pulled her into his arms.

"He’ll be fine. Trust Mom Mirabel. Trust me."

Then the surgery room doors closed. And a heavy silence followed.

---

The seconds turned to minutes, and minutes stretched into hours. Finally, the surgery light went off.

Sandra jumped to her feet, clutching Andre’s hand tightly.

A nurse stepped out. “The operation was successful. You may see him once he’s in the ward—but only one or two at a time.”

Sandra exhaled deeply. Relief washed over her.

"He’s fine. Thank God, he’s okay," she whispered, hugging Andre.

"Yes, he is. You can rest easy now," Andre said, patting her head.

Daniel was wheeled into a clean ward, his face pale but safe. No one needed to say it—Sandra would go in first. This had taken the greatest toll on her.

She extended her hand toward Andre. "Come with me."

They walked in quietly, followed by the others, hearts full of gratitude.

"Emma, stay with Daniel. I’ll take Dad and Mitchell home," Sandra said.

“Okay. Be safe,” Emma replied.

Sandra turned to Andre. “Thank you—for today, and for everything.”

Andre gently placed a finger over her lips. “Let’s go,” he said.

“Huh? Go where?” she blinked, confused.

“Your home. I’m driving you, dummy,” he said.

“What? Andre, you don’t have to. We’ll find a way.”

“True. I don’t have to. But I want to. And besides, it’s late. What kind of gentleman leaves a damsel like you stranded?”

Sandra sighed. “Let’s go, Dad,” she said, helping her father.

Andre placed Mitchell in the car, and they all settled in.

As Sandra fastened her seatbelt, she turned to Andre. “Thank you.”

Andre groaned dramatically. “God, if you say thank you one more time, I’ll scream! I’m your friend, Sandra. You keep thanking me like I’m some stranger. Just buckle up and say, ‘Let’s go,’ with a smile. I want to see you smile.”

His tone was scolding, but his eyes were full of love.

“Ugh, fine then. Let’s go,” she said with a smirk. “Didn’t know being polite was a crime.”

“I heard that,” Andre said.

“I didn’t whisper it,” she shot back.

They both burst into laughter.

The warm mood lingered as they arrived home. Sandra helped her dad in, then carried the sleeping Mitchell.

“You said I shouldn’t say thank you, so... be safe on your way back,” she said with a small smile.

“Okay, I will,” Andre replied, his eyes lingering on her face. He didn’t want to leave.

Their eyes locked. For a second, the world paused. Sparks danced between them. Sandra looked away, blushing.

“Goodnight,” she whispered.

“Goodnight,” Andre replied as he finally drove off.