BEFORE SHE CAME ALONG

Sometimes, life introduces you to someone long before you understand the role they are destined to play in your story. You cross paths, share a few moments, create memories, and then move on, unaware that one day, fate might bring you back to the very person you never imagined you would fall in love with. For Marvin Aikins and Hillary Adams, it all began in a tertiary institution, where two young people found themselves in the same class, sharing lectures, assignments, and the ordinary experiences of student life. Back then, Marvin was simply Marvin—a handsome, confident, and ambitious young man with dreams that stretched far beyond the walls of his classroom. He was hardworking, intelligent, and charming, with a quiet determination to make something meaningful out of his life. He had plans for his future, and he was determined to see them through. Hillary Adams was one of his classmates. Their friendship grew naturally through school activities, group assignments, and the countless conversations that came with spending so much time around the same people. They became comfortable with each other, sharing jokes, exchanging ideas, and occasionally working together on academic projects. They were friends. Classmates. Familiar faces in each other’s everyday lives. But neither of them knew that their story would one day become something more. School eventually came to an end, as it always does. The familiar classrooms became memories, friendships scattered in different directions, and everyone began pursuing the future they had spent years preparing for. Marvin and Hillary were no exception. Life moved on. There were no promises between them, no declarations of love, and no reason for either of them to believe that their paths would cross again in any meaningful way. They had shared a chapter of their lives, and perhaps that was all it was ever meant to be. Or so they thought. Then, one ordinary invitation changed everything. It was an event organised by a former classmate, someone they had both known during their days in school. Neither Marvin nor Hillary had any idea that the other had been invited. They arrived with their own plans for the evening, expecting nothing more than familiar faces, conversations, and a pleasant time among old acquaintances. And then, across the gathering, their eyes met. For a moment, the noise around them seemed to fade into the background. Hillary recognised him almost immediately. Marvin. The same Marvin she had shared a classroom with. The same man she had laughed with over assignments and school-related conversations. Yet, standing before her now, he seemed different. Time had passed, and life had clearly been happening to both of them. Marvin was equally surprised to see her. “Hillary Adams?” he called out, a smile slowly spreading across his face. She laughed softly. “Marvin Aikins! I can’t believe you’re here.” “Look at you,” he said, approaching her. “It’s been a long time.” “An extremely long time.” They laughed, exchanging the usual questions about life after school. Where had she been? What had she been doing? How had life treated her since graduation? The conversation began with the comfort of two old classmates catching up, but neither seemed particularly eager to end it. One question became another. One story led to a different memory. Before long, they were laughing about their school days as though they had only seen each other the previous week. By the time they finally went their separate ways that evening, something had changed. Not love. Not yet. Just curiosity. A renewed interest. The unexpected pleasure of discovering that someone who had once been part of your everyday life could suddenly feel like someone you wanted to know all over again. Before leaving, they exchanged phone numbers. It was a simple gesture, the kind people made every day without attaching too much meaning to it. Neither of them knew that this small decision would become the beginning of a love story that would shape the rest of their lives. That night, Marvin sent Hillary a message. And Hillary smiled when she saw his name appear on her phone. The conversation ended that night, and both Marvin and Hillary went to bed with pleasant smiles on their faces. Neither of them knew that a simple exchange between two old classmates would leave such a lasting impression, even if neither was ready to admit it. But after that night, life took over. Days passed, and then a week. No messages. No calls. Nothing. By the time two weeks had gone by, Hillary had begun to notice the silence more than she wanted to. It was a quiet evening, and she sat on her bed with her phone in her hand, scrolling through old messages. She wasn’t looking for anything in particular until her eyes landed on Marvin’s name. She stopped. A small smile appeared on her face as memories of the evening they had met came rushing back. She remembered how he had looked when she first saw him at the event. He had always been handsome, even back in school, but there was something different about him now. He looked more mature, stronger, healthier, and more confident. The years had done him good. Marvin Aikins. She shook her head slightly, smiling to herself. “Look at you, Hillary,” she murmured. “Why are you even thinking about this man?” But she couldn’t help it. She remembered his smile, the sound of his laughter, and the way their conversation had flowed so easily. It had felt as though they had never really lost touch. And now, two weeks had passed without a single word from him. Not even a simple hello. Hillary unlocked her phone and opened their conversation. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard. Should I text him? She typed a message. Hey, Marvin. How have you been? She stared at it for a few seconds before deleting the entire thing. “No,” she whispered. “Why should I be the one texting first?” She placed her phone beside her, only to pick it up again a few moments later. Perhaps he was busy. He had told her that his business was still growing, and she knew how demanding it could be to build something from the ground up. Still, a small part of her wondered whether he had thought about her at all since their conversation. Had she been the only one who remembered that evening? Had she been the only one who wanted to talk again? She sighed and leaned back against her pillows. She wasn’t in love with Marvin Aikins. At least, that was what she told herself. They were old classmates who had reconnected after two years apart. There was nothing unusual about thinking about someone you had recently seen again. After several contemplations to whether she should text him or not, she later dropped her phone and headed out to the kitchen to finish with her chores. Marvin on the other hand was at home after a long days work, he had taken his shower and put things in place for the next day then he remembered he hadn’t spoken to Hillary for the past two weeks now. Marvin glanced at the time and let out a tired sigh. It had been another exhausting day, and all he wanted was a good night’s rest before facing another busy day tomorrow. He picked up his phone one last time and opened his conversation with Hillary. He hadn’t spoken to her in two weeks, and he felt he owed her an explanation. He hadn’t intended to go that long without checking up on her, but his business had kept him occupied from morning until night. He began typing. Marvin: Hey, Hillary. I’m sorry I’ve been so caught up with work these past two weeks. Things have been really busy with the business, and I’ve barely had time to catch my breath. I just wanted to check up on you this evening and see how you’ve been doing. I hope everything is going well with you. He waited a little, but there was no response. Marvin smiled faintly and shook his head. Perhaps she was busy, too. He sent one final message. Marvin: Anyway, I’m really exhausted, and I need to get some sleep so I can be ready for tomorrow. We’ll talk soon, okay? Goodnight, Hillary. After sending the message, Marvin put his phone aside, changed into his nightwear, and settled into bed. Within minutes, exhaustion carried him into a deep sleep. Meanwhile, Hillary was in the kitchen, attending to a few things before retiring for the night. Her phone lay forgotten in her bedroom, and she had no idea that the man she had been thinking about all evening had finally reached out to her. When she eventually finished and returned to her bedroom, she picked up her phone. A notification caught her attention. Marvin Aikins. Her heart gave a little jump. She quickly opened the message and began reading. A smile spread across her face as she read his apology and his explanation for being absent. He had been busy with work, just as she had suspected. But when she reached the final line, her smile softened. Goodnight, Hillary. She glanced at the time. He must have gone to bed already. “Aww, he’s already sleeping,” she murmured to herself. For a moment, she considered calling him, but she quickly dismissed the thought. It was late, and if he was as exhausted as he had said, the last thing she wanted was to disturb his sleep. Instead, she opened their conversation and typed a reply. Hillary: Oh, okay. Thank you so much for checking up on me, Marvin. I understand that you’ve been busy. I hope you get some good rest tonight. We’ll talk tomorrow. Goodnight. She read the message once before sending it. Then she placed her phone on the bedside table, changed into her nightwear, and climbed into bed. Although she wished they could have spoken a little longer, she felt better knowing that he had remembered her. At least he hadn’t forgotten about her after all. With that thought, Hillary switched off her bedside lamp and closed her eyes. She had no idea that, by the following morning, a simple message from Marvin Aikins would once again become the first thing on her mind. What began as an occasional conversation soon became something neither Marvin nor Hillary wanted to go a day without. Their messages became more frequent. Their phone calls grew longer, sometimes stretching late into the night as they talked about everything and nothing. They shared stories about their days, their dreams, their worries, and the little things that made them laugh. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into a month. Before they knew it, six weeks had passed since they reconnected. They had become inseparable. They started going on dates, meeting whenever their schedules allowed, and spending time together in ways that felt increasingly special. To anyone watching them, they looked like a couple already deeply in love. Yet neither had officially confessed their feelings. Not until the friendship began to feel like something neither could explain away. Hillary found herself smiling whenever Marvin’s name appeared on her phone. She looked forward to his calls, missed him when they went too long without seeing each other, and caught herself thinking about him at the most unexpected moments. Marvin, too, was beginning to realise that Hillary was becoming more than an old classmate. She had found a place in his life that no one else occupied. Talking to her came naturally, being around her brought him peace, and the thought of making her his own made him smile. Eventually, Marvin confided in his best friend, Richard. The two had been friends for years, and Marvin trusted him enough to speak openly about the things he rarely shared with anyone else. “Richard, I think I’m falling for Hillary,” Marvin admitted one afternoon. Richard raised an eyebrow. “You think?” Marvin laughed. “I’m serious.” “So what’s stopping you from telling her?” Marvin leaned back in his chair. “I don’t know. I don’t want to ruin what we already have.” Richard shook his head. “Marvin, you’ve been talking about this woman for weeks. You take her out, you call her every day, and you light up whenever she calls. If you ask me, you’re already halfway into a relationship. Tell her how you feel before someone else comes along and does it first.” His friend’s words stayed with Marvin. And for the first time, he decided he was ready to take the risk. Marvin planned a special date for Hillary. He chose a beautiful restaurant with a warm atmosphere, soft lighting, and slow music playing gently in the background. Everything was arranged with care, not because he wanted to impress her with money, but because he wanted the evening to mean something. Hillary arrived looking beautiful, and Marvin couldn’t hide his smile when he saw her. They enjoyed their dinner, talked, laughed, and reminisced about how unexpectedly close they had become. Then, as the music played softly around them, Marvin took a deep breath. “Hillary, there’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you.” She looked at him curiously. “What is it?” He reached across the table and took her hand. “When we met again that evening, I never imagined you would become this important to me. Somewhere along the way, you became the person I want to talk to about everything. You’re the first person I think of when something good happens, and the person I want to hear from when my day has been difficult.” Hillary’s smile softened. “Marvin…” “I like you, Hillary. More than a friend. And I don’t want to keep pretending that what I feel for you is just friendship.” He paused, searching her eyes. “So, Hillary Adams, will you be my girlfriend?” For a moment, she simply stared at him. Then her face broke into the brightest smile Marvin had ever seen. “Yes, Marvin. Yes, I’ll be your girlfriend.” Relief washed over him, followed by a happiness he couldn’t quite put into words. He stood, moved around the table, and pulled her into a warm embrace. That evening marked the beginning of their love story. The six months that followed were among the happiest of their lives. Marvin and Hillary took the time to understand each other beyond the excitement of a new relationship. They learned each other’s habits, discovered their differences, and found comfort in the things they shared. They supported each other’s ambitions, celebrated their successes, and stood beside one another through the ordinary challenges of life. Their love grew deeper with time. Marvin admired Hillary’s warmth, intelligence, and determination. Hillary loved Marvin’s ambition, maturity, and the way he made her feel valued. He was attentive and protective without making her feel small, while she gave him a sense of peace that made the demands of his growing business easier to bear. They weren’t perfect, but they were happy. And to Marvin, that happiness was worth protecting. By the time they reached their sixth month together, he was certain of what he wanted. He didn’t want Hillary to remain his girlfriend forever. He wanted her to be his wife. Marvin had never been a man who made decisions without thinking them through. When it came to Hillary, however, his heart had been certain long before he found the words to express it. He planned a proposal that reflected how much she meant to him. When he finally asked for her hand in marriage, Hillary was overwhelmed with emotion. She had dreamed of building a future with Marvin, but hearing him make that promise brought tears to her eyes. “Yes,” she whispered, smiling through her tears. “Yes, Marvin. I’ll marry you.” He slipped the ring onto her finger and pulled her close. For both of them, it felt like the most natural decision in the world. They had found the person they wanted beside them for the rest of their lives, and neither could imagine a future without the other. Soon, they stood before their loved ones and exchanged their vows, beginning their journey as Mr. and Mrs. Aikins. Their wedding was a celebration of the love they had nurtured from friendship into something lasting. As Hillary walked toward Marvin, he watched her with the same admiration he had felt on the night he first realised he wanted her to be his girlfriend. Only now, she was his wife. And he was her husband. Marriage brought new responsibilities, but it didn’t diminish their love. Marvin continued building his electronics business, working tirelessly to turn his dreams into something lasting. Hillary remained supportive while pursuing her own career and ambitions. They made decisions together, celebrated each other’s achievements, and learned how to navigate married life as a team. Their home became a place of laughter, affection, and shared dreams. They enjoyed the simple pleasures of being together: having dinner after a long day, talking about their plans, and finding comfort in each other’s presence. They had disagreements from time to time, as every couple did, but they never doubted their commitment to one another. To them, marriage wasn’t merely a promise made on their wedding day. It was a choice they continued to make every day afterward. And for two years, their love remained the foundation of everything they built. Then, one evening, while sitting together and talking about their future, they decided they were ready to take another step. They wanted children. The thought of becoming parents filled them both with excitement. They spoke about the kind of home they wanted to create, the values they hoped to teach their children, and the joy of watching a little family grow around them. Neither could have imagined just how much their lives were about to change. When Hillary discovered she was pregnant, Marvin’s happiness was beyond anything he had anticipated. The news transformed their excitement about the future into something tangible. They were going to become parents. But the greatest surprise came when they learned that they were expecting twins. Two little girls. Marvin could hardly believe it. “Twins?” he repeated, looking at Hillary in astonishment. She laughed at his expression. “Yes, Marvin. Two babies.” He shook his head in disbelief before bending to kiss her forehead. “Two little princesses,” he murmured. “What am I going to do with two of you?” Hillary burst into laughter. “You’ll figure it out, Daddy.” And he did. When their daughters finally arrived, healthy and beautiful, Marvin felt his heart expand in a way he had never experienced before. Sarah Aikins and Mara Aikins. Two precious little girls who instantly became the centre of their world. Marvin held his daughters with a tenderness that surprised even him. He watched their tiny faces as they slept, memorised their little features, and found himself making promises about the kind of father he would be. Hillary watched him with a heart full of love. This was the man she had chosen. The man she had trusted with her future. The man who had promised to love her through every season of life. And as she watched him cradle their daughters, she felt certain she had made the right choice. They had a marriage built on love, a growing business, a beautiful home, and two daughters who made their world feel complete. They had everything they had once dreamed of. And neither Marvin nor Hillary believed that anything could ever come between them. After all, what could possibly threaten a love that had survived the journey from friendship to marriage and grown into a family? Back then, forever still felt like a promise they could keep.