Traps of Destiny
Sarah
Kael and I were leaving the restaurant where we had just finished dinner with Ryan and Madison. As I searched for my phone in my purse, I noticed several missed calls, all from the same unknown number. I decided not to return the calls; after all, all the truly important people were already saved in my phone's contacts.
Kael helped me into the car and then stowed the wheelchair in the trunk with the help of the restaurant valet. When he finally sat in the driver's seat, I let out a deep sigh, immediately capturing his attention.
"What's wrong?" he asked, starting the car and pulling away from the front of the restaurant. "Are you very tired?"
Kael had a guilty expression, and I smiled, realizing that he felt bad for insisting on going out to dinner that night. I decided to create a bit of suspense before explaining the reason.
"Some missed calls on my phone," I said, looking out the car window. "All from an unknown number."
I believe Kael must have thought the same as I did, that it could be Rachel, but I didn't want to discuss my sister at that moment. Rachel was a forbidden name among everyone around me, and I preferred things to stay that way.
Rachel had caused a lot of trouble for people who didn't deserve it, driven only by her selfishness. I didn't believe she was remorseful for her actions, so I saw no reason to offer a second chance to someone not seeking redemption.
Kael was changing the subject when he asked, "What do you think of Madison and Ryan living together? I think they make a beautiful couple."
His words managed to lighten the mood in the car, and I quickly forgot about Rachel. I wouldn't let her ruin my night, which had been pleasant until then.
"It's funny to hear you talk about 'a beautiful couple,'" I commented, emphasizing with air quotes. "Do you believe that, or are you just trying to please me?"
Kael smiled in response, and it was clear that I had hit the mark. My fiancé wasn't someone who easily believed in love, especially when it came to his younger brother, whom he had always admired, even before discovering that Ryan was his blood relative.
"You know I'd do anything to please you, Sarah," he confessed. "Even root for being wrong about this. About not believing that my brother is truly in love with Madison, as he believes."
Even while driving and trying to keep the utmost attention on the road, Kael could still look at me with an intense and sincere gaze, capable of melting all my defenses, even though, at that moment, they were hardly raised for him.
"If Ryan is happy, it doesn't matter if he truly loves her or not, Kael," I said, holding his hand briefly, just a touch before he returned his grip to the gearshift. "The only thing that matters is if we are happy, and that our happiness doesn't come at the expense of hurting other people."
I didn't need to say that I was referring once again to Rachel; it wasn't necessary. But she served as an example of what not to do.
"Are you happy?" he asked, looking at me expectantly. "Am I making you happy, Sarah?"
I smiled at the straightforwardness of his question, something typical of Kael.
"I would be happier if I were lying in our bed, watching TV," I replied, just to tease him. "But it's not that bad either..."
Kael had come home that night while I was already comfortably between the sheets, watching TV and waiting for him to return from work. However, instead of accepting my offer of dinner in our room and watching a movie together, he insisted on going out to dinner with Ryan and Madison, who had just returned from a trip and wanted to meet up with us.
Despite liking the couple a lot, especially now that Ryan and I were rebuilding our previous friendship, the physical therapy session that afternoon left me more exhausted than usual. Going out to dinner wasn't exactly in my plans for the night.
But as always happened when Kael made an effort to convince me, he once again made me change my mind, and even though tired, I ended up yielding to the idea of dinner.
"I would also like to be like that with you right now..." he admitted, and there was a silent plea for understanding in his gaze. "But we're almost home, and we can do exactly what you want, okay?"
I understood Kael's need to maintain a "normal" social life, regardless of my current physical condition. It was as if he was trying to show me every day how much he loved me, above all else.
And even when I didn't want to leave the house, he found programs and places that made me change my mind, sometimes people, like today, when we had dinner with our brother because Ryan is our brother, and his girlfriend, Madison, whom I also consider a friend.
We were so engrossed in our conversation that we barely noticed a strange commotion ahead. However, it was impossible not to notice the car that stopped abruptly, forcing Kael to slow down almost to a halt.
We saw two girls practically thrown out of the car, awkwardly disembarking on the street and staggering to the sidewalk. Kael stopped the car, and we assessed the situation, unsure whether to call the police or go out to help the girls who embraced each other, clearly in a state of shock.
"That girl..." Kael began to say.
"It 's Rachel!"
Suddenly, surprise took over us as we recognized Rachel and another girl I had never seen before in the company of my sister. Both seemed visibly shaken and uncomfortable, evident in the looks of desperation they exchanged with each other. I never imagined that fate would put me in front of Rachel in such an unusual situation.
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