Love ~ Hate Relationship - Episode 17

 

I watch her haul her body up the stairs and i turn towards Rico and Marie 

"Turn in for the night, I will be on night watch" I say. 

Marie frowns.. 

"I can take it" She says. 

"I want to, you should go sleep, we have things to do tomorrow" I say, main reason I don't want to go to bed isn't because I want to do the night watch. 

It's because I can't help myself, going to sleep will be useless, there are thoughts crowding my brain. 

Memories that's I can't seem to shut down. 

"Are you okay?" Marie asks, her hand coming to rest on my shoulder. 

Rico looks away, busying himself with packing the dishes. 

I don't shake Marie hands off because I know that would be rude, I just lift it off my shoulder.. 

She frowns, her face falling. 

Seems we are going to have that talk now. 

I wait for Rico to exit the room. 

"Well, I'm turning in boss, good night" He says. 

"Goodnight, keep your device with you at all times" I say, giving a command I know is going to be kept.

He flips an imaginary hat before exiting the room. 

I turn to Marie.

"Take a seat" I say, nodding at the kitchen stool. 

She does, her expression eager.

"I've made things clear between us Marie, a thousand times, I like you and you are damn good at your job but what I don't like is having to repeat one thing a thousand times." I say and she frowns, pulling closer. 

"I don't know what you mean Stellan, I've been a good worker, I've..." 

"You know that is not what I mean, you know I never fault your work" I say and she nods, pulling back. 

"Stellan, I can't get over you, you are. Always in my thoughts, since that time, I thought I could move on but I....." 

"Is this going to be a problem? Do I have to move you to another state to make you understand that it was a one time thing?" I ask and she shakes her head, hurt in her eyes. 

"No I..."

"Good,let's keep our relationship strictly employer and employee alright?" 

"Alright" She says. 

"Good, because I won't hesitate to move you far away from me if i sense the need to" I say, getting up and moving from the room. 

I don't have time for that shit, I like Marie, but I don't like disturbances. 

I hear a door close somewhere and I know it's Marie turning in for the night, I look out the window at the starless night and the silent woods around. 

My hand creeps to my chest, wondering why it's hurting. 

Most times I used to think I have gotten over whatevrt happened nine years ago, I was a kid in love. 

But night like this night I feel down and with her so close to me? I feel different. 

An owl hoots somewhere and I take a deep breath, it's been so long since I came here. 

Approximately 5 years, after I tried getting into law school 4 times with no success I decided to enter the army, I got out fast after three tours in Iran, I didn't come back home preferring to stay in a big city away from the memories. 

I sigh again, wondering if I made the right decision in bringing Sybil into my life. 

I scoff, shaking my head as my eyes roam the grounds beneath and the path leading to the main house,its too late to turn back anyways. 

***

"The heater isn't working again" A voice whines into my ear and I grab a pillow to cover my head. 

It's had been four am this morning when Rico came to relieve me of my watch, it's barely past seven and I've gotten just three hours of shut-eye. 

My body hates me. 

"Can't you hear me? The heater isn't working, I need hot water, I want to bath" The voice whines again, closer this time, I remove the pillow from my head to glare into Sybil's face. 

"What do you mean the heater isn't working?" 

"Just what I meant, the water refuses to heat" She says and I take in her body bundled in a robe. 

"What are you doing up this early anyway?"I ask throwing my leg over the bed to seat up. 

" Early? It's past seven, should you be sleeping? Aren't you supposed to be guarding me"

"My employees can do that much Mrs Knight, there isn't much of you guard" I say, inexplicably pissed. 

She rolls her eyes sending me a death stare before stomping her feet. 

Yes, yes, the heater isn't working. 

I stand up from the bed, padding barefoot to the room across from mine, I know she's behind me because her scent follows me. 

I enter the room to see the sheets strewn haphazardly. 

Well, she's still as messy as ever. 

I enter the bathroom and walk to the shower, pressing the button for heating, I really have to refurbish the cottage. 

The normal whirring sound does not come on, I click and reclick but nothing happens. 

I turn to her. 

"seems the heater is bad, you will have to bath in my bathroom or something, I will call the handyman when we go into town" I say. 

"But..

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/love-hate-relationship

. I don't want to bath in you bathroom" 

"Then you will have to heat some water"  I say. 

"What?" 

"Yep" I say again, popping the p. 

"I can't heat water, i don't even know how to work a stove" She says. 

"Then princess, you will have to bath with cold water" I say, stepping out of the bathroom, she follows me. 

"Stop calling me princess" She says, her voice a quiet menace. 

"Why? Does it make you mad?" I ask, turning to her. 

Her eyes are dark, open, in them I can see anger and dread and worry.... And recognition. I freeze. 

"Sybil..." I begin. 

Her face immediately closes and for a moment it's like I imagined all of those things. 

"Get out, don't come in here ever again" She says, turning from me and I stand on that spot staring at her back wondering of u had imagined what I saw. 

AN

I've been writing this chapter for 5 days. 

Yes, you read that right, five days. 

There was nothing forthcoming, I was blank and for all of you who write you will understand that being blank is the worst thing that can ever happen to a writer. 

Last night, I stressed myself out over it, and then I spoke to someone who helped me get out of my Funk. 

It's not as if I'm over the block or something cos what triggered it is still very much alive, it's just... I'm not blank anymore. 

I'm grateful that you understand, thank you so much

I'm gonna try to get past this. 

Much love.