Chapter 3

At that moment it started to snow, Rose’s favorite season.

It was the first snow.

Her favorite day of the year.

Rosalie had always loved the snow, but her love for the season grew because the snow had led her to meet Hakeem.

They would’ve been in their little cottage, celebrating their first baby together. The snow would’ve been the icing on the cake as they enjoyed each other's company.

When Hakeem finally looked at her with trembling lips, unable to speak, her heart broke all over again. But, she knew she’d take the bullet all over again.

Rosalie summoned every ounce of strength in her body to lift and hold his face between her cold hands. “Hakeem, I love you much, more than you could ever know. I want you to remember that.”

“I love you, Rose.” He cried, “I can’t lose you, plea … please don’t leave me.”

Rosalie wanted to bawl, but she had to be strong for him. She refused to believe this was the end of them. They didn’t get to visit the beach or go to his Homeland, Africa. Or find his family.

A poem from an ancient book she’d read in the confines of her childhood home suddenly crossed her mind. Her favorite line had been:

“When love exists on a soul level it transcends Time and space… it is eternal. 

“Hakeem,” Rosalie called out weakly.

Hakeem didn’t say anything, he just stared at her, holding onto her hand tightly, while his other hand lay on her stomach tenderly, and tears rolled down his face.

“Let's meet again…” She paused breathing heavily. “On the day of the first snow_” Her voice threatened to fail her.

“What?”

Rosalie looked up at the sky with a weak smile. If there was a higher being, she believed he/she wouldn’t let this be their end. “We’ll meet again Hakeem.” She caressed his face softly “Hakeem, my love for you is so much stronger than death. I_” Her voice broke again and she suddenly couldn’t speak well.

“Stop talking.” Hakeem cried, clinging unto her.

“Promise me, Hakeem.” She wheezed, coughing blood. “Promise me we’ll meet again.”

Hakeem shook his head vehemently. “Ple... please don’t leave me, Rose.” He knew the promise would mean goodbye. “Don’t go.”

“P..please.” She begged.

“I... I promise you, Rose.” Hakeem’s voice was barely audible, from the pain of his heart being torn to pieces.

Their last kiss. It was full of raw pain and sorrow. Full of tears and the pure anguish of two young hearts who just wanted to love each other.

When Rose stopped responding to his kiss, Hakeem’s world shifted.

Two days had passed since Rosalie died.

Hakeem stared fixedly at the concrete wall in his cold prison cell. Thomas framed him for Rosalie’s death, saying he’d killed her before he and his men got there. 

He couldn’t even muster up the strength to deny the charges. He just went through the motions, the image of Rosalie’s lifeless body tormenting him.

He never got to bury her.

He recalled how she’d been smiling just minutes before she died, telling him the good news about their baby.

Their baby.

Hakeem choked on a sudden sob. Crying for the first time since she died in his arms. He had never felt so empty in his entire life. 

So… numb.

 He knew no one could ever fill the void Rose left in his life, and even if he had that chance, he'd never allow anyone to.

He kissed Rosalie’s ring, their wedding ring. A simple wooden ring which the words, “No matter where you are,” was inscribed on it.

He looked at his ring that completed hers “I’ll always be there with you.”

“No matter where you are, I’ll always be there with you.”

He had to be there with her.

Trying his shirt to the sturdy rods on the high window, he secured it to be as tight as possible around his neck before he kicked the chair.

To him, the pain of his last moments comforted him. He felt like he shared Rosalie’s pain. He managed a smile as he gasped for breath, not making a move to struggle.

He was going to join Rosalie.

***

The year 2019_ present day

‘Do you believe in reincarnation?’ It read.

Scarlett smiled, staring at the magazine laying on the backseat of her taxi. Of course, she did. She was the living, breathing evidence.

The annoying sound of the driver's droning continued. He'd been trying to make conversation throughout the journey, and Scarlett wasn't interested. But he insisted on making her journey uncomfortable. He kept on talking about his wife, telling her about how he'd slept with his wife's best friend because his wife let herself go.

He kept trying to explain to Scarlett why exactly he wasn't at fault, and how he'd warned his wife that he'd cheat if she didn't get back in shape after giving birth to their twins. Scarlett huffed silently throughout the story, she was filled with extreme pity for the poor woman who had to put up with this manchild. She silently prayed the woman would be financially stable enough to serve him divorce papers. She deserved better.

Scarlett tumbled out of the taxi uncoordinated when it stopped at her destination. She was in a rush to leave the taxi. The taxi driver waited for a tip after she paid him, and when he realized she had no intention of tipping him, his friendly demeanor changed and he didn't help her get her luggage from the booth. There was no way in hell she was tipping him for filling her ears with rubbish.

As Scarlett balanced on the pavement, arranging her things, she tried to calm her nerves and stomach which rolled and dispersed butterflies at the same time.

She was back in Calgary.

Dragging her ridiculously large travel bag away from the now departing taxi and towards the towering apartment building, she noted one thing. It did feel somewhat good to be back.