OOB Exclusive - Slow Fade... (Must Read)

Tope had been uncomfortable all afternoon. It was Valentine's day and Bayo was taking her out later in the day, she should have been very excited about that, but Tope was anything but excited.

She and Bayo had been together for two years now. She had first agreed to date him on February 14,  two years ago, so today was not just Val for them, it was also their anniversary. Their 1st anniversary last year had been magical, but a lot of things had changed since then.

She had noticed the drift between them ever since Bayo had gotten a new job 8 months ago. Taking that job had meant he had to travel out of the country for 6 months on a training course. Before he left, they had made promises to each other to keep their love alive over the miles, after all, it was just 6 months. Who would have thought then that so much could happen in 6 months?

In the first couple of weeks after he left, both of them had tried, really tried to keep the passion burning.

Tope thought back to the night calls, the long mails and skype sessions they used to have. But as the training became more and more demanding, Bayo had less time available for her. He had explained the situation to her, and asked her to be patient and understanding, it was only for a short time.

Tope had tried, tried really hard to be patient and understanding. When her mails to Bayo would go unanswered for days and her calls unpicked, Tope had kept on trying. Even when he was never online to chat, Tope had remained understanding..., until George came along.

George..., just thinking about his name brought a smile to her lips and then made her pensive almost immediately. It was George that had been there to make her laugh, he had wiped her tears when things hurt, George was the one who had offered his broad shoulders and warm arms to comfort her when her uncle died.

It was George who patiently listened to her talk and offered advice when things were tough at the office, he was the one who held her in his arms when it was cold, when Bayo had been unavailable to offer her all these. But it was also George that had caused her to ask herself questions about Bayo.

Even though George had never asked her out, how could she not have developed a soft spot for him? Over time, a soft fondness for him had developed in her heart that had blossomed like a spring flower.

The sound of the bell jerked her away from her thoughts. She picked her purse and walked slowly to the door, she knew it would be Bayo. There he stood, looking so dapper. He looked even more handsome than he had four weeks ago when she had gone to pick him up from the airport. 

He kissed her cheeks and complimented her look as she stepped out with him and locked the door behind her. Bayo, the perfect gentleman. She looked at him and she knew she couldn't continue the deceit anymore. It wasn't that she didn't love him anymore, but there was just this, this..., disconnect between them and it was like he didn't even realize it.

"I have a surprise for you babe", Bayo said as they got into the car. He brought out a box with a note attached to it. it was a ring box, and as he opened it, he looked into her eyes and said "Tope, I've been wanting to ask you this question since the first day I saw you, will you marry me?"

Tope broke into tears, a small smile was breaking on the side of Bayo's lips, he thought she was overwhelmed. "No babe, don't cry, just say yes, I know you have been waiting for this since forever"

"No", she blurted out. "No?" Bayo repeated. He was stunned. "Tope? No?......, but,......but,..." At that moment, Bayo's face had an almost indescribable look of disbelief, incredibility, deep pain, shock. He looked like he had been shot through the heart.

What happened next occurred so quickly that neither of them saw it coming, or perhaps, the emotions that hung thick in the air then cloaked the atmosphere and shut them off from the rest of the World.

One minute, it was just them, two lost souls sitting in the car and staring at each other, and the next minute, a drunk truck driver was ramming into  the side of their car. 

Bayo was dead by the time the ambulance got them to an hospital.

Three days later, when Tope came out of the shock induced coma in the hospital, she saw the ring box Bayo had given her on the hospital table by her bed. The sight of the box brought the memories flooding back.

She reached for it, the note was still attached to it. Curious, she unfolded the note and read the words "Without your love, I would die.". 

Deep sobs shook her body as she squeezed her eyes shut because the hot, salty tears that flowed down felt like they would blind her.

She felt felt numb as the last 2 years passed through her mind in a slow fade leading up to that last moment...