The Dangers of Choosing a Happy Ending

The rain persisted almost like a fever and the windows of the small coffee shop in Manhattan were rattling shaken by its fury. Quite the opposite was true within. Elliot Parker, a dark and brooding man around whose head was quite probably a permanent biological weapon, bustled up to the counter, sidestepping tables and chairs like a hurricane.

He didn’t notice her.

And she, immersed in her phone and a manuscript of sorts which was still half-finished on the table, did not notice him.

Hence the two were bound to collide.

One will hot coffee which splashed on the counter, the floor and of all places on Sophia’s white spotless full sleeves top.

“Get out of the scene!” Elliot barked as he reached for disposable tissues. “Stay alert!”

“Me?” Sophia shot back immediately, her bright green in color eyes now showed a spark of anger. “Who barged into the scene as if without any control?”

The two continued to shoot daggers from their eyes at each other, the atmosphere so thick one could slice it off with a knife till the other barista came in and handed two free coffees to them. No one expressed any kind of gratitude to her.

Elliot fumed in the corner opposing the one where Sophia was seated and sulking, mumbling inaudibly, meanwhile, Sophia was angrily blotting her stained sweater. But, just as the luck would have it, the pair in venting out their annoyance found themselves looking at the other out of the corner of their eyes, this time tinged with interest like an angry cat.

_____

Two weeks gone by, Elliot found out that he was in some trendy art gallery, courtesy of his best friend James. Although Elliot was not a fan of galleries, James made sure to let him know that it was for the best, ‘it’s good for the soul’

“Wonderful,” Elliot scoffed quietly as he walked around the exhibition space. “Colourless circles painted in different variations. Absolutely worth the cleanse.”

James laughed but turned quite seriously. “O hey, isn’t that the coffee girl?”

Elliot swiftly lifted his gaze. There she was, Sophia, looking at a painting towards which her intense focus culminated in a crease on her forehead.

“Oh no,” Elliot groaned.

“What’s the problem? Go say hi.”

“Yeah, seeing as how she wouldn’t appreciate me making a scene over coffee all over her too.”

But before he could escape, Sophia turned and spotted him. Much to his chagrin, she walked up to him with a smile on her face.

“Well, well, look who it is, Mr. Hurricane,” she sneered. “Are you here to bash a few priceless statues?”

“Only if you are too close to them,” came his smirked retort.

They ended up wandering the gallery. Well, he thought they would be drowning in silence, but that day turned out to have a lot of witty banters and surprisingly pleasant conversations. By the end of the date, he could not help it either. It was obvious that there was more to her than met the eye—a flame he had almost forgotten about in aeons.

---

Their first date was full of joy, teasing, and hints of fragility. Dim lights and shadows were dancing in the rustic restaurant. Sophia fidgeted in her chair and leaned over the table impatiently searching for his gaze with her bright green eyes.

“What’s your weird story, Elliot?” she blurted out at last. “Why do you look so…”

“Why do I look so what?” he asked, cutting her off

.He paused for a moment, sipping the whiskey from the glass in his hand. “I suppose I can say that I have mastered the art of putting up walls way above anyone’s reach.”

“Wow,” said Sophia. “You do this battleship of emotions every day – do you write Hallmark cards on the side?”

Elliot smiled but her barriers remained intact. Sophia did not pursue the matter further, though she was inquisitive about violent outbursts of expressions – like why was he so wrapped up in himself.

---

And so, several months passed and they became even more intimate. Still, Sophia could not shake off the fact that there was an unbridgeable gap that Elliot maintained between them. One evening, as they sat in her apartment, the same tension arose and finally exploded.

“Why do you keep shutting me out?” she demanded, shaking with rage. “I’m trying, Elliot. But you –”

“You don’t get it, do you, Sophia.” he cut her off, in a frigid tone. “Letting people in is a risk I can’t afford.”

“And what about me?” she retorted furiously, her eyes misty with unshed tears. “Do you seriously think I have not suffered? This only works if both of us make an effort. Otherwise… why would there be any need for this?”

Elliot remained silent for quite some time. Then, he finally spoke, albeit faintly, and said, “Perhaps I am just not meant for this after all.”

The next silence was notable, almost deafening. Without saying anything more, Elliot picked up his coat and stormed out, leaving Sophia on the couch to deal with the situation on her own.

---

Over the next few weeks, Sophia indulged in her love for writing, channeling out all the pain of her love. One afternoon, while out visiting a certain book store, she chanced upon her ex boyfriend Lucas.

“Hey Sophia,” he said with a note of regret in his voice. “Long time no see.”

“Yeah.” She shrugged, uncomfortably cognizant on how to read the intentions in his eyes.

They talked for hours, and this time, Lucas made amends for the way he had cut her off all those years ago. He had this charm and an apology to make, and Sophia for a moment thought that just maybe…

And there in the opposite building at the corner of the street, Elliot stared at the bookstore window. His heart raced. Sophia was smiling and chatting with Lucas, touching her hand on his arm. Without stopping to think, Elliot stopped and walked out, certain that he had lost everything to Sophia for the last time.

Time moved quickly, but the hours and days that followed were so painful in which the two lovebirds could not reach out to each other. It was James who snapped Elliot from his self-pity finally.

“Simply put, you are stupid,” James said.

“Much appreciated for the motivational speech really” Elliot said under his breath.

“Elliott, come on! It’s the truth. Sophia is head over heels in love with you but you’re willing to pour this all down the drain because of your cowardice. Act like an adult already.”

Elliot was looking at his friend and the gravity of what he had just said was dawning on him.

____

Sophia was busy arranging her belongings for her planned trip to London when the doorbell rang at her place. Untidy hair, an uneven breath suggesting he ran the entire distance.

“Don’t go,” he said hoarsely, raw emotion in his voice.

Sophia’s body stiffened. “Elliot? What are you doing here?”

“Not like this, I was wrong,” he stepped forward saying, “I was wrong. Everything. Us. I’m scared which I am. But losing you is much scarier.”

Sophia’s eyes corded as tears built up inside her. “Elliot, I can’t keep on running after you. I want to be with someone who is worth the chase.”

“Then let me fight,” he begged. “Stay, and I will show to you that I am worthy of your love.”

She shook her head, and her voice was almost a whisper. “I can’t stay.”

Elliot’s world collapsed right there, but the next moment he heard her adding, “But if you truly mean what you just said… then come with me.”

Twelve months passed and they were seated on a bench in one of the parks in London, hands clasped.

“I guess you were right,” Elliot chuckled lightly. “It actually is a risk, but you know what, with you by my side, it is the riskiest bet I have ever placed.”

Sophia giggled, her green irises gleaming. “And I thought you would have ditched me because of that coffee on your shirt.”

“Worst blunder ever,” he said tilting his head forward for a peck on the lips.

And in that instant, with the warm cloudless sky of London benevolently enveloping them, they both realized they had found a love that was worthy of battle.

The End.

The Lesson Conveyed:

Every love story has a moral and every risk taken to love is justifiable. It is life who makes it to break the boundaries us up, exposing our inner self and giving us the courage to believe in the bond that resides in between the two partners. However, love is enhanced to more complex level when both partners commit themselves in the process of overcoming challenges in the relationship