The Road To You

Months went by, and Jane's hope of ever meeting Richard began to fade. They lived in different worlds, and he seemed almost invisible online. She didn't know what he was up to, what he liked, or if his mother ever showed her profile to him. A part of her felt silly for holding on to a dream that felt more unreachable with each passing day. But the longing wouldn't fade. One afternoon, as she sat at her office desk, a thought drifted into her mind like a soft whisper: What if I just went to California?

A spark of excitement flickered within her. The idea was bold, maybe even reckless, but it stirred something deep inside. That evening, Jane threw herself into research, looking up job opportunities in California, exploring visa options, and even signing up for the IELTS exam to improve her chances of securing work abroad. Her heart raced as she filled out applications, studied every evening, and pictured what her life could be like on the other side of the world.

One day at work, as Jane was deep in thought about her plans, her colleague Ryan came over. They'd always been friendly, often chatting during coffee breaks.

"So, Jane, I heard you're thinking of going abroad?" Ryan asked, his voice laced with curiosity, his eyes gleaming with interest.

"Oh, yes, I think a change of environment would be nice," she replied, keeping her tone nonchalant. She wasn't quite ready to share the real reason behind her decision to leave, especially not to him.

Ryan's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and his lips pressed into a thin line. The hint of disappointment in his eyes didn't go unnoticed, but he quickly masked it with a casual nod, shifting his weight as he leaned back. The conversation drifted to lighter topics.

The next morning, Jane went to work with a smile, as today was the day she would be submitting the application. She remembered that she left her application documents on her desk. When she returned, something felt wrong. Her documents were missing. Panic surged through her as she scanned the room, her eyes landing on Ryan. He was standing near the shredding machine with her application in hand.

"No!" she shouted, rushing over, but it was too late. The papers slipped from his hand and fell into the shredder, turning into shredded bits of nothing.

"What the hell, Ryan?" she demanded, her voice full of shock and anger.

Ryan just stared at her, calm as ever. "I can't let you go, Jane. If you go to California, how am I supposed to see you? I want you here, with me, in Dubai."

Jane stood there frozen, her heart pounding in her chest. "Why do you want me here? What gives you the right to mess with my life like this?" Her voice shook with frustration.

"I like you, Jane," he said, his voice softer but firm. "I thought… Well, I thought we could have a future together."

Her mind went blank. She couldn't find the words. What was happening? Is he confessing to her now? She didn't respond and just left the scene in anger. 

That evening, something even more unexpected happened. Jane came home to find Ryan sitting in her living room, talking to her dad.

Her dad looked surprised, and Ryan seemed a little nervous but also kind of confident. It turned out he'd gone to Jane's family, told them how much he liked her, and wished to marry her. Her dad was taken off guard but suggested Ryan talk to Jane directly before they discuss further.

Jane had never thought of him that way, but his persistence started to mess with her mind. Her family was eager for her to at least think about it, even pushing her to consider him and settle down. After thinking it over for days, despite all her doubts, she finally agreed.

Next thing she knew, Jane was caught up in a whirlwind wedding. She thought it might bring her some peace. But life with Ryan? Far from what she expected. It wasn't warm and stable. His demands started to pile up after a few days of marriage, with him pressuring her to help fund his business when they got settled in India. They'd barely spent time together, and when they did, it was filled with expectations, not affection. 

After two years, he insisted her to go back to Dubai to work, and that was when Jane knew she needed to leave. It wasn't forever, but it was a relief just to get away, even if it was just for a while.

While she was away, rumours of Ryan's affairs reached her and when she returned for holidays, she found undeniable evidence of his betrayal. With a heavy heart, she filed for divorce, ending a 3 years of marriage that had brought her more pain than joy. Afterward, she stayed with her family, trying to piece herself back together and vowing to steer clear of love forever.

The ache of heartbreak lingered, but she returned to her workaholic life with a firm promise to herself: no more chances, no more dreaming. Jane decided to focus on her career and support her family.

Life gradually settled down, and Jane found her footing in a stable job in Dubai. After a few months, unexpectedly, a job opportunity in California came her way. She was surprised at first and didn't know what to do. When she was desperate for that opportunity a few years back it slipped away but now after 3 years it came back. Richard crossed her mind but she brushed it off. He must have got married now. She thought. But then she was also fed up with the routine life she had in Dubai and thought it would be best if she just took the opportunity for a fresh start in a place where nobody knew her. 

Finally summoning her courage, Jane decided to speak to her parents. "Mom, Dad, I have something to say. You know it's been my dream to go to the U.S. for work." Her parents exchanged confused glances but nodded for her to continue.

"Well, I got an offer from my company. They want me to go to California and join the headquarters as a Marketing Director. It's a great opportunity with a really good salary. I want to do something for myself this time, and I wish to go." She said and waited for their response. They looked at her with concern, creating an awkward silence for a moment. Finally, her dad spoke up.

"We're really happy for you. You've worked hard your whole life, and this is a good opportunity. A change of scenery will help those hurtful memories fade." He affectionately patted her back and glanced at her mom.

"I'm not sure. She's lived in Dubai all her life. Sending her to the U.S. is a big decision. We can't decide that so quickly," her mom said worriedly.

"Mom, I've never made a decision without careful thought. I've always wanted to work in the U.S., and it was hard for me to think about leaving you all. But now it's different. My sister is grown up, and she's here for you."

"I have too many painful memories, and I want to start my life fresh. Please let me go," Jane insisted.

Watching from the corner of her room, her sister finally spoke up. "Mom, I'm here to take care of you. Jane has struggled her whole life to support us and even got married because of your wishes. Now she has a chance to do something for herself. Let her live her life freely. We shouldn't hold her back." Her sister said and held her hand expressing her support. 

As she prepared to leave for California, Jane took a moment to look at her family with tears in her eyes, as they waved her goodbye. She waved them back and boarded the flight. As the flight took off she looked at the clouds feeling the weight of her past lift off from her chest. She was leaving for herself this time, with no intentions other than to rebuild herself and find happiness. This journey would be hers alone—a fresh start and let go of everything else.