A person is only beautiful, when their own beauty, is reflecting on to others. Tara Grady
Layla returned home from choir rehearsal like she’d performed eight hours of hard labor. Like most Tuesday nights, rehearsal was full of drama. Soloists argued over who would lead the new song. Some of the members thought that Layla led too many of the songs, and maybe she did. But it wasn’t their decision to make; it was the director’s. After two hours of practicing and bickering, another choir member took her home after rehearsal was over. Layla was delighted when she stepped into the sanctity of her apartment.
She turned the key to the door and stepped inside to the warmth of her apartment. It wasn’t too cold outside, but it was easy for anyone to know that fall was about to give way to winter. She slipped out of her pantsuit and into a warm shower. Her weight had plummeted an additional twenty-eight pounds. She felt better physically than she had in a long time. If only she could forget the reason she was losing the weight so fast, then she would be so much better mentally and emotionally. She knelt down on her knees next to her double bed and folded her hands in prayer.
“God, my Father, thank you for every good and perfect gift you’ve given me. Thank you for loving me even when I don’t love myself. Thank you for my family and friends, my church and my pastor. Lord, I ask you to watch over those who are homeless, sick, and in prison. Forgive me for my shortcomings and for my sins. Forgive me for still holding on to my past and the fears of the terrible crime Mike did to me. Help me to learn how to forgive him like you have forgiven me countless times. Help me to remember that you saved my life for a purpose and that you have not given me a spirit of fear, Father. You said that I should not fear what man can do to me, Lord, so please remove the fearful thoughts from my mind. Make me to be the person you want me to be. Amen.” Struggling to pull herself up, she stopped and allowed herself to rest back on her knees. “And God, there’s one more thing I want to ask you. I do want a man in my life if it is your will. Not just any man, Lord. I want a man who loves me for me and who I love too. Amen.” She used the bed to help her get up off her knees and climb into bed. The cool sheets felt good against her skin and mixed with the warmth inside her apartment. She was able to fall asleep quickly.
“Layla, are you ready? We’re going to be late, baby.”
“Honey, here I come. I had to put on the last touch of make-up.”
“How many times have I told you that you’re beautiful just the way you are?” The man walked up to her, gathered her tenderly in his arms and held her snugly. Layla felt his heart beating against her full chest. When he reluctantly pulled away, she caught the heart rendering stare of his gaze and the pull of his sexual magnetism aroused a sense of urgency inside of her.
“Baby, you just said you don’t want us to be late.” She could hardly speak.
“I know what I said, but I can’t help it. You do this to me every time. Layla, I’m so thankful you came into my life. Who would have thought that our lives would turn out like this? I love you, girl.”
“Don’t you know I’ve waited on someone to say those words to me for such a long time? I prayed to God for a man like you.” A knot rose in her throat. Her body trembled. “I love you too.
He stopped her words by moving his mouth over hers, demanding more of her. In return, Layla gave in to the passion of his kiss and the heat of his touch as he explored her body.
“Baby, baby,” she spoke in a whisper. When she opened her eyes, she looked around sleepily. Her heart beat wildly, and her gown clung to her moist skin. Layla eased herself up in the bed once she became fully aware that she had been dreaming. She turned over on her side and opened the drawer next to the bed. She pulled out a chocolate candy bar and took one nibble from it before she threw it in the waste basket next to her bed. Her mind slowly relived the memories of her dream.
×
The following early afternoon, Layla saw the mail truck headed down her street. She had gotten up early, bathed, and dressed herself. The shawl collar sweater and one-pocket jeans gave her a boost of self confidence. She opened her front door and walked down the walkway like she was going to visit a neighbor.
The postman pulled up beside her and got out of his vehicle. “Hello.” His voice was as charming as she’d dreamed about last night. He placed a couple of pieces of mail in the mailbox he passed, but continued to walk along side her.
“Hello.” She tried her best to act flippantly, but was sure it wasn’t working.
“You look lovely today, Miss, uh, uh, don’t tell me. Hobbs. Right?”
Impressed, Layla stopped in her tracks, and for the first time she really, really looked at him. It was as if she felt blood surging from her finger tips to her toes. “You’re right. But too bad I don’t have the same privilege.”
“The same privilege? And what exactly does that mean?” He flashed a beguiling smile and snapped his fingers. “Oh, I get it. You don’t know my name. May I start over?”
“Start over?” It was her time to look on him in amusement.
“Yes. Let me introduce myself. I’m Dennis, your friendly neighborhood postman.” He grinned. This time his even, near perfect white teeth transfixed her. “Dennis Parker.”
She extended her hand out to his. “It’s nice to meet you, Dennis.”
“May I ask where you’re headed?”
“Oh, nowhere in particular. I decided since the day is so beautiful that I’d take a walk. It’s not too cold or too windy, and I wanted to get out of the house for a while.”
“Oh, I see. If I’m not being too presumptuous, I thought you lived in another apartment on the other side of town.”
Layla stood still again. “I think you are being a little nosy.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be. It’s just that I notice that your mail is no longer coming to that complex, and I thought I remembered your name when I put your mail in the box, that’s all. I didn’t mean any harm.” He looked truly sorrowful; so much so that Layla felt bad for coming off so strong, but she was not going to take a chance with anyone – not after Mike.
“I moved over here not long ago.”
“Oh, I see. This is my regular route, so I hope to see you more often,” he said with a beautiful smile.
Layla said nothing. She turned around and went back inside her house. Her heart raced and she felt a light twinge in her stomach, which happened from time to time since the shooting.
“Hey, Layla”
She turned around before disappearing from her balcony. “Yes?”
Hey, I forgot something.”
“What?”
“Your phone number.” he answered. Layla obliged. He put it in his phone and turned to walk away. “I usually take my lunch when I finish this route. I thought if you didn’t have anyone to report to at home, that you might let me take you to lunch.”
Did he say lunch? No he didn’t just ask me to go out with him? Oh, my gosh! “How long will it be before you finish your route?”
“A couple of hours.”
After placing her finger over her lips, Layla finally spoke. “I really would like to, Dennis, but I already have some other plans. What about a rain check?” She couldn’t believe she’d said that.
“Okay, I’ll call you.”