"It all started when I went to that bar" Emily broke the silence. " The night after our call , you  some kind of calmed me down, basing on what you had told me, I  went to our bedroom to see my husband so that we could talk, you know, give our marriage a chance, but he acted so annoyed" She shook her head as fresh tears left her swollen eyes " Ashley he looked as though I had offended him or I had said something so bad, he just pushed me on the bed,brushed past me and he went to the wardrobe ,picked up his jacket, he got his keys from the table and he stormed out of the room with anger. " She sat and she hugged her knees ,her eyes looked distant "Do you know I ran after him, begging for him not to leave me alone but he didn't spare me a glance, he got into his car, turned the engine to life and he sped off "

"I felt so used, Ashley I sacrificed my life for him, I gave up all my desires for his sake, I was so fade up, I went in the house grabbed my phone and switched it off , after I got a bottle of champagne and headed to my sitting room, I sat down on my couch and  drowned it all in my stomach , I  swallowed some sleeping pills, I wanted to sleep so that I can escape reality. " She wiped her tears with the back of palm. " I woke up at around one in the evening but I felt so terrible, I checked for any traces of my husband whether he came back but hell no!!! I was imagining fairy tales and that worsened the pain I  felt , I checked my phone and I saw your messages but I was too lazy to reply, I just dressed up and I went to this bar to get the life my husband had stolen from me" She paused and she got lost in her own thoughts.

After  a while her face broke into a sad smile and she looked at Ashley " But do you know what really happened " Ashley shook her head

"When I reached there and I saw the way, people were happy, everything hit me and I realised I can't run away from the reality, I don't know how many bottles of burning liquor I emptied but I felt dizzy, my head was throbbing and my vision was blurry , I decided to call  you, I went out and just when I was starting to talk, a random guy appeared from my back, he held me so tight and when I decided to fight him, he threw a punch in my face, I fell down and I watched him unzip his pants with a wicked  smile on his face , I called out for help but my voice was not loud enough, I don't know what really happened but someone dragged him off me and punched him angrily , and that is how my vision turned into total darkness, and when I woke up , I just found myself in  this hospital" She concluded.

Ashley nodded in her in understanding " So you want to mean that you never noticed this Knight in the shining amour who saved you ?" A smile crept on her lips.

"Ashley Christ!!!!" Emily rolled her swollen eyes.

Ashley broke into laughters,she laughed until she got tears in her eyes. Emily looked at her in confusion " And what is funny your name or the word Christ " She raised her eye brows.

Ashley placed a hand on  her chest to gain back her breathing " Okay what is really making me laugh like a fool is that " she again bursted into laughters .

She raised up her right hand " I wish you could see your self in the mirror, you have swollen eyes and you are rolling them, Emily you just look like a bird with big eyes that look like they are about  to pop out of the eyeballs"

"Ashley are you trying to say am ugly " Emily pouted.

"Basing on the current situation, the word beautiful can't describe you" Ashley teased her back " But after this situation, am sure glamour would be the best word to describe you." She continued.

Emily smiled" That won't make me feel good, you already told me am ugly" She faked annoyance.

"But we all know its not true" Ashley replied "Plus I was kidding around " She ruffled her hair.

"I know " She patted Ashley's back.

Ashley looked at Emily  with concern and  sympathy, she felt sorry for her, loving someone who can't return back your love hurts, its like investing in a business in which you get no profits, every time you look into the record books, losses are the most, yet you invest your time in it the difference is that in love you invest your heart.

"Ashley why are you looking at me like that" Emily narrowed her eyes at her.

Ashley immediately dropped her gaze " well ...ummm..nothing never mind"

"What if I want to mind" Emily stubbornly insisted.

"And what if I don't what you to mind" Ashley retaliated.

"Ohhhh come on Ashley" Emily squeezed her hand playfully.

"Okay I think we should leave me alone and we concentrate on you most" Ashley pinched her noise playfully " Now what would you do if you see the mysterious knight" She wiggled her brows.

"Ashley don't make it look like he is a super man, am not trying to be mean here and a little thank you could be really cool and okay with me"

Ashley smiled " And it remains just like a little thank you" She air quoted it.

"Ashley I don't know what is really going on in that head of yours but yeah a thank you, and I mean the literal meaning of it " Emily said  firmly.

"Cool" Ashley said as she tugged a strand of  hair that had fallen in her face behind her ear.

"Do you know that when you didn't come to work I was not scared I thought maybe you just  needed some personal space, but when I called and I texted and you didn't reply , my fears started and when I had the line being cutoff today morning after you crying out for help, I got scared that I didn't even go back to bed. When I received a call today that you are in need of me , I swear I attacked Mr Matthew's office with confidence" Ashley's lips curved into a small smile " Emily, I couldn't think instead of knocking , I banged his office door, I don't even know what he thinks of me now but anyway he gave me permission and that's how am here"

Emily carefully pulled her self and she hugged Ashley " Thank you for coming today, plus I don't promise but I will try never to ignore you again if I get any problem "
Ashley cupped her face " Its okay Emily , strong women don't give up, when the situation worsens, also toughen a bit "

Emily looked at her "Why are my instincts telling me that your words have an origin ? Your words have a firm foundation, and when you are talking them you even look distant " She looked at Ashley suspiciously.

Ashley shrugged " Maybe, Emily I told you for now, let's take care of your current situation, and with no time you will get to know me,I promise" She quickly distracted her.

"Okay " Emily agreed partially.

The two ladies talked about anything  their minds could point at, their conversion ranged  from knights to movies to songs until Ashley looked at her watch and she realised it was time for her to get back to work.

"Emily I think I should be going " She stood up and she kissed her cheeks. " Take care, I will be right back in the evening " She squeezed her hand and she headed to the door.  Before she opened the door she turned her head " Emily meanwhile don't miss me, I know am fun " She winked.

Emily laughed " Instead of you flattering your self, how about you go back to work before you are laid off "

Ashley rolled her eyes and she closed the door behind her.

Emily continued to look at the door smiling like an idiot, she really questioned her self  where such good  hearted people came from , she had just met her and they were bonding at a great speed, Ashley was caring, loving and not judgmental..and those were the the traits that attracted Emily to befriend her the more. The other thing she really liked about her most was her ability to listen. Well she was also pretty, she had the looks  yet she remained calm, down to earth.

Although she had a long list of her good things, one thing didn't settle fine with her, she knew nothing about her yet Ashley knew at least something about her!!!!. She became curious , she  asked her self what the hell was Ashley hiding because truth to be told she was so strange and mysterious. 

"What if she is a robot" Emily scolded her self for such stupid thoughts.

Emily thought about her suspicions for a long time and when she felt exhausted, she closed her eyes to get some rest.

*********
When Ashley reached her work place, it was lunch time but she didn't feel hungry. Emily's story had somehow awakened her insecurities, some how through their conversation Emily hit on something which made her remember her past, the only thing which made her lose morale and appetite for  everything. She just passed by and she went to the elevator to go to her office.

Lost in her own world ,she made small paces to her office but before she could even pull her door knob to enter inside , she heard something from Hayden's office. The sound surprised her and her eyes widened,

She turned her head and she looked in the direction of his office "Mr Matthews!!!!" She said it in a whisper.