^source"

He walked into the Cafe that faithful evening, it wasn't the best day for him. He had just lost his job due to an error committed by his subordinate, Martin. Not like he wasn't careful but he was a man who loved to protect those close to him. So he took the fall for his 56 years old colleague, he thought of his colleagues Martin and the family, he was a married man with 3 children. He didn't want to let him stranded and unable to take of his family

^Source"

He then ordered for his first bottle and gulped down his throat. He requested for the 2nd and then the 3rd and forth. Concerned by this attitude, the bartender who happens to be a young beautiful lady in her late 20s decided to occupy the seat next to him and started a conversation.

Her: Hello Handsome
He looked up to her but says nothing, turns back to his bottle of origin and continue with so much disgust. Obviously noticing this young gentle man whom she knows to be calm and humble is disturbed, she turns to her colleague and ask that she give him a bottle of origin too. At this moment, the guy is surprise but still not bothered as he has alot of things to worry about.

They continue drinking in silence and then a song is played by the Perfect by Ed-sheeran. The lady immediately jumps up holding his hand to raise him up to the dancing floor. Reluctantly, he stands and starts dancing very slowly to the song. The songs kept coming in romantic form as if the DJ knew what was happening.

The two dance for over an hour without talking to each other but staring deep into each other's eyes as if to say there is no better place than being there. Everyone at the cafe could see the chemistry building between this two. The two stopped dancing and returned to their seats to finish the bottle of origin in silence. The guy is now very calm and so he decides to stop at the 4th bottle and walks out to his house.

The next day in the morning he returns to the cafe to meet this girl and probably talk with her and get to know her but to he was told she doesn't work there. She wasn't really a Bartender, she came out to help her friend that day who fell sick and needed an immediately replacement. He was sad again and keep thinking to himself
What type of mistake did I make, why didn't I collect this ladies number, why did I just walk away. He kept wondering whether he was destined for sadness. He just lost his job and the only person that made him forget about his demise, he deliberately walked away from her.

However, he was so determined to find her that he kept going there with the hopes of meeting her friend. But was told the friend had passed away few days after that. Now his hopes of meeting this girl shattered adding to his already sad experience. He didn't take good care of himself and turn to the bottle sometimes at the cafe and other times at other places. He has given up on life and himself.

^Source"

Then some day during his routine visit he sat at the same spot where he had initially met the girl while drinking as usual. He had been drinking that day for just about 30 minutes so he was still very sober.
Out of a sudden he heard a calm and soft female voice
Her: Good evening sir, can I share your table with you.
Without even looking at who was talking he pointed at the chair next to him. The girl sat sad and continued the conversation.
Her: So how have you been
It was at this time that the guy realize she was the girl he had been looking for. With a big smile, he turned to the girl and instead of answering the question, he asked

Him: Where have you been, I have looked for you in every place I could think of
Her: I lost my friend
Him: Yes so I heard, sorry for your lost*
Her: Thank you, so we went to bury her, I just returned and I wanted a fresh memory of her
Him: ok
Him: * My name is James*
Her: I'm called Larissa*
James then ordered for a drink for Larissa and these two discuss for long with interlude dancing when beautiful Romantic songs were played. They got to know each other and exchange contacts.

As faith will have it, this grew into love and just within 6 months, James and Larissa decided that Together forever was where they wanted to be. James had still not secured a job and so fending for himself was difficult working from one manual labor to the other just to make ends meet but he was determined to provide for both of them. So after a lengthy conversation, Larissa Invited James to come meet her parents.

On that D day, Larissa and her parents prepared to receive James for what we normally call Knock Door in Cameroon. On entering the house James realised that the father to Larissa was Mr Martin, the same Martin who had caused him to lose his job. So he was very happy knowing everything was going to be find. After discussing for a while, Mr Martin pause and asked James if he had gotten another job. James said No and that he was still looking for one. He further explained that with the dismissal, it's making it difficult to get another job.

Mr Martin then apologize to James and told him he won't be able to accept his proposal to marry his daughter. That how does he plan on feeding his daughter. James was broken and left the house sad. So this man who he protected in the office has to refuse him from marrying his daughter. Life they say is really not fair.

However, Larissa was so in love with James and left the father's house to live with James. They lived together and had lovely children. James later got a good job in another company and in no time became the General Manager.

He never got to Mr Martin again and the children were not allowed to visit their grand parent's. Larissa was so ashame me of his Dad.

Thank you for reading my story, hope there was a lesson to learn there for you.

I invite @dholy1 and @ngwerast to participate in this contest.