This is a slow burn romance, please don't expect the scenes soon. If you read my first story 'You Are The One I Love'. You must be having an idea how the story takes place step by step. I hope you all enjoy the story❤️

Year 2006

It was the time of a rainy day in England during winter. The dark clouds hovered the sky; light showers covered the land and breeze through the trees made it seem pleasant. As if to see light in the dark, streaks of moonlight escaped through the clouds. A frustrated woman was walking on the road dragging her luggage behind. She didn't know if her decision was right or wrong but all she wanted to do was run away from her inevitable nightmare. The road was empty, and she wondered if she would find a cab at this hour of time. She looked at her wristwatch and cursed under her breath; it was quarter past two in the morning. She didn't know if London roads were always this deserted with no sight of humans or was it because she took the wrong way. As she took another turn, she stopped in her tracks to realise that she already walked past this place. Unfortunately the way she knew was closed for quite a sometime now. Just as she was tracing back she heard sound of a vehicle as if heavens had answer her prayer. She had a bright smile on her face as the car approached in her direction, but the smile on her face turned into an enormous shriek of horror to see a puppy crossing the road and the vehicle was coming in the same direction. Amelia rushed to save the puppy without a second thought, leaving her baggage behind, but it was too late, she presumed, when she saw blood on the road. She held the puppy in her hands and saw a man's shoes. She didn't even want to look at the man who recklessly drove risking the puppy's life.

"Are you blind? How could you not see the puppy? Can't you see there's a speed limit. The roads are empty doesn't mean you carelessly drive without any concern." she yelled, removing her scarf that was around her neck. The man tried to say something but apparently, she was not done yet. "People like you should be punished severely. Do you have any idea that your reckless driving could've killed the dog? Fortunately, it is still fine," she continued. When she heard no reply from the person, she lifted her head but found traces of blood on her left side from where the little creature came by dragging it's paws slowly. It took her few seconds to conclude; the dog was hurt, not because of the car but it was already wounded.

Shit!!

She cursed under her breath. She was embarrassed that she yelled at the man when it wasn't his fault. Then justified her behavior thinking he shouldn't have been driving so fast.

"Looks like it was hurt while coming here which is why it couldn't run," she heard the man speak. Her eyes were tightly closed when she saw his feet approaching her, she doubted if he wanted to hurt her for yelling at him and didn't face him. She tried her best to not show her face, thankfully her face was covered with a hoodie due to which the man would not be able to see her face.

"Give the little one to me," the man stretched his arms. She didn't know what else to speak now after pushing the blame upon him when it wasn't his fault. She just yelled at him, but the man didn't even speak a word to explain his innocence, he just stood silently and patiently while she was aiding the dog. He spoke to her only after she tied her scarf around the dog's wound after cleaning it with water, there was a bottle which was in her bag.

She slowly stood up on her feet and gave the puppy to him with her eyes on the road. "What is your station?" The man asked. She could tell that man was young by his tone.

"Umm... To the airport." she replied hesitantly. She should've have lied. He was a stranger and she cannot trust him.

"Get your luggage. I'll drop you at the airport," he didn't but rather stated, not considering her opinion. Shouldn't he ask if she was willing? Amelia thought but again, who would talk softly after being yelled. The man must be kind to ask her even after blaming him.

"I can hail a cab," her words came out quick before she adjusted her hoodie forcing her eyes fixed on the road even while she was speaking to him. He was taller than her and it made easier for her to hide her face. But why was she even hiding her face? She doesn't want him to see her embarrassed face, she haven't apologised yet.

"You won't be able to find cabs here. Ms..."

"Amelia," she didn't know why she even said her name.

"We don't want you to miss your flight now, do we?" he reminded her. Amelia could feel the irritation lacing in his voice. She gave a thought, what the man said was true. There won't be any cabs available at this moment. She silently nodded and brought her luggage and sat in his car. The dog was now in a better condition since Amelia aided the dog. She sat in the passenger seat but made sure her face was covered with her hoody. She didn't know how time has passed till they reached the airport. None of them spoke, the man seemed to be least interested to talk to her. She slowly looked at his side and caught the sight of two letters stitched on his collar and immediately turned away when she felt his neck turn to her side. Her fingers played with her pendant while she thought about the two letters she saw on his collar. 'AS', she repeated in her mind. Was does it mean? she asked herself.

Before she could think more, her heart dropped a beat when the car stopped, numerous thoughts ran on her mind. How could she even trust him, she didn't even see his face until now. What if he kidnapped her? But all her thoughts crashed like a wave when she raised her head to see that they have reached the airport. Amelia immediately alighted the car and got her luggage out. She didn't know how to start a conversation with the man. Was she supposed to apologize first and then thank him or thank him first and then apologise. She gripped her luggage to drag it with her but was stopped when she felt her forehead hit something. No, not something but someone. It was the man who gave her lift. She pressed her lips out of embarrassment. She could see his broad shoulder and instantly, she dropped her gaze to her feet, what would he think of her now?

"Please take care of the puppy." She paused for a while and said, "Um, sorry for thinking you hurt the puppy…but you shouldn't be driving so fast either. Anyway, thank you for the ride." Amelia said with a short bow, she was thankful that the dog which was in back seat was safe now and then she rushed inside before he could speak to her.

Weather Forecast : Unknown destination + Stranger \= New beginnings 💞

Thankyou for reading this chapter. Means a lot to mean for spending your precious on my work ❤️

The young girl strode into the airport without delaying a second only to be bumped into someone again.

"Ouch!!" Amelia exclaimed, pressing her shoulder in pain.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't see you there," apologized a woman who bumped into Amelia.

"That's alright!" Amelia looked around if she was being followed but thankfully none followed her. After picking up her things that were scattered on the floor, she went to the counter to buy her ticket but to her shock something was missing, her purse.

"Ma'am, your destination?" the man at the ticket counter asked her.

"I lost my purse!" Amelia squealed in shock when realisation hit her hard. The man at the counter who understood her situation spoke to her.

"Don't worry, Ma'am, why don't you enquire at lost and found counter ?" Amelia nodded to his words but didn't speak, she stepped back excusing herself from the crowd to find the way to lost and found counter.Amelia rushed in search of her purse, she could feel her hands shiver, not because of the cold climate but because she lost her belongings, most importantly her money.

Why was the heaven not on her side today? First it was the man whom she met on the road and now it was a woman, into whom she bumped. Why did she have to put all her money in that purse and why did she have to bump into a stranger who stole her purse. Amelia was exasperated because of all the things that were happening to her. Everything in her life was a mess. Nothing was going according to her wish. Just when she thought she was going to be a free bird; she lost her money and became penny less.

".... I...I lost my purse. She... She must've stolen my purse. I bumped into her and..." she couldn't frame a sentence while explaining her situation to the woman behind the 'lost and found' counter. Amelia's heart was racing, she could hardly breathe and felt she was going to have a panic attack.

"Were you talking about me?" Amelia heard a familiar voice and instantly turned around.

"Oh my God.... Oh my... !!" Amelia exclaimed and rushed to the girl who held her purse.

"My purse. Oh god. I thought... I thought..."

"…that I stole your purse?" completed the woman, into whom Amelia bumped a few minutes ago.

"No... I... I am sorry," Amelia apologized with meek laughter.

"We need to buy the ticket. Let's go," said the girl keeping their conversation short as it was not required to prolong it.

"Thank you so much" Amelia thanked her from the bottom of her heart.

Amelia went to the ticket counter and booked a ticket to Dublin. The journey from London to Dublin was peaceful unlike her ride from her house to the airport which was quite scary because of the deserted road. A smile escaped her lips when she thought of the stranger she encountered a while ago while walking on the deserted roads in London. Now that she thought about him, she regretted not seeing his face or atleast asking his name. If possible, she wanted to meet him again and thank him properly. Amelia looked through the window as the plane took off, her heart was in pain to leave but this was the only option for her to live a life of her choice. She was in Dublin now, she looked around to see the plasma screens of arrival and departure time on the walls of the airport. She came out of the airport and felt the cool breeze blow against her face and through her hair. She regretted not wearing enough warm set of clothes, but her cheerful smile didn't fade away on her face.

New life, New beginnings!!

Amelia was exhilarated to start her new life while she looked for a cab to check into a hotel. Whilst she awaits for a cab, she was pulled back to a memory which happened not so long ago.

"You have no rights to decide my life!" Amelia voiced.

"…Amy, this is for your sake," the man said, hoping he could convince her for the arrangement he has done for her or force her if things doesn't go on his accord.

"For my sake?!" Amelia sneered, her arms were across her chest, her legs crossed one above the other. She was not a puppet to obey his commands.

"You need to trust me on this," the man assured her, but with a stern voice which made her difficult to believe in his words.

"What if I reject?" Amelia's rude behavior irked him.

"You would not dare to." The man gave a curt reply, only to see her snort at his words.

"Do not provoke me!" she left the room, frustrated.

Amelia hoped it was all a dream but unfortunately it was true, reality was too harsh for her to face. There was no way she was would agree to his commands but she doesn't have a choice or rather she was not given a choice to decide. There had to be a solution to solve the biggest problem in her life, her inevitable nightmare. She ran her fingers through her hair as she walked in frustration from one corner to other in her room to find a way out. She raked her brain before her eyes caught something on bed. She picked up a magazine from the bed and opened it to read. Her eyes scanned and her mind screamed only one thing looking at the magazine's front page.

*Life In Dublin*

.

.

.

"Hey!" a familiar voice brought her back from a chain of thoughts.

"Hey!" Amelia exclaimed with a grin, when she recognised the young girl standing next to her.

"You seemed zoned out, I have been calling you for a while now. Anyway, I'm Skylar Byrne." The young girl introduced herself with a chortle. She was the one who Amelia bumped in airport.

"I am sorry. I was not attentive," Amelia replied politely. "It is good to see you again, Skylar." Amelia's face was instantly lit up with glee. She was grateful to meet this familiar stranger again in this unfamiliar place.

Skylar laughed again at her words, "Trust me, it might sound weird, but I had a feeling we would meet again when we last parted at airport."

"Where do you live in Dublin?" Skylar asked Amelia, not waiting for her reply

"Umm… I'm not sure. What about you?" Amelia bit her lips.

"Seriously?" Skylar's eyes winded. "I live in Kinsale. That's where I am heading now." She answered with politely.

"Kinsale?" Amelia asked to which Skylar

responded with a nod.

"I'm so sorry. By the way, I am Amelia." she introduced. "Amelia... Santiago," she hesitated while using a pseudonym. Why did she lie? Because she didn't want to reveal her name yet.

Since Amelia didn't have a phone with her and left home for Dublin without prior knowledge about this place, she needed guidance to kick start her life here. Kinsale sort of grabbed her attention; So, she offered Skylar for a coffee and thought she'd know more about it. The two women walked into a café near the airport as they continued to talk. Right after they made themselves comfortable at seclude corner, Skylar started inquiring about Amelia's presence in Ireland since she seemed not from here. Amelia found her quite inquisitive but answered her not revealing much of her personal life. Before Amelia could stop herself, she blurted out that she ran away from home.

"You mean you literally ran away from your house?!" Skylar was shocked.

"Umm… Yes, when I was in a difficult situation, I wanted a way out, and found an advertisement in a magazine about vacation in Ireland. So here I am," said Amelia, with a shrug giving Skylar an awkward smile when she thought the woman might judge her.

"Don't worry, I am not judging, I think you are cool" grinned Skylar, when she saw the awkward smile on Amelia's face.

They both ordered coffee for themselves. It took some time for Skylar to question her again.

"Have you decided a place for your stay in Dublin?" quired Skylar. She found the woman in front of her innocent yet daring; Amelia was one such girl.

"Not sure. What kind of place is Kinsale?" Amelia asked as she sipped her coffee.

"It is an amazing place. If you want, you can spend your time there until you decide your destination." Skylar suggested.

Weather Forecast : Coffee + chitchat \= friendship