The Love Series: The Power of Words

The clock struck 5 and sounds of bags being zipped up and murmured farewells can be heard. Another work day was over. Katie remained in her office for a little while longer, not wishing to join in the rush hour traffic. She continued looking at the documents when her phone buzzed. She looked at it. It was Sam. She smiled before picking up the phone.

"Hello?"
"Hey, baby. Done with work?"
"Work is never done, Sam. What's up?"
"Oh. Well... Nothing, actually. Just want to check up on you and hear your voice."
"Check up on me? I am not a two-year-old anymore, thank you very much."
"That's not what I meant, baby. I just-"
"Never mind. If you are done hearing my voice, then please leave me alone to do my work."
"Okay. Bye."

Katie hung up the phone. 3 months into her first relationship and she still cannot understand why Sam says the things he said. Checking up on her? Worried about her? Hearing her voice? Missing her? Thanking her for nothing in particular? She has never heard all these phrases before. To her, all these just means that he didn't trust her enough to look after herself and he is just way too free. What is wrong with him?

Sam looked at his phone blankly after the call to Katie. He was in a state of confusion. Most girls find it heartwarming when their boyfriends called just to check up on them and hear their voice. Not Katie. She was his first serious girlfriend. He really loved the way she smiled and her seriousness towards their relationship. But it seems like whatever he said is always wrong. What is wrong with her?

"Get that remote control for me and then stay out of my way!" Katie scrambled to her feet and got the television remote control for her uncle. But before she could sit back down on the narrow little table to finish up her drawing, her aunt hollered for her. "Hang out that basket of clothes, you lazy girl! Can't you see how busy I am already? You are nothing but a nuisance to us. Damn your parents for going so early and adding to our already very heavy burden. You better make yourself useful!" Katie quietly went to hang out the clothes. Her cousins came and disturbed her, making fun of her. They took down all the clothes that she had hung and threw it in the mud. Then they ran to their mother and said Katie dirtied their clothes on purpose. Her aunt grabbed her and took her to her uncle. Her uncle stood up and undo his belt around his waist. She knew she would be spanked for a crime she did not commit. She started screaming and crying. The belt came down on her sore butt.

Katie woke up, gasping. Sam was driving the car. He looked at her with concern and took her hand.

"You alright?" 
"Yeah, yeah."
"Nightmare?"
"Not exactly."
"Hey, whatever it is, you can tell me. I am here for you."
"Look, I am fine, okay?"
"Okay, okay."

Sam released her hand and continue driving. Soon, they reached his parents' house. They rang the doorbell and Sam's mother, Mrs. Tan, opened the door. She threw her arms around Sam and hugged him tight.

"Hey, mom!"
"Sam! So good to see you, dearie!"
"Yeah. Miss you too, mom. This is Katie."

Sam introduced Katie. Mrs. Tan hugged Katie too. Katie stiffen. This is all so weird for her. Her aunt never hugged her before.

"Hello, darling! It's good to finally meet you! Sam never tell me how beautiful you are!"
"Uh... Hi, Mrs. Tan."
"Come on in! I have just finished cooking!"

They went into the house and Mr. Tan greeted them heartily, hugging Sam and shaking hand with her.

"Well, son. It's been so long!"
"Hey, dad! This is Katie."
"Hello, Katie. I do hope Sam has been behaving himself!"
"Hi, Mr. Tan. Sam has been really good to me, no worries."
"I am just joking! But it's still good to know my son is behaving himself."

Mr. Tan roared with laughter. Katie just stood there, smiling uncertainly. This family is very weird. Where is all the shouting? Where is all the sarcasm and biting remarks? Why is it that this family is hugging people and joking around? This is all very new to Katie.

Throughout the whole visit, Mr. and Mrs. Tan were very warm and hospitable to Katie. They forbid her to help out in the kitchen and kept taking food for her during dinner. When they talked to Sam and asked him about his work, they never once shouted at him or say anything sarcastic. She was waiting for an argument to start but there was none. They just conversed normally and laughed a lot, embarrassing Sam every now and then but it all showed genuine love.

When Mr. and Mrs. Tan asked about Katie's family background and got to know that her parents passed away in a car accident when she was 7, Mrs. Tan reached out and patted her hand. They were genuinely sorry and concerned for her. How is this even possible? She is an outsider, like her aunt always said. She doesn't have any rights to anything. Everything she has now, she earned it by working hard.

During the drive home later that night, Sam took her hand again.

"Sorry about my parents. They can be too friendly sometimes."
"No, it's okay."
"You have been very quiet. Is everything alright?"
"Yeah."
"You sure?"
"Seriously, Sam. How many times do I have to tell you?"
"Okay. Fine. Sorry."

They drove back in silence. Sam dropped her off at her rented apartment. She went up to her room and lie down on her bed, processing her evening with Sam's parents.

A few weeks later, Sam and Katie went out for dinner.

"So, when are we going to meet your aunt and uncle?"
"You seriously wouldn't want to meet them."
"Why not? You have met my parents. I would like to meet your guardians too."
"No, Sam."
"Please, Katie. It wouldn't be as bad as my parents."

Katie went silent. Sam sighed but didn't say anything more on this subject. He then talked about other things.

Katie was driving with Sam to meet her aunt and uncle. The whole way, Sam saw how tense she was and she was holding on to the steering wheel really tightly.

"Hey-"
"Don't say a word, Sam. Just don't."

Sam kept quiet. But he was worried. Why was she so tensed up? What's wrong?

They arrived at the house. Katie rang the doorbell. Her aunt opened the door.

"So, you are back. This is your boyfriend, huh? Never thought you are good enough to get a job, let alone a boy."
"Uh... Hi, aunty."
"No need to be all sweet on me, boy. I got nothing for you."

Katie's aunt went in the house. Sam looked at Katie but Katie avoided his eye contact. They went into the house. Katie's uncle was watching the television.

"Hi, uncle."
"Who are you, boy?"
"I am Sam, Katie's boyfriend."

Sam extended a hand towards Katie's uncle. He didn't take it. He just stared at him coolly and then went back to his television. Sam was even more confused. Katie's aunt came into the living room.

"What do you want?"
"Nothing, aunt. We just want to visit you."
"Visit me? Please. I know you are not so goodhearted. I got no money for you."
"No, aunt. I am not here to ask for money. We really just came for a visit."

Katie's aunt frowned. Then she turned away and went back into the kitchen. Katie's uncle ignored them. They sat awkwardly in the living room for a few minutes. Finally, Katie stood up and left without another word. Sam followed.

They got in the car and drove in silence for a while.

"Katie, stop the car."

Katie did what Sam said. She turned into a park near her childhood home and stopped. They got out of the car and sat on a bench.

"Just say it."
"Say what, Katie?"
"That I am disgusting. My family is awful. You want to break up with me."
"Why would I say all those hurtful words to you?"
"Because it's the truth."
"No, it's not."
"I can handle it, okay. Just spill it out and get it done."
"Katie."
"I am not as fragile as you think I am, okay."
"Katie."
"I have totally prepared myself for this already. I won't do stupid things."
"Katie."
"I didn't want you to meet my aunt and uncle because I know you would be disgusted. They are so different from your parents."
"Katie."
"I am a nobody, Sam. I have nothing. If your parents see what you saw today, they wouldn't approve of me anymore."
"Katie."
"My whole life, I only know sarcasm and biting remarks. That is my world. This is who I am."
"Katie."
"You deserve someone better, Sam. I am no good for you."
"KATIE!!!"
"What? What?"
"I love you."

Katie looked at Sam. He looked back at her steadily. A tear slide down Katie's cheeks.

"Say it again."
"I love you"

Katie started to cry. Sam hugged her tightly and kept repeating that 3 powerful words to her. Katie finally understood the meaning of love and the power of words.

Love is accepting each other's flaw and help each other to become a better person.

Words have the power to destroy a person emotionally and mentally but can also heal and uplift a person.

Epilogue: Those 3 powerful words that Sam said was the beginning of Katie's healing process. Sam and Katie dated for a few years. During that time, Katie changed a lot. The healing process was long and sometimes very hard but Sam was there with Katie all the way through. Sam's loving, encouraging and comforting words brought Katie out of her shell. From a low self-esteem girl to a confident girl. Later on, Sam and Katie got married.