Billionaire's Accidental Wife

Chapter 15 One year later. Chelsea’s Diary.

*****

Dear Diary, The beautiful grasslands, bright sunshine, and enormous acres of undeveloped land never cease to astonish me. Every morning, I wake up just before dawn to hear the first tweets of native birds and the delicate rustle of towering trees kissing the sky outside my window.

But it’s the huge gray elephants with their gorgeous ivory tusks and lengthy, wrinkled trunks that I appreciate the most about my home. They are quite kind with the locals, especially the youngsters, who regard them as pets as well as companions. The contact between animal and man in this scene is organic and spontaneous; none is afraid of the other. Kenya’s breathtaking beauty has been my home for the past one year.

However, the adjective “beautiful” is not restricted to merely the land. I have an unfathomable bond to the people here as well, and my heart hurts a little as I look down at the wild smiles of the children playing football on their lunch break.

I am alone in the classroom now with my suitcases packed at my feet. A tear streams down my face as reality sinks in. I have been dreading this day. Nothing could have prepared me for the teary goodbyes from my students and their pleas for me to stay. I am so melancholic, heartbroken and weary all at the same time. My body is frozen in place as I continue to stare at the beaming faces of my orphaned kids. They have become more than just students to me. I love them like they are my own. The tears pour out like an uncontrollable flood.

How can I leave them? It’s been almost a year now, and this land has become my life since I left. Dave in Paris. I have my reason, and it is more complicated than that. I’ve never heard any of them, not even Jane. Catherine and especially Dave. I have my new life now. But I can tell you just yet.

children I have ever met? Children who, despite their unfortunate circumstances, greet me each day with exclamations of, “Hello Miss!” followed by

a tiny piece of their little souls with me, to keep in my heart. “Chelsea…it’s time,” comes a

volunteer staff at Alfonso Orphanage, appears at the

originally riddled with bullet holes, and the tank of the little baby turtle we nursed back to health is on the back wall. I see a flicker of their raised, passionate hands

as I turn my gaze down to

collect my luggage, exhaling a long, deep exhale. I go with Miss Maya through the orphanage, past the bunk

through the halls of my home for the last one year is nearing its end, and I as step outside of the orphanage, I am bombarded by a

miss you, Miss

don’t go, Miss

crumble to my knees in their embrace. I try desperately not to lock eyes with any of them for fear that I may find leaving too impossible. My heart threatens to break further when they hand me roses and makeshift cut-out

way over to them and embrace them individually. These women, both local and foreigners from the volunteer group, have become like family to me and leaving them is almost as gut-wrenching as leaving the kids. “You’re

the cab drives away. I turn my head to look out the back window, keeping my gaze on everyone until they fade away. My heart feels like it’s been ripped out of my chest. The long drive to the airport is dismal as I gaze forlornly out the window at the last glimpses of my beloved Kenya. I take my window seat after checking in and boarding the plane. I’m wandering aimlessly among the fidgety passengers surrounding me. While completing final preparations for takeoff, the flight attendants advise that everyone should take their seats, but I’m too depressed to enjoy the voyage. I still can’t believe I’m on my way back home. A house with plenty of flowing water, paved roads, and books. A place where I am not required. It’s not like I was here. The flight attendants do their final inspections throughout the cabin, and the plane soon takes off, soaring high above Kenya. I stare out at the scenery intently, taking mental snapshots so I don’t forget my time here. I recall the undulating hills, the magnificent sun

Kenya like it was yesterday. I found it overcrowded