Kryptonite to your Superman

Yearning for her could be compared to Superman yearning for kryptonite. Whenever she came near me, my heart melted, my knees became weak and she would always have her way, in a way that would be hazardous to me.

Who am I to compare myself with Superman? Only the most successful businessman in the state. I sell diamonds.

Women love diamonds. So, women love me. But me? I love her, and I can NOT get over her.

Women and their minds. Whew!

At first, she tested me to see if I was telling her the truth - if she was the only one for me. When she realised as much, she robbed me, to the point that I was almost bankrupt. I had to work harder to win back my status each time she went off to a shopping spree. I hated her spending so much but she showered so much of her love at me that I couldn't say NO to her.

Then she would be a darling in front of my mom, my dad, my sisters and I would be charged for not being on my best behaviour with her!

And if I ever got mad at her, she had this charming way to calm me down and get me to love her more.

Talk about kryptonite with the harnessed power of the Sun and then just strip off the power of the Sun.

I just wondered sometimes if she loved me at all...or if she was just with me for my money.

I had never in my life, felt the way I felt for her.

But my sisters said that the time I had my last two adolescent crushes, I had said the same.

Well, I didn’t recall how I had felt for them, but I knew how, in my adulthood, I had never ever felt the same.

So again, I wondered if she felt the same for me.

***

Natalie knew she had John wrapped around her finger.

Did she love him?

Love was too strong a word.

She loved the lifestyle he could give her, that was true, at least. But yes, she did like him, a bit. He was great in bed too. His family was nice. The way she saw it, he was the complete package.

Natalie had grown up in a household with six sisters and a brother. Her mother always favoured her brother. There was never enough for anybody. So, growing up, Natalie had already had it figured out what she wanted in a man. He had to be rich, a good person - who would dote upon her. She didn’t mind being called a gold-digger, as long as her potential husband or his family didn’t call her that.

***

It was almost Christmas. It was forecasted that the Christmas would not be too cold. So John had planned a surprise for Natalie.

Natalie loved the snow.

They were going up the mountains for skiing.

***

Natalie loved the snow.

But no one knew why.

She was her father's favourite child.

She always reminded her father of winter. Of Christmas. And he called her his "Snow White". Complexion as white as the snow. Hair as black as ebony. Cheeks and lips as red as blood. He loved Natalie the most. He liked to see in her the spirit of Christmas. And Natalie wanted to make her father proud. So despite her (and their family's) frugality, she made handmade presents for children poorer than them. More than anything, she loved seeing her father light up like a Christmas tree when he saw her doing a good action.

Every year, she thought things were going to change.

When her father died, it was like someone twisted a knife inside of her.

She cried, but no one could bring him back to her.

The next day, at the age of eighteen, she left home.

Where to, she didn’t know.

But she no longer had reason to stay at home.

***

Natalie was a quick learner. She quickly rose up the ranks in a Beauty Salon, far away from home. It was a posh area, and she carefully noticed every customer who came and went. Small things would point out whether they were rich, comfortable, or poor but trying to show off. And she would choose the rich men, carefully.

One date was all it took her to get to know if the man was good enough to invest her time in.

When she found John, she knew, this was it. This was going to be her man.

Ever since her dad died, she had left doing nice things for those poorer than her. Right now, she had decided to charm this man out of his wits and marry him.

Or so she thought.

***

John kissed her lovingly as he took her up the mountain on the ropeway.

Natalie pouted, "So this was your surprise?"

"You don’t love it?" John said, placing his hand over hers.

"Let's see..." she said, and looked at the snow falling. A snowflake fell on her nose and she sneezed.

She sniffed. "I think it's beautiful."

She had only once told John that she loved the snow. And he had picked that up, right on cue and brought her to this place.

If she had been any younger, she'd have loved it.

But now it reminded her of her dead father.

But, nevertheless, it was beautiful.

Natalie cozied up to John, and kept her head on his shoulder. "It’s nice," she said. After all, he was trying to do a nice thing for her.

John beamed.

He held her hand as he said, "We're soon going to be in the cabin. And you can have a glass of red wine to warm you."

"We're skiing tomorrow?" Natalie said.

"Yes, we are," John said.

***

When John was asleep, Natalie got up.

She poured herself another glass of red wine.

She swirled the glass, and took a draught.

She slowly wore the fur overcoat and stood outside.

It was chilling.

The snow was falling lightly and she could see a whole mountain range from the cabin.

She placed her foot outside and nearly fell, the snow was so treacherous.

"Oiiii, watch where you are going, you stupid human fella!" A voice chimed. The voice was clear, but a little gnarled.

"Who is there?" Natalie whispered, looking here and there.

"Snow White was a lot kinder, you know," another voice said. But she sounded female.

A number of voices giggled.

"Look beneath the trees," the first voice said.

Natalie saw a family of squirrels beneath a huge tree. Not just them. A family beneath all the trees.

"I don't know what you are talking about," Natalie said.

"Snow White ate a poisoned apple. But you are poisoning the apple you want to partake. Why?" The little squirrels said.

"Why am I not surprised that you can talk?" Natalie thought out loud.

"Listen. Oh the Christmas bells chime The Winter's cape , so sublime The snow that covers the mountains.

Little Snow White Touched by blight Of the poisoned apple.

Slept for a time Till true love Touched her lips' corners." The little squirrels chanted.

Natalie looked exasperated. "I do know the story," she said.

"And here we have one Lighting the Christmas trees With poison.

Not quite of greed, But a felon indeed, Steal the man's heart and...poisoned it," the eldest squirrel sang in its gnarled way.

Natalie felt the blood rising to her head.

"Wha-a-at," she said as she fell.

She was falling, and falling till she landed on her bed.

She woke up.

John groaned beside her as she shifted.

She got down.

She had a glass of red wine, wore the fur overcoat and got outside. She noticed the squirrels beneath a tree. They were unafraid of her.

What a dream. Stupidity... or was it.

She spotted a baby squirrel helping its siblings climb up the tree.

She decided something. She would have to tell John properly.

***

"I don't see why you are speaking about this now! John said loudly, almost screaming.

"Because, John!"

"Because what?" John said quietly.

"I am breaking up with you because you are a wonderful person, John. And I have been an asshole with you," Natalie said.

"And the fact that I could love you in the future, but as of now, I don’t," Natalie said, a little bit afraid.

"I was afraid..." John said, his hand in his hair and he thumped the table with his other hand.

"Give me a year to stand up by myself, and if -..." Natalie trailed off.

"If what?" John said.

"If you still want me then, let’s start with a single date again," Natalie said, feeling small.

John nodded. Then with a single nod, went away.

***

Three years later

"I am so glad you took the decision to meet after a year," John said to Natalie.

Natalie had grown as an individual. She wasn't that much of a spendthrift. She had become responsible and she genuinely grew to love him.

"I am too, you know," Natalie said.

"So I am no longer your kryptonite?" Natalie teased.

John gaped.

"Your sisters tell me everything," she winked.

"No. Now you're the Sun to my Superman!"

"And you are the Prince to my Snow White!"

They kissed.

They were going to get married the next week.