“Amaal.”
Her eyes met his, mobile frozen between her fingers.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“It’s ok. Tell me, whatever it is.”
Her shoulders tightened. Then she burst out — “What the fuck is she doing?! Who leaves their baby like this? And the baby girl… oh my god, I cannot think like that right now, there is too much going on for me to lose it.”
“Come here.”
She stared at him.
“Come here, Amaal.”
She covered the three steps between them and stood in front of him.
“Put my specs on.”
Blue irises widened.
He stared, commanding her with his eyes. She reached down to his bedside table, picked up his specs and put them on him.
“Do I look like the old Samar?”
She smiled. Nodded.
“Then tell me like the old Amaal.”
Tears burst out of her eyes and she buried her face in her hands. “Fuck I’m sorry.”
“Why?”
“I have promised to be strong for you and every time I am crying in front of you.” She moved her head from side to side, rubbing at her face but keeping it hidden as she cried. “I am so sorry.”
“For what?”
“For being angry at Iram. I don’t even know what happened that day. I was here, I didn’t get the news until very late. And not knowing why she left is… she could never! She would never leave Atharva! Especially not after what happened. That car was wired for her. She had to know what Atharva went through. She had to know whatyouwent through for her!” She pulled her hands, enraged. “When I meet her again, and god make me meet her again, I will first tell her how she has missed her son’s milestones and never show her these photos and then scream at her for what she wasted! The man who jumped into that car for her, who is still in so much fucking pain every day, and she ups and walks away from that life without a backward glance?”
“Give me your mouth.”
“What?” Her eyes bugged.
“Give me your mouth, Amaal.”
“You can’t be…”
“Don’t make me repeat it.”
With shaky fingers, she snapped the elastic of her mask and came closer. She wasn’t even halfway there when he craned his neck and took her mouth in his. This time it did not end at a peck. He pushed his tongue inside that red mouth and stroked her tongue, consoling her, quietening her, comforting her the only way he could today.
She went breathless and pulled back with a pop. Her wet face was struck, reddened. The blues of those eyes were shining.
“How can you do this?” She murmured.
“Do what?”
