Wounded Hearts

Chapter twenty-four

Zachariah

I could hear the door opening and then closing. I knew that mother wasn't home and that it was only me and Marwa in the house. "Marwa?" But my voice was immediately drowned by the sound of the violin. It took me only five seconds to recognize the instrumental. It was the one that I played with Laila on our Seniors Gathering, a formal gathering for seniors that contains shows done by the seniors. I would never forget it. It was hard to be done with the guitar but it was as close as possible. We had covered Bumper Cars for Alex and Sierra.

"Laila taught you this song?" I asked, thinking that it's Mona. I got interrupted again but this time it was by singing and it was the best voice ever then and just then I knew that it was my Laila. I would know her voice from between million voices. "Laila" It was not a question and it was met by silence.

I thought she won't answer but she did. "Yes I am Laila, Zach" I felt the bed dropping slightly by her weight as she sat down and her voice got closer.

"What brought you here?"

"My heart" She said and when her words were met by silence and an emotionless face even though my heart had skipped a beat, she completed. "Look, I can't say anything other than the confession that has been locked away from not only you but also me by me as well or rather my conciseness. I.Love.You" My heart was beating so hardly as if it wanted to jump out of its cage.

"Are you talking seriously?" I said slightly out of breath.

"Zachariah, I have never been more truthful than now. I never stopped loving you I was just locking away most of the intense feelings I felt in a way of protecting myself not wanting to ever feel this tight feeling I had felt in my chest as if somebody was holding my heart so tightly. I didn't realize until lately that I was already hurting and wasn't doing anything but add to my agony and the people's agony, the people that really love me and I don't even want to know who they are."

"After the accident I started thinking more and more and I guess this time I was thinking with my heart more than my mind but logic still stood a part in my conclusion. I had finally understood and concluded that I was only hurting myself and you for something we are both already hurt about and I know you are sorry and I hope that you still love me." She finalized

"Laila, not because you are feeling some pity..." I was immediately by her furious reply

"Don't you dare tell me that I forgave you because I'm feeling sympathy or pity or anything. I forgave you because I love you and I realized that life is too short to hold grudges what if we both lost each other then and just then will we realize how much time we have wasted for something that has already wasted our time enough. You and I both now know what we did wrong and that's enough. I forgave you when I saw how my brother forgave without me even doing half of what you did to gain my forgiveness he just knew me and knew what made me do this. And the most important thing is he knows that I'm as sorry and guilty as ever so what more will he need. I just don't want to lose you without telling you how I feel. I don't want to die without you being beside me."

"Yes what you did was the worst thing that could ever happen to me and yes it hurt. Yes it did change me but anybody should be given a second chance. I was wrong because I let you change me and I shouldn't have done that but I love you and I can't change anything about it. So I will forgive you only this time." she finished with a smile after such a long speech she should be given an award.

"I don't believe we can complete together." I said and I could partially hear her heart fall taking with it her smile.

"And why is that?" She gained back her confidence.

"I'm not myself anymore I lost myself and many things after the accident and nobody should pay for this except me. I can't even gain my own money for God's sake it's supposed to be my job towards my family. I can't even look at you"

"When did our relationship depend on our eyes, Zach? Music is what brought us and it will always be the thing that keeps us together of course after love. What if something happens to me whatever it is being: my face in unrecognizable, I can't move a muscle or whatever would you have left me?"

"Of course not" I answered slowly knowing saying that is against and with me at the same time now she will take this as an example for her staying with me.

"What does that mean that you are better than me or something? That you really love me and I don't so when you have an accident I'll leave but when I have a similar accident you won't. Wow you are such a gentle man." She mocked me jokingly and I tried not to smile she didn't change that much in the end. She was still the firefly woman I so deeply fell in love with. She does have a way with words. That's my girl. I stayed silent on the outside though. As much as I know my Laila I never expected the next words that she took a deep breath to say.

"Exactly I won't leave you Zach and I want to marry you"

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