Adventures in Cat-Napping

Epilogue

Two years later

"They're going to be late," Ali complained as he ran a hand through his hair. "I should have known not to have trusted her,"

"Nora's been like this since the moment you met her, why would you think things would be different today?" Lena asked, glancing at him though the mirror as he offered her a pointed look. Based on his outfit alone, the reason was clear and she shook her head, failing to hide the amusement that pulled at her lips. "Fair point," She added, when he huffed, but he knew she didn't mean it.

The past ten months had flown by. Recovery after the accident had taken longer than Ali would have liked and for the first time in his life, he was working beside a time frame that didn't have a schedule. Everything was according to his body, and what he could cope with, but thankfully none of the injuries were serious enough to prevent him from standing today.

It had also helped that Nora had become his peer in physiotherapy. Whilst Ali worked on strengthening his arm and shoulder, she had endured the task of learning to walk again. He'd never learnt so many swears in various languages before, and Nora only claimed to know them since she loved international movies so much. She'd even surprised him with her pronunciation of some Hindi swears, and when he'd glared, insisting she stopped; even the physios chuckled upon realising she'd learnt such vulgar language, in his mother-tongue, to be delighted by his reaction.

Still, after a gruelling 5 months, 6 for Nora, they had overcome it and returned to their normal lives. Initially, Ali had never thought that someone like Nora could be his friend and though they still argued, and fought often, they'd made an effort to keep in touch. She was also responsible for today's event, and he released a deep breath as he confronted the matter that should have been at the forefront of his mind.

The last six months had also completely changed Ali's personal life and it was for the better. Nora had given him the opportunity to finally pick up the courage to speak to his daughter and confront their past. And to his surprise, instead of losing his daughter, it had brought them closer once again.

18 months ago

"Dad, I've brought you some extra plain relief," Lena expressed, walking into the room with a small cup containing the medicine. Ali had assumed Lena had arrived to pick up her cat, as cats were of course not allowed to stay in the hospital but for the past three days his daughter had been by his side. It wasn't an easy relationship, and the elephant still remained large in the room but beyond the heavy eyeliner and purple hijab, Ali say black pig tails, and the eyes that belonged to a 4 year old whose smile lit up the room.

But instead of commenting on that, he nodded, and took the cup, swallowing from his bottle first before taking the relief. It was only when Lena perched on his bed, back towards him did he feel the true gap in their relationship, and immediately he is eyes began to swell.

Ali hadn't expected to cry. He hadn't cried in almost 6 years, when his beloved wife had past away in an accident not so different to the one he had survived. She was  his joy and the only one who made his routines seem to make sense. And just like that, she was gone, leaving him with a bad knee and a young teenager he was failing to raise.

"Lena," he called out, and when she rubbed her eyes before turning, he realised she too was feeling the emotions in the air.
"I'm sorry my Lele," he whimpered as she refused to avoid his gaze. "I'm sorry for not being better, for not being a father to you while I grieved. For pushing you away,"

"I needed you dad," she expressed and he nodded his heads, moving his hand slightly so that she knew she could take it. It was likely her hands were clean anyway, Ali had seen her use the sanitiser just before she had left the room to get the medicine anyway. But it was besides the point. She was here, and perhaps now was the time to mend their bond.