Burn the truth (ENG)

| 9 |

I leaned my head against the headrest of the couch and started massaging my forehead with my fingers.

Samira walked into the living room with an ibuprofen and a glass of water in her hands. She pressed the glass into my hands and placed the tablet in my free palm. "Take it and go to bed."

I rinsed the tablet down with a glass of water and handed her the empty glass back. I layed back on the couch with closed eyes.

Samira poured herself green tea and crawled under the blanket that was covering my legs.

"Samira, can you turn the TV down a bit?" I muttered into a gray pillow.

She turned a page of her book and let her eyes roll over the letters. "I think I told you to go to bed."

I rolled my eyes. "What the heck, Samira. Who leaves the TV on when they're reading a book."

She looked up with a sigh and closed her book. "What's wrong with you? You've been aggressive since this morning. I won't tolerate this behavior, Zara."

I looked nervously at the gray blanket. "I don't feel so well, Samira."

Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "What is going on?"

I fiddled with my fingers and took a deep breath. "I- I'm scared, Samira."

"Oh Zara," muttered Samira with tears in her eyes and wrapped her arms around me protectively. "They won't get you again. We'll protect you." You can't.

"It was awful there, Samira." I pressed myself against Samira and felt tears trickle down my cheeks. "They were horrible."

Samira froze when I heard what I confessed. "Me and Faid did have some ideas about what they might have done to you, but this." She lifted my chin and looked into my eyes. "The fear, the despair and the anger I see in your eyes makes me crawl away. It shows how much pain you are experiencing because of them. How broken you are." Her eyes searched me. "What have they done to you that you haven't recovered after six months?"

I sobbed softly. "They tortured me both mentally and physically. All the respect I held for myself has been swept away and the confidence has been rammed out of me. I feel worthless, Samira and I can't help but face death."

"Has anyone..." She looked at me painfully as she let the words hang in the air.

I avoided her eyes and wiped the tears from my cheeks.

"Is that why you're so sensitive?"

"I don't want to talk about that," I muttered in a determined tone.

She nodded understandably and distanced herself. "Maybe a jog will help?"

I threw the blanket aside and stood up. "Thanks, Sami," I muttered under my breath and walked to the front door.

"Keep your location on," I heard her warn.

I nodded slightly and zipped up my jacket before tying my laces and walking out the door.

~

My eyes followed the free-flying birds around the lake as my ears heard their chirping.

"Break the engagement off."

Seeing dark clouds, I rose from the grass. It is going to rain.

"He wants you back, Zara."

I wiped all the blades of grass from my leggings and began to take my steps toward the house. Droplets of water fell to the ground.