Burn the truth (ENG)

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January 2020

[Zara]

I held on to the cold tiles of the bathroom as I leaned forward and puked the contents of my stomach in the toilet.

The bad aftertaste remained on my lips after I flushed the toilet and immediately I felt the urge to vomit again.

My breathing was irregular as I leaned against the wall with my eyes closed.

I didn't eat anything wrong yesterday and I definitely didn't have a stomach flu.  Then why have I been so nauseous lately?

My eyes opened abruptly, upon realizing something.  I haven't had my period in three months.

I kept my arm around my waist as I struggled out of the bathroom.

Lips pressed together, I slumped in front of my suitcase and threw everything out.  I stopped when I saw the package.  I pulled out the unused test and threw the package away when I walked back into the bathroom.

As soon as I followed instruction on the manual, I collapsed on the cold floor and held the test before my eyes.  With trembling fingers, I watched as an hourglass appeared on the screen.

One minute, two minutes, three minutes...

My breath caught in my throat when I saw the result.

Pregnant 2+

I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes.  I am three months pregnant.

I laughed humorlessly.  How ironic.

When we tried for a baby, I didn't get pregnant and now.

Now that we're apart, I'm pregnant.

I ran my hands over my face in frustration.  What now?

~

[Imran]

''Imran?''

I was buttoning my white blouse when Manar walked into the room. What is she doing here?

I looked up into Manar's eyes.

She pushed the door to my bedroom a little wider and walked in with a sly smile.

She ran her hand over my arm and stood in front of me.  Her eyes looked at me mischievously.

I clenched my jaws.  "Manar."  My tone was warning.

She ran her fingers over the open buttons and grinned.

Before she could try anything, I pushed her gently away and walked away from her.  "What are you doing here?"

"We were supposed to go out for dinner today," she muttered with a smile and made a sound of happiness.

I quickly buttoned the rest of the buttons and put on a green blazer.  "I don't have time for that, Manar," I muttered back in an apology and got my hair neat.

"Imran," she whined disgruntled and I rolled my eyes.  "You promised it."

I clenched my fists in frustration.  I didn't want to have dinner with Manar.  I could hardly resist her.  I wanted Zara.

Zara.

My heart cramped painfully.  I missed her.

"I did not. My mother did." I was so angry with her. She shouldn't have told Zara anything. It wasn't her place to tell. It wasn't her truth.

Manar took the stencil sheets from the bed in her hands.  "What is this?" she asked curiously as she flipped through it.

I took my silver watch from the table and put it on.  "Read it."

''Imran,'' I didn't like the look she gave me.  "Why did you apply for divorce papers for us?"

"I want a divorce." I stated.

Manar looked at me in astonishment. "But- but I thought since Zara is out of the picture we-"

"We what?" I asked with fury. "There is no we. There never was."

"You love her." She spat with tears in her eyes.

"I do."