Searching

Chapter 49

Chapter 49
Searching
Katibah Elle

Tahseen rang the doorbell again and there still wasn’t an answer.
Before she could decide on what to do, a car pulled up in the driveway.

“What are you doing here?” Eric asked as he got out of his car, skipping the greeting and any form of politeness.

Tahseen hadn’t seen him since she’d left the hospital and was surprised to see him here, but at the look of his closed off expression, and the evenly flat tone of his voice, she didn’t comment on it.
His stiff demeanour made Tahseen nervous.

She twisted her keys in her hand and stammered, “I’m uh.. here to… see Zuhair.”

Eric eyed the keys in her hand, before grabbing a box from the front seat and replied, “Zuhair isn’t here.”

Tahseen frowned at Eric, “What? What do you mean he isn’t here? Where is he? ”

He shook his head and walked towards the house, “I’m not at liberty to say. If you’re here to collect the rest of your clothes, please leave the keys on the kitchen counter.”

Tahseen quickly stepped in front of him, “No, that’s not why I’m here… I just need to know where I can find Zuhair. I need to talk to him.”

He shook his head, “I don’t think this is the best time. He wanted time alone and you can talk to him when he’s back. Excuse me.”

“Eric please!” Tahseen pleaded, exasperated.

His shoulders hunched forward in resignation, “I have respected you as my colleague and I have respected you as a friend, but my friendship with Zuhair comes above all of that and I can’t allow you hurt him again. He gave you the time you needed, and in turn now he needs solitude. I’m sorry, but I can’t help you.”

Tahseen stood there; stunned, unable to think of a reply.
She watched him open the door and walk into the house.
As the door closed shut behind him, she pursed her lips in annoyance.
Sure, she understood his reluctance but it was her home.

She wrenched open the door and followed him, “Eric.. Excuse me for being blunt, but what are you doing in my home? Despite what is going on between Zuhair and I, this is still my home.”

He avoided her gaze, “Zuhair asked me to drop off this box and gave me the key. I apologize. I’ll be out in a minute.”

She stepped forward, “Why won’t you look at me? Are you angry with me? ”

He scoffed, “Why would I be angry at you? That’s insane.”

“Really? Is this about my outburst at the hospital, or what’s going on between Zuhair and I?” she asked.

He smiled faintly, “Not at all! You had every right to feel the way you did, and your relationship is private. I’m not angry, I’m disappointed. I reached out to you and so did Linda, why’d you ignore us?”

It was her turn to look away guiltily, “ I wasn’t ignoring you, I had no idea how to respond. After how I left the hospital, I didn’t want to think about it anymore.”

Eric was quiet for a moment, then placed the box on the kitchen table, “Okay... I should get going.”

Tahseen was about to ask about Zuhair’s whereabouts again, when she noticed the print on the box and asked, “Why is my name on the box?”

“It’s something from the hospital. Zuhair asked me to bring it here, I guess he wanted to save it for you.” he shrugged.

Tahseen grabbed the box and ripped off the tape, reaching inside she found more than a dozen of  polaroid photos.
Looking closer and the pictures, she realized that in each one was a child from the children’s ward, dressed in a hospital gown, standing in front of her mural.