Bahlam Feeki

Chapter 44

I let out a sharp gasp while being awoken by the loud thunder.

I feel a hand grasp around my waist trying to comfort me but it doesn't work. The rain soothes me while the thunder takes me back to a place I wished I never had to go.

During the day it's not that bad but at night it's hell.

" hey hey hey what's wrong habibti?" Even with his deep I just woke up voice He sounded concerned

" huh." My voice was shaking I wish someone would just punch me so I can go back to sleep. I feel like with all these nerves running through me I could zap something.

"You were shaking and started whimpering." He propped himself up on his elbow and tried to get me to face him. But I couldn't. How could I who the fuck cries because of a thunderstorm?

Someone who was left to die during one

Without realizing he fully turned me over and embraced me.

" Why is my baby crying?" He kisses my forehead in an effort to comfort me but as a result, I just end up balling my eyes out.

Flinching ever so often when the thunder echos throughout the palace.

"It's okay, I don't know what happened but I'm here okay." He carefully stuffed my hair back in my bonnet and rubbed my back. I cried harder and he pulled me in closer.

I felt bad for wetting his chest but he didn't seem to mind. I nuzzled my face into his neck trying to find comfort.

" I'm s-"

"No, don't be sorry, it's okay." I let out a whimper and he tried to soothe me by humming a tune I didn't recognize but did it matter? It did the job he caressed my face

"You're safe with me" My eyes slowly shut......

_

"Ha, this isn't exactly how I wanted to spend my Christmas Eve," I say while nervously placing my hair behind my ear.

He hands me the mug and I sniff the contents out of habit. He smiles and shakes his head

It's hot chocolate. I take a sip of the warm drink and hum.

" I don't mind." He sits on the seat next to the tub

"Well, who wants to talk about their depressing past on a holiday?" I scoff while taking another sip in the tub.

The warm water sloshed around while I slowly drank.

"I do know Christmas is important to you but I rather spend the holidays talking about something that bothers you than act like it doesn't exist."

" It's not that big of a de-"

"Habibti, out of all the times we shared a be together. Not once have you jumped out of your sleep shaking then start profusely crying. If it's difficult to talk about that's fine but don't say it's nothing." I could tell he was worried by the way his eyebrows were set

I let out a deep sigh and looked over at him.

"Hm okay....to save you the long story I was set up by my own family. I still don't know the reasoning nor do I care I cut them off.

I was walking home it was a really bad storm. My mom was supposed to pick me up after school but I was told to walk home

Next thing I know I'm on the sidewalk gasping for air and coughing up blood then I'm in the hospital. The people were never caught. Thankfully, I didn't have any long-term effects but it took years to finally be able to walk alone much less on a rainy day."

I see him shake his head and rub his temples

" I don't mean to be disrespectful but your family is a fucking piece of shot. I hope karma hits them like a brick."

" I agree I didn't deserve any of the treatment I got. Cutting them off when I left was the best thing I could have done."

"So thunderstorms trigger those moments?" I nod my head and take another sip of the hot chocolate.

"Well, from now on when there's a thunderstorm confide in me even if I physically can't be there call me." I give him a slight smile and he comes over and places a kiss on my forehead.

" I'm going to go make breakfast and what do you say after we watch one of those Christmas movies?" I nod my head and place the almost empty mug on the stool.

"Aahil you didn't have to do all this," I say while tying my robe. He looks over at me and smiles

" I'm not the best at pancakes so I hope they taste good." He said while plating a full stack on mine and five on his. I'll never understand how this man eats so much- actually it makes sense now how else would he get so buff but then again I don't weight-lift.

"Habibti?" He said while still holding the spatula.

" huh?" I look up at him not realizing I was going on a tangent.

He chuckled and shook his head.

" I was asking if you wanted more of the hot chocolate?" Damn I must have really zoned out

" uuuum..... no it's okay do you have any more of that orange juice?" He placed the spatula down and walked over the fridge. "I could have gotten it you were doing something."

"Am I not allowed to treat my girlfriend?" He scoffed while handing me the glass.

" That's not what I said." I chuckled and took a sip of the orange juice. "You don't have to stop everything you're doing just to get something for me."

He raised an eyebrow and walked over to me wrapping his hands around me in the process

" I would drop everything if you told me to." His finger tilted my chin up so that my eyes met his. "And you better not fucking forget it"

Sudden chills run down my spine dare I say from the sternness in his voice or the way he demands eye contact.

I stand on my tippy toes and quickly peck his lips. He smirked and cupped my face with both hands.

" Listen I'm not bread don't kneed my cheeks," I say as my cheeks get squished and moved around

" It's hard not to when you look that cute." I pout and he chuckles.

"Now now let's turn that frown." He takes the corners of my lips and pulls them " upside down?"

I can't help but laugh and he finally lets me go. Moving back to his plate.

" Now come on pouty face Charlie Brown is waiting on us"