A Piece Of His Heart

Forty-four

Waleed

Determination rang through me the second I opened my eyes the next.

What was I doing here when Eliza wasn't here? I needed to bring her back. Get her back. Even if I had to beg her for it.

I got up from the bed, instantly freshened up and changed before picking up the keys from where I'd tossed them on the couch and left the house.

When there are problems between two people, there are different ways to deal with it. The most effective one, as I think, is to talk about it. Just sit and talk and solve those problems. Distancing yourself from the other, or taking a 'break' doesn't usually work. When you're left alone with your thoughts, you're likely to think it over and over until its not what it was in the beginning.

I stopped the car in front of my in-laws' house and rapped my knuckles against the door impatiently. I just... needed to see her with my eyes to soothe my restless heart.

Najma Aunty opened the door, looking grim as she invited me inside. The two of us didn't exchange words more than the pleasantries before I headed down the hall to where Eliza's room was.

I knocked on the door, blood roaring through my ears as I entered the room. Eliza turned from where she sat on the chair by the window.

Out of all the things I'd expected her to do, running up to me and throwing her arms around me was close to last.

I stumbled back, partially from shock and partially from the force of her body hitting mine, and wrapped my arms around her just as I fell back on her bed.

My hold tightened around her. "Eliza," I breathed like air had returned to my lungs after being stolen from them.

She lifted her head and smiled at me, the sight washing cool relief over me. But her eyes were glistening. I could feel my own turning moist. "You know I appreciate that... you gave me time but I'd been hoping all night that you'd show up and take me away."

I laughed, throwing my head back as I did so. It was like I'd been freed from everything, all secrets, as I held her now. "I was one call— hell, just a text— away, sweetheart. All you had to do was ask." I kissed the side of her head and threaded my fingers through her hair, not being able to hold enough of her at once.

"There's no fun in that, Waleed." She spoke against my shoulder and kissed the spot.

"You're taking about fun and here I've been dying with worry."

"I'm sorry," I could hear the sadness in her voice. "But I really, really needed to go."

I nodded against her head. "I understand. But that doesn't mean I wasn't worried, especially after... after I found what you wanted to show me."

"What I wanted to show you— Oh. Oh." I'm certain I felt her burying her face deeper into my neck. I smiled.

"Yeah. Congratulations to you— I mean, us." There was something malfunctioning inside of me, it seemed. I somehow found the worst possible things to say. She let out a laugh, and all I could think was how I'd missed the sound terribly.

I slowly sat up, taking her along with me and sat her down on her bed as I sat beside her. She only stared at me for five seconds before she scooted over, threw her leg over me and sat in my lap, head going back to where it was between my neck and shoulder.

Okay. If she wanted to sit like this, then okay. Not like I minded.

"I'm sorry," I began and shushed her with a finger to her lips when she started to say something, urging her back down. "I know I should've told you. You deserved to know it."

"Doesn't matter." She mumbled, genuinely sounding like she didn't care.

I rubbed her back and held the back of her neck with the other hand, softly gliding my thumb across her skin. "And I'm also sorry for being stupid enough to keep an important thing in plain sight."

She smacked my arm, making me laugh.

I cleared my throat when she glared at me. I think I missed her glares too. "And I promise to never hide things from you again."

"Waleed?"

"Yes, sweetheart?" I could feel her lips curl into a smile against my neck.

"Is it... Is it bad I can't remember anything?" She looked at me, disappointment shining in her eyes. I simply held her tighter because I didn't care if she remembered it or not. It wasn't her fault she'd forgotten then and it wasn't her fault she couldn't remember now.

"Doesn't matter." I mumbled, using her words.

She traced patterns over my arm, a thoughtful frown on her face. "It's like going through a box of folders only for each of them to be empty. I can envision it if you tell me, but I can't remember on my own. It's weird."

I kissed her hair because I couldn't seem to stop. "Stop worrying about it, sweetheart. It really doesn't matter. It's okay if you can't remember our old memories. We've got plenty of time to make new ones."

Her nose scrunched. "But you know things I don't."

I shrugged. "Then I'll simply tell you things I know." I hesitated before I said the next words. "And, only if you want, we can visit a professional too. It might help." She hummed, sounded distracted. When I looked down, her eyebrows were creased, a faraway look in her eyes. I nudged her, then raised an eyebrow, silently asking her to spill whatever was on her mind.

"I like that you were my first friend and best friend. And then my first husband too."

"Eliza," I said her name, low with warning. "You're not going to have any more husbands."

She looked up again, her eyes glinting mischievously. "I guess I can live with you." She sighed like she didn't like the idea.

My hand slid up and tangled in her hair, earning another hum from her. "You're going to be the mother of my child yet you say that."

Eliza let out a grumbly sound, pulling a chuckle from me. Her cheeks were tinged pink. "Stop saying things like that, Waleed Asad Bukhari."

This girl. I'd never tire of her saying my name.

"I'm going to tickle you," I told her a second before I moved my fingers to her stomach and began tickling her.

"I hate you!" She gasped between laughs, her eyes shut as she tried to swat my hands away.

"No, you don't."

She opened a single eye to look at me then shut it close again with a sighm "Yeah, I don't. You're kinda nice."

My eyebrow raised. "Kind of?"

"Yes, kind of. I still love you, though."

"Mhm."

She punched my arm again. "Say it back!"

"You're such a baby," I muttered and tangled my fingers in her hair, using it to tilt her head back and press my mouth to hers. "I love you, since forever, and long before you became my wife."

She smiled from ear to ear as she looked at me. "That's cheesy."

"You love it."

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