Better Late Than Never

40

By the time Ayra found it in herself to return home, it was past midnight and she knew without a doubt that her period had begun. She knew she'd have really bad cramps too.

Her mind was quiet and she had run out of tears to shed but it all felt temporary and she wondered what would tick everything off again and when it would happen.

She rounded the corner and the houses came into view alongside the man who sat on the front porch, raising his head at every noise and then putting it back down when he saw it wasn't from the person he was waiting for.

Ayra, who had stopped in her tracks, felt her mind wake up again but at a sluggish pace and the tears she believed had dried began their prickling accent to her eyes. She watched as a couple walked past the house and Ayman raised his head, a mix of emotions crossing his face when he saw that it wasn't her. From where she stood, she saw his tears and it hurt her already scarred heart.

He hadn't gone in since she left, that much was clear, and it looked as though he hadn't stopped crying ever since too. He was the last person she wanted to talk to as she had no idea what she was to say or what she was to think or make out of the feelings she'd deciphered but he was there, right in front of the door, and if she had to go in, facing him was a must.

She was bracing herself to walk up to the house when he turned his head her way, as though he'd sensed she was there. Ayra saw it all; the relief that had his facial features relaxing and then the small breath he let out while his eyes glassed over even more as the tears increased. Feeling way, way worse, Ayra put one leg in front of the other and slowly made her way over.

Ayman rose to his feet, exhausted, pained, and relieved all at once. "Ayra."

She said the first thing that came to mind, avoiding his eyes. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have run off like that."

Ayman shook his head. "No, it's fine. I'm not holding it against you. I'm just glad you're alright."

"I'm sorry you had to stay outside and –"

"Ayra." Her apologises made him hurt even more. "Stop. Don't do that. Don't apologise. I wanted to stay outside. I know everything was sudden and you needed the space, and I know that this conversation is the last thing you want to be having right now but..." He let out a small breath, trying to ease the knots in his chest. "I just had to see you come back and know that you're safe and you're okay, at least physically."

A sob softly escaped her mouth and all she wanted to do was head in, lock herself in the bathroom, and cry underneath the warm stream of the shower. She looked away, wiping her tears, and then she stopped herself from apologising again.

Ayman had a lot he wanted to tell her but he knew, clearly, that it wasn't the right time. It'd already been a long night for the both of them. He sniffled, wiped his tears away, and got himself under control to the best of his ability. He then breathed in and out before he asked "Would you like tea? I'm not saying we should have tea together, I just want to know if you'd want a cup so I can make you one."

Ayra bit her lip, wanting to say no, but she needed the tea, especially with the cramps she was having. She nodded with a sniffle and finally looked at him, breaking even further than she'd done. "Yes please."

Ayman nodded, forcing himself to hold her gaze when all he wanted to do was squat and cry again. "Any specific flavour?"

She shook her head. "Anyone's fine."

He nodded again. "Okay. Let's...Let's go inside."

She nodded. "Okay."

Awkward was an understatement for the silence that settled between them but that didn't stop Ayman from being his usual self. He opened the door and held it open for her, and when they got in, he closed it and secured the lock in place. Before she could head up, he got her water and painkillers, offering a small smile when she took them from him and raised her head.