Eternity

Chapter 45

As-salamu alaikum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuhu

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Ayzal’s mother’s revelation had sent shockwaves through the room, leaving everyone reeling. While the rest of the family processed the shocking truth, Zayan moved toward Ayzal, who was still sitting on the sofa, her face pale and eyes distant.

He hesitated before gently reaching for her arm. “Come on, let’s go to our room,” he said quietly, trying to guide her to her feet. His touch was softer than it had been in months, a tentative attempt to offer some comfort amidst the chaos.

But Ayzal pulled her arm back, her eyes flashing with frustration. “I don’t need your help,” she snapped, her voice sharp and laced with the pain of his previous harshness. “Especially not after everything you have put me through.”

Zayan’s expression tightened, a mix of regret and defensiveness flickering across his face. He knew she had every right to be angry, but her rejection stung more than he cared to admit. “I am just trying to make sure you are okay,” he said, his tone more restrained, but still carrying the tension between them.

Ayzal stood up on her own, her movements stiff with the weight of exhaustion and emotional turmoil. “I have been dealing with this on my own for long enough,” she replied, her voice quieter now, but still firm. “I don’t need you pretending to care just because everything is falling apart.”

Zayan’s hand fell to his side as he watched her walk past him, her words cutting deeper than he expected. He had been so consumed by his own anger and hurt that he hadn’t realized how much he had pushed her away. Now, as he watched her retreat to their room, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt.

Despite the tension, he followed her, maintaining a small distance as they walked upstairs. He didn’t try to touch her again, respecting the space she clearly needed. When they reached the room, he paused at the doorway, watching as she moved to sit on the edge of the bed, her shoulders slumped in defeat.

He took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. “Ayzal,” he began, his voice low and uncertain, “I know I have been... harsh. I didn’t mean to hurt you like this.”

Ayzal looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mix of exhaustion and anger. “Is this where you say you are sorry?” she asked, her tone sharp. “Because it doesn’t matter anymore, Zayan. It is too late for apologies.”

Zayan winced at her words but pressed on. “I know I have made mistakes but I want to make things right.”

Ayzal’s expression hardened, her eyes narrowing as she scrutinized him. “You are only pretending to care because I am carrying your child,” she said, her voice bitter. “You are worried about the baby, not me. Don’t think I don’t see that.”

Zayan felt a surge of frustration but kept his voice controlled. “That is not true, Ayzal. Yes, I care about the baby, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care about you.”

She shook her head, tears brimming in her eyes. “You have made it clear how you feel about me. I have seen the way you look at me, the way you talk to me. You blame me for things I didn’t do, and now you want to pretend that everything is fine just because of the baby? I am not stupid, Zayan.”

Her words cut deep, and Zayan felt a pang of guilt. He realized that he had failed to show her any real concern, and now she was questioning everything, including his intentions. “I know I haven’t been fair to you,” he admitted, his voice softening. “But this isn’t just about the baby. I am trying to—”

“Don’t,” she interrupted, her voice trembling. “Don’t try to make this something it is not. You are worried about losing the baby, not me. And honestly, I don’t need your fake concern.”

The room fell silent as her words hung in the air, the truth of them striking a chord with both of them. Zayan felt a wave of helplessness wash over him. He wanted to make things right, but it seemed that every attempt only pushed them further apart.

Ayzal turned away from him, her body language closing off any further discussion. Zayan stood there, feeling the distance between them growing even in the small space of the room. He wanted to reach out, but he knew that now was not the time.

With a heavy heart, he took a step back, giving her the space she clearly needed. “I will leave you to rest,” he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.

As Zayan turned to leave the room, his hand lingering on the door handle, he heard a faint whisper that sent a chill down his spine. “I am going to abort the baby.”

The words, though softly spoken, crashed over him like a tidal wave, freezing him in place. His heart pounded in his chest, each beat reverberating with a mixture of shock, anger, and an emotion he wasn’t ready to name. For a moment, the room seemed to close in around him, the walls narrowing as his world tilted on its axis. He had to be mistaken—she couldn’t have meant what he thought she did.

Slowly, Zayan turned back to face Ayzal, his eyes narrowing as he searched her expression for any sign that she was bluffing, that she hadn’t just said what he thought she had. But there was no trace of uncertainty on her face. Her eyes were fixed on the floor, her body tense, but she wasn’t backing down.

“What did you just say?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous, the calm before a storm.

Ayzal finally looked up at him, her gaze steady despite the flicker of fear that passed through her eyes. “You heard me,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper but laced with a quiet defiance that only fueled his growing anger. “I am going to get rid of this baby. I don’t want it.”