How could we?

Chapter 30

Zac POV:

The exact same thing I was trying to avoid is unfolding right in front of me. I know my woman is a firecracker, I was expecting shit to pop off but not to this extent. Fatima and I got into a screaming match about me keeping secrets, I'm trying to calm the situation but Fatima is stubborn and hell-bent on fighting with me.

Zac: Fatima, please try to understand, I was only trying to protect you!

Fatima: Protect me? By lying to me? By keeping this huge secret from me all this time we were here, pretending like everything is fine?

Zac: It wasn't like that, I swear. I didn't want to tell you because you were injured. The doctor emphasized that you cannot be stressing during your healing otherwise it will set you back, you were still recovering from A HEAD INJURY! That's why we even came here in the first place, to keep you away from things that could trigger you or cause you any stress. Are you hearing me? I thought it would be too much for you to handle at once.

Fatima: Too much for me to handle? Zac, do you hear yourself? You thought lying to me was better than telling me the truth? You thought I was too weak to handle the news?

Zac: Fatima, you're not hearing me. I did not lie to you, I just delayed telling you the truth because you were not in good health!

Fatima: Because you think I'm weak, right?

Zac: It's not about you being weak. I was worried about your health. You had a head injury, that's a lot on it's own and I didn't want any unnecessary stress added to that.

Fatima: Stress? Oh, I'm stressed now, Zac! I'm very stressed right now, I'm furious as well! You let me sit here, day after day, thinking we were finally being open and honest with each other, only to drop this bombshell on me like it's nothing?

Zac: Ok Fatima, I hear you and that's a fair point. I'm sorry. Hurting you or even betraying you was the last thing on my mind. My intentions were to protect you from any damage or delay that the stress of this could cause. I was just waiting for the right time, hence I was able to tell you this tonight! I wasn't going to keep it from you forever!

Fatima: There's no right time for something like this! You don't get to decide when I can handle the truth. That's not your call to make!

Zac: (taking a deep breath and deciding to let her be) Ok, you're right. I'm sorry. I just had your best interests at heart, I misjudged the whole thing. I apologize. This is exactly what I was scared would happen.

Fatima: Well, congratulations, Zac. All the promises we made to each other, all while you kept this from me? You were right to be scared because right now, I don't even want to look at you.

Zac: Fatima, don't say that. Let's talk this through.

Fatima: Talk? The same way you should've talked to me right?

Zac: Fatima, please.

Fatima: There's nothing left to say Zac. You can sleep on the couch tonight. I need space to process all this without you hovering around.

Zac: (desperate): Fatima, please...

Fatima: No, Zac. Just go!

She turns away, crossing her arms as I reluctantly leave the room. Knowing there's no way I'll be able to get through to her when she's like this.

Zac: Ok, I'll go but this conversation is not over!

I said as I took a pillow and a blanket, leaving the bedroom.

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**The Next Morning**

Fatima POV: