Hers to Love

Chapter 8

Maria stared at the screen, Amir's message glowing in the dim light of her office. The simple question—"Are you going to the coffee shop?"—shouldn't have made her heart race, but it did. She hesitated, her fingers hovering over the keyboard, uncertain whether to reply.

The memory of yesterday's scene still stung. She had felt a pang of jealousy she hadn't expected, a bitter reminder that her feelings for Amir were deeper than she had admitted, even to herself. It wasn't just that he was talking to another girl—it was the way he had done it, with the same enthusiasm and warmth he showed her. For a moment, she had felt replaceable, just another person in his life.

Maria had thought she was different. After all, she had met his family, something she knew was significant in his culture. Meeting Amir's parents had felt like a milestone, a sign that what they had was special. She had seen the way Amir's father looked at her, the respect in his eyes, and she had believed it meant something. But now, that certainty felt like it was slipping away, replaced by a gnawing doubt.

Her mind replayed the last few months, scrutinizing every interaction, every conversation. Had she misread the signs? Was she just another friend in his life, or did she hold a special place in his heart? The questions circled in her mind, feeding her insecurities.

She knew she needed to respond to Amir's text, but the thought of seeing him again, of pretending everything was normal, felt overwhelming. The idea of walking into the coffee shop and possibly seeing him with someone else again made her stomach twist. She wasn't sure if she could handle it, not with the way her emotions were tangled up right now.

Yet, a part of her yearned to see him, to feel the comfort of their usual banter, to reassure herself that maybe she was overthinking everything. But the fear of getting hurt held her back, the warning she had always told herself echoing louder than ever: "Never allow yourself to be close to someone if you know you will only get hurt."

Her phone buzzed again—another message from Amir. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her thoughts. Maybe it was time to be honest, with herself and with him. Maybe she needed to understand where she truly stood in his life, even if the answer wasn't what she hoped for.

But the fear of hearing something she didn't want to hear made her hesitate. She glanced at the clock—she still had work to do, meetings to prepare for, but her heart wasn't in it. Maria knew she had to make a decision, one that could either bring her closer to Amir or create a distance she wasn't sure she was ready for.

Her fingers finally moved, typing a hesitant reply. "I'm not sure," she sent back, leaving the message ambiguous. It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the truth either. She needed more time to figure out what she really wanted, what she was willing to risk.