Searching Soul - a Mikhaiah au

Chapter 8: Finally Feel Good

A month had passed since that fateful night when Gibrael had finally confessed her deepest desire to her parents. To her surprise, they had embraced her passion wholeheartedly, ensuring she had the best camera gear and equipment to fuel her budding career.

Soul, always her steadfast supporter, had taken it upon herself to start a blog showcasing Gibrael's work, and from there, everything seemed to take off. Art companies and magazines began reaching out, eager to feature her photographs, her name slowly becoming a rising star in the world of Fine Art Photography.

Tonight, however, was different. Gibrael wasn't here as an artist; she was here as a witness to a chapter of her past closing for good.

"Are you feeling fine?" Soul asked, her voice laced with concern as she held Gibrael's hands, guiding her through the elegant venue of the wedding they were attending.

Gibrael nodded slowly, though her heart felt like it was about to burst. It wasn't just the grandeur of the event or the significance of the occasion—it was the emotional weight of seeing Nicolo, the man who had once been the center of her world, marrying someone else.

The usherettes guided them to their seats, placing them in the 12th row from the front, close enough to see every detail but far enough to remain somewhat hidden from view. As the ceremony progressed, Soul's hand never left Gibrael's, a constant source of warmth and comfort. The cool breeze from the nearby seashore played with the loose strands of Gibrael's hair, and Soul, ever attentive, gently tucked them behind her ear. Their eyes met, and for a moment, the world outside seemed to blur, leaving only the silent understanding between them.

Gibrael tried to smile, but it felt fragile, as if it might shatter at any moment. Soul's grip tightened slightly, a silent reassurance that she was there, that she wasn't alone in this.

The ceremony reached its peak, and the presider's voice rang out, "I now pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Nicolo Chaves! You may now seal your union with a kiss." The crowd erupted in applause, a joyful noise that seemed to echo painfully in Gibrael's ears.

Soul noticed the tear that slipped from Gibrael's eye, and without a word, she leaned down to kiss the back of her hand, the one she had been holding since the start of the ceremony. The tenderness of the gesture broke through Gibrael's defenses, and she felt her tears start to fall more freely.

Gibrael turned her head to meet Soul's gaze, and in that moment, it was as if Soul was saying all the words she couldn't find herself—words of comfort, of understanding, of love. Soul gently placed her hand at Gibrael's waist, anchoring her as they both watched the celebration unfold before them.

"Do you want me to drive you somewhere?" Soul's voice was soft, almost a whisper, as she leaned in close to Gibrael's ear.

The tickling sensation sent a shiver down Gibrael's spine, but it was a welcome distraction from the turmoil inside her. She nodded, unable to trust her voice just yet.

As they quietly slipped out of the venue, Soul's arm wrapped around her, Gibrael felt the weight of her past lifting, slowly but surely. She wasn't sure where they were headed, but with Soul by her side, she knew it would be somewhere safe, somewhere where she could finally breathe again.

The silence between them had grown thick, the kind that only two people who deeply understand each other could share. They were sitting on the cool grass under the night sky at Gibrael's secret rendezvous, the stars above them mirroring the quiet reflection in Gibrael's heart.

"So, uhm," Soul began, her voice breaking the long silence that had cocooned them both.

"Hmm?" Gibrael responded, her voice soft and distant. She had been silently tearing up for a while now, and Soul, in her gentle way, had allowed her to process everything in her own time.

"What do you want me to do to make you feel better?" Soul asked, her concern genuine.

Gibrael chuckled lightly, the sound a small but welcome break in the tension. "I already feel better," she replied.

"Really?" Soul's tone was skeptical, her eyebrows arching slightly in doubt.

"Yes, Soul," Gibrael insisted, her smile faint but present.

"Then why have you been silently weeping for an hour?" Soul countered, her words tinged with playful concern.

Gibrael chuckled again and heaved a deep sigh, the kind that felt like the release of something she'd been holding onto for too long. "I didn't know I'd moved on from him until today," she said, almost in disbelief at her own words. "Seeing him get married today gave me a validation of something I wasn't even sure of."

Soul remained silent, letting Gibrael speak, knowing she needed to let these words out.

"I can't believe I almost went nuts over our tragic love story," Gibrael continued, a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. "You were right. Life really is full of uncertainties."

"If you hadn't pushed me to attend the wedding, I might never have had the chance to evaluate my feelings."

Soul smiled softly, her heart swelling with quiet pride for Gibrael's courage.

"I was so dumb for all those years I thought I was still in love with him," Gibrael chuckled at herself, a bittersweet sound. "I was so dumb to think that I'd never get over him."

"Maybe I was just so used to being heartbroken over him that I couldn't accept the idea of not being wrecked anymore."

"I think I was addicted to the brokenness, to the pain it caused me. It was like this tragic story I couldn't stop living in, even though it was destroying me."

She paused, her voice softer now. "But it ended today. And for that, I'm grateful." Gibrael gently looked at Soul, her eyes glistening with the remnants of her tears.

She reached up and cupped Soul's face with both hands, her touch tender. "Thank you, Soul," she whispered.

Soul smiled warmly, placing her hands over Gibrael's. "You don't have to thank me. It was you who figured it out. It's yourself you should thank."

Gibrael smiled back, a genuine smile this time. "But still, thank you."

They sat in a comfortable silence, the weight of the past slowly lifting from Gibrael's shoulders. "I finally feel good," she admitted, and in that moment, Soul had an idea.

Taking Gibrael's phone, Soul quickly searched for a particular song and hit play. As the melody filled the night air, she looked at Gibrael. "When this song plays, I hope it will remind you of this beautiful night," Soul said softly and Finally Feel Good by James Arthur started playing.

Gibrael nodded, her eyes closing as she let the music wash over her.

When I found me, I was smiling

And through the crying, I finally feel good

When I broke free from the old me

I was singing, "I finally feel good"

The lyrics resonated deeply with Gibrael, each word sinking into her heart like a soothing cream. She lay back on the grass, and Soul joined her, both of them gazing up at the night sky. The stars twinkled down at them.

With the music playing softly in the background, they lay there in the stillness, both of them knowing that this night, this moment, was a turning point. Gibrael felt something shift inside her—something freeing, something new.