UNENDING

40- Truth

-AL-QASIM-

I sank into the plush comfort of the sofa, still wearing the stiff formality of my work attire. The day had been relentless—back-to-back meetings, endless phone calls, and a cascade of emails that never seemed to end. My body was telling me to shut down, but my mind kept spinning with the weight of the week's demands.

As I tried to find a semblance of relaxation, I heard Asiya's voice calling my name. I raised my head, catching sight of her as she walked into the room, her face a canvas of apprehension and resolve. I could tell she had something important on her mind.

"Al-Qasim, can you sit up, please?" she asked gently.

I groaned and adjusted my position, pushing myself up from the sofa. "What's up?"

She sat down beside me, her eyes searching mine for understanding. "I need you to promise me something. Keep an open mind about what I'm about to say."

I arched an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "Okay, I promise. What's going on?"

She took a deep breath, her hands twisting together in her lap. "I want to go to my parents' house tomorrow."

The word "no" was on the tip of my tongue before she had even finished her sentence. "No, Asiya."

She blinked in surprise, clearly not expecting my immediate rejection. "Al-Qasim, I just want to have a conversation with them. I need to confront them about everything that happened. They hurt me, and I have to tell them that."

I shook my head firmly. "I don't want you going near them. They could harm you. It's not worth the risk."

Her eyes were starting to flash with frustration. "I need to do this, Al-Qasim. I have to confront them sooner or later. I want to have this resolved before the baby comes. It's important to me."

I sighed heavily, running a hand through my hair. "I understand that you need closure, but I can't risk anything happening to you. I've seen the damage they've caused. I don't want to put you in that position."

She turned her body to the side, away from me, a clear sign of her growing distress. I reached out to hold her hand, but she pulled it away, a silent rebuke.

"Please, Asiya," I said softly. "I'm just trying to protect you and the baby. I don't want to see you hurt again."

She looked back at me, her eyes moist with a mixture of hurt and frustration. "I need this to move on, Al-Qasim. I can't live in this limbo forever. I need to face them."

I took a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts. "I get it, but if you're going to see them, I want to be there with you. I don't want you facing them alone, not now, not ever. It's too risky."

She studied me for a moment, her expression softening slightly. "So, you're saying you'll come with me?"

"Yes," I said, nodding. "I'll take you tomorrow. I want to make sure you're safe and that nothing goes wrong."

A flicker of relief crossed her face. "Okay. I'll accept that compromise. Thank you for understanding."

I reached out again, hoping to mend the emotional rift between us. I tried to kiss her cheek, but she turned her head slightly, evading my touch. "I'm still upset with you," she said, her voice muffled but firm. "I'll only forgive you if you get me some crisps."

I couldn't help but chuckle at her silliness, even as I felt a pang of guilt for having upset her. "Crisps, huh? You drive a hard bargain, Asiya."

She smiled slightly at my reaction, the tension between us easing just a bit. "Yes, crisps. It's the least you can do for trying to keep me from facing my past."