Hers to Love

Chapter 38

The next morning, Maria woke up with a heaviness in her chest that she couldn't shake. The events of the previous night replayed in her mind, and she felt emotionally drained. She reached for her phone and saw a message from Amir: "Are you okay? Please let me know."

He didn't even go to her place after last night. She was hoping that he would.  

She stared at the screen, her thumb hovering over the reply button, but she couldn't bring herself to respond. What could she say? That she wasn't okay? That she felt lost and hurt? None of it seemed to matter anymore.

As she lay there, lost in thought, her phone suddenly rang, the loud vibration startling her. She frowned, wondering who could be calling so early. When she saw her aunt's name on the screen, her heart skipped a beat.

"Auntie?" Maria answered, sitting up in bed, her voice tinged with concern.

There was a long pause on the other end before her aunt finally spoke, her voice trembling. "Maria... I'm so sorry to have to tell you this, but... your mother passed away early this morning."

Maria felt the world around her blur, her breath catching in her throat. "What? No... Auntie, that can't be true. I just spoke to her last week," she said, her voice breaking.

Her aunt's sobs could be heard through the phone. "She was fine last night, but... she just didn't wake up this morning. The doctor said it was her heart."

Maria's mind went blank, her mother's face flashing before her eyes. The tears came suddenly, unbidden, as she clutched the phone tighter. "No... no, this can't be happening."

"I'm so sorry, Maria," her aunt whispered, her own voice heavy with grief. "I know how much she meant to you. You need to come home... we need you here."

Maria nodded even though her aunt couldn't see her. "I'll book the first flight," she managed to say through her tears. "I'll be there as soon as I can."

After the call ended, Maria sat in stunned silence, the phone still clutched in her hand. The weight of her grief was suffocating. Everything that had been weighing on her before—Amir, his father's words, the confusion she felt—suddenly seemed so trivial in the face of this overwhelming loss.

She quickly packed a suitcase, her hands trembling as she tossed in clothes and essentials. Her mind raced, trying to focus on the logistics of getting home, but every time she stopped moving, the grief came crashing back in waves.

As she was about to leave for the airport, her phone buzzed again. It was another message from Amir: *"Maria, please talk to me. I'm worried about you."*

Maria stared at the screen, her heart aching even more. She knew Amir was concerned, but right now, she couldn't deal with anything else. With a shaky hand, she typed a quick reply: *"I'm flying to the Philippines. My mom passed away. Please understand, I need some time."*

She hit send, her heart breaking as she did. She knew Amir would understand, but she couldn't help feeling a sense of finality as she walked out the door. Right now, all that mattered was getting home, being with her family, and mourning the loss of the most important person in her life.

As she headed to the airport, Maria couldn't stop the tears from falling. She was overwhelmed by the magnitude of her grief, and for the first time in a long time, she felt utterly alone.
——

Amir sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the message Maria had sent him earlier. *"I'm flying to the Philippines. My mom passed away. Please understand, I need some time."* The words weighed heavily on his heart, making him feel helpless and far away from her when she needed support the most.

He typed and retyped several replies but kept deleting them, unsure of what to say that wouldn't make things worse. Finally, he sent a simple message: *"I'm so sorry, Maria. Please let me know if there's anything I can do. I'm here for you, even if you just need someone to listen."*

Amir stared at the phone, hoping for a reply, but none came. He knew Maria was grieving and needed space, but he felt torn—he wanted to be there for her, to comfort her in any way he could. But she had asked for time, and the last thing he wanted was to push her away further.

His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on his bedroom door. "Amir, can I come in?" his father's voice called out.

Amir quickly composed himself. "Yeah, come in, Dad."

His father entered the room, holding a piece of paper in his hand. "Son, I've arranged a meeting with Dianne and her family for tomorrow evening. They're expecting us around seven. It's important that you come and make a good impression."

Amir's stomach churned at the mention of Dianne. He had seen her picture, knew that she was the type of girl his parents wanted for him—a good, respectable match by every standard. But all he could think about was Maria, thousands of miles away, dealing with a pain he couldn't even imagine.

"Dad..." Amir began, his voice hesitant. "I don't think I can go to the meeting."

His father frowned, clearly not expecting this. "What do you mean you can't go? This is important for your future, Amir. Dianne is a good match. Her family has the same values as ours, and they're eager to meet you. It's time to start thinking seriously about settling down."

Amir took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "I know this is important to you, Dad, but I'm... I'm not ready for this. There's someone else... someone I care about a lot."

His father's expression shifted, a mix of confusion and disappointment crossing his face. "Amir, you need to understand that these decisions aren't just about you. They're about our family, our traditions. Who is this girl you're talking about? Does she even know about our customs, our way of life?"

Amir looked down, feeling the weight of his father's words. "It's Maria, Dad"

His father's eyes widened in surprise. "Maria? The one who's older? Amir, this isn't just about love or affection. You have to think about the future, about compatibility. She's not—"

"She's not what?" Amir interrupted, his voice rising slightly. "Not young enough? Not from our culture? I care about her, Dad. She means something to me... something real."

His father sighed heavily, shaking his head. "Son, I know you think you're in love, but you have to be realistic. Love is one thing, but marriage... marriage is about more than that. It's about building a life with someone who understands you, who can be a partner in every sense."

Amir felt a surge of frustration. "And I can't have that with Maria? You don't even know her, Dad. She's smart, kind, strong—everything I could ever want in a partner. I'm tired of pretending like I can just go along with whatever you want for me. This is my life."

His father's expression softened, but his tone remained firm. "Amir, I just want what's best for you. I want you to have a stable, happy life. But if you really think this is what you want, then you need to be prepared for the challenges that come with it."

"I know there are challenges," Amir replied, his voice steady. "But I'm willing to face them if it means being with someone I truly care about. I can't just give up on Maria because it's easier."

His father sighed, clearly conflicted. "You're putting a lot at risk, Amir. Think about what this could mean for you, for your future. I'm not saying no, but I'm asking you to consider everything carefully. Don't make a decision you'll regret later."

Amir nodded slowly, understanding the gravity of what his father was saying. "I'll think about it, Dad. But I also need you to understand that Maria is important to me. I can't just walk away from her."

His father studied him for a long moment before finally nodding. "Alright, Amir. I'll give you some time to figure things out. But remember, time is not unlimited. Decisions will have to be made."

Amir nodded, feeling a mix of relief and anxiety as his father left the room. He knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy, but his heart was telling him that Maria was worth fighting for. He just hoped that when the time came, he would have the strength to stand by that choice, no matter what.