Hers to Love

Chapter 43

Amir stood frozen, watching Maria walk away. He felt his heart tighten with every step she took, guilt and regret swirling inside him like a storm he couldn't control. The pain in her eyes haunted him—it was the same pain he had once promised himself he would never cause her.

Yet here he was, the cause of it all.

He wanted to run after her, to take back the question he had so foolishly asked. But what would he even say? The damage was already done. He had let his insecurities and the weight of his family's expectations cloud his judgment, and now, he wasn't sure if there was a way to make things right.

Amir's mind flashed back to the countless conversations with his parents—about family, tradition, and expectations. They loved Maria, but their unspoken wish for him to marry an Afghan girl had always lingered in the air. His mother would smile whenever Maria was around, but every now and then, she would gently remind him of the importance of marrying within their culture, of carrying on their traditions, their values.

"Family comes first," his father had said countless times. "Your choices affect all of us."

He had tried to reconcile it—his feelings for Maria and the heavy expectations of his family. But the pressure had been building, and he had taken it out on Maria in the worst way imaginable.

Amir clenched his fists, feeling helpless. Why did things have to be so complicated? Why couldn't he just follow his heart without hurting the people he cared about? His family's love for Maria was undeniable, but their desire for him to marry an Afghan girl was equally strong. Tradition was everything to them. It was woven into the very fabric of their lives—who they were, who he was supposed to be.

But as he stood there, watching Maria disappear from his sight, Amir wondered if he was losing something far more important than tradition. He felt like he was being torn between two worlds, and for the first time, he wasn't sure if he could keep them both. The future stretched out before him, uncertain and shadowed with the choices he had yet to make.

As much as he tried to silence it, the thought crept in: had he just let go of the one person who truly understood him, all for the sake of keeping up  with the expectation?

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Maria sank into the couch as soon as she got home, her head spinning and her heart heavy. The dizzy spell had started as soon as she walked through the door, and she wasn't sure if it was because she hadn't eaten or if it was the emotional whirlwind of the day. Either way, she felt drained, physically and emotionally.

She hadn't even had the strength to cry. The weight of Amir's words still hung over her, and the exhaustion from it all left her hollow. She knew she needed to eat something, but the thought of food made her stomach turn.Just as she closed her eyes, hoping the dizziness would pass, there was a knock on the door. It was Chad.

He had texted earlier, sensing that something was wrong, and insisted on coming over. Maria hesitated at first but realized she needed someone to talk to, someone who could help her make sense of the chaos in her mind. Chad was always there when she needed a steady voice, and today was no different.

"Hey," Chad greeted her softly, his eyes full of concern as soon as he saw her pale face. "You look like you've had a rough day."

Maria forced a weak smile and waved him inside. "You could say that."Chad sat down next to her, not pushing for details right away. He was always patient, giving her the space to speak when she was ready. After a moment, Maria exhaled deeply and told him everything—about the confrontation with Amir, the painful accusation, and how she felt torn apart by it all.