Eternity

Chapter 57

As-salamu alaikum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuhu

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Ayzal had been feeling off all day. It started with a slight queasiness that she thought would pass, but by evening, the nausea had escalated to a point where she could no longer ignore it. Her stomach churned as she sat on the couch, the soft fabric doing little to ease her discomfort. She groaned, leaning her head back and rubbing her temples, hoping to ease the tension building up in her body. Zayan was in the next room, probably checking something on his laptop, completely unaware of her growing unease.

Suddenly, a wave of nausea hit her hard. Without a word, she shot up from the couch, rushing to the bathroom, her hand clasped tightly over her mouth. The world spun as she leaned over the toilet, her stomach lurching violently. Just as she was about to retch, she heard hurried footsteps behind her, and then Zayan was there, his hand gently resting on her back.

"You okay?" he asked softly, his voice tinged with concern.

Ayzal couldn't answer, not with the way her stomach was flipping inside her. She felt Zayan's hand start to move in slow circles on her back, his touch both soothing and steadying. With his other hand, he swept her hair out of her face, holding it back so she didn’t have to worry about the strands sticking to her skin.

She heaved again, the feeling utterly miserable, but Zayan stayed right by her side, rubbing her back and murmuring soft reassurances she barely heard through the ringing in her ears. After what felt like an eternity, the nausea began to subside. She took a deep, shaky breath and slumped forward, her forehead resting on the cool porcelain rim of the toilet.

Zayan grabbed a small towel, running it under cold water before handing it to her. She took it gratefully, wiping her face before leaning back with a groan. She felt utterly drained, every ounce of energy sucked from her body. Her legs wobbled as she pushed herself up to stand, and Zayan's arm immediately looped around her waist, steadying her.

“Easy there,” he said, concern still etched on his face. “Take it slow.”

Ayzal nodded, though her head felt foggy, the bathroom spinning around her. She let Zayan guide her to the sink, where she rinsed her mouth and splashed some water on her face. The cold water felt like heaven against her warm skin. When she was done, she leaned heavily against the counter, her eyes fluttering closed for a moment as she tried to gather her strength.

Zayan’s arm was still around her waist, holding her steady. She let herself relax into his touch, taking comfort in the warmth of his body against hers. The nausea was gone, but she felt utterly spent, as though all the energy she had was now a distant memory. With a soft sigh, she leaned her head against his shoulder, too tired to care about anything else.

"I am so tired," she mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper. "My back hurts... and my feet feel like they have been through a marathon."

Zayan’s expression softened, and his arm tightened around her. “Come on, let’s get you to bed.”

Without waiting for her response, he gently scooped her up into his arms. Ayzal didn’t even protest, too tired to argue, and truthfully, being in his arms felt surprisingly nice. His chest was warm against her cheek, his heartbeat steady and calming. She closed her eyes as he carried her to the bedroom, the rhythmic motion of his steps lulling her into a drowsy state.

Once they reached the bed, Zayan set her down carefully, adjusting the pillows behind her so she could lean back comfortably. She sighed again as she settled into the soft mattress, her body grateful for the rest.

Zayan crouched down by the edge of the bed, his hands sliding up her legs until they reached her feet. Gently, he took one of her feet into his hands, his thumbs pressing into the arch as he began to massage the soreness from her tired muscles.

Ayzal let out a soft, contented sigh, her eyes closing as the tension in her body started to melt away. Zayan's hands were strong but gentle, and the feeling of his fingers working into the aching muscles of her feet was pure bliss. She hadn't realized just how much her feet had been hurting until he started massaging them.

"Better?" Zayan asked, glancing up at her with a small smile.

"Mmm," she mumbled, too relaxed to form coherent words.

Zayan chuckled softly, continuing to knead her feet with care. "You know, you and the little one are really giving me a hard time," he said, his voice playful. "I don't know how I am going to survive the next few months."

Ayzal opened one eye, peeking down at him. "It is not my fault," she muttered. "Blame your child."

Zayan grinned, his hands moving up to her ankles, massaging the tension from there as well. "Oh, I do," he said with mock seriousness. Then he shifted his gaze to her stomach, leaning forward slightly as he spoke to their baby. "Hey, little one, could you go easy on your mom? She is working hard here, and you are making her miserable."

Ayzal couldn’t help but smile at the sight of him talking to her belly, his voice so soft and tender. There was a playful spark in his eyes, and it made her heart melt, despite how exhausted she felt.

“And another thing,” Zayan continued, his tone growing more dramatic, “if you keep this up, I might have to steal all your toys when you are born. No cars, no stuffed animals, not even a rubber ducky.”

Ayzal laughed softly, shaking her head. “You are ridiculous.”

“Hey, I am serious,” Zayan said, looking up at her with a grin. “This kid needs to know who is in charge around here.”

She rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide the smile on her face. “Well, good luck with that. I am pretty sure they have already taken over.”

Zayan chuckled, moving to her other foot now, his fingers working their magic again. "Yeah, I think you are right. But I am still going to try."

Ayzal sighed contentedly as Zayan continued to massage her feet, the aches and pains slowly fading away. She was still exhausted, but at least now she felt more relaxed, the tension in her body easing under his touch.

“You are too good to me,” she murmured, her eyes closing again as she sank deeper into the pillows.

Zayan smiled, his hands moving up her calves, massaging them gently. “Well, I have to be,” he said lightly. “You are carrying our baby, after all. I can’t have you miserable all the time.”

She chuckled softly, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. For a moment, she let herself revel in the sweetness of the moment—the quiet intimacy of Zayan’s care, the lighthearted banter, and the feel of his hands on her skin. It was one of the few moments of tenderness they shared, and despite the challenges they had faced, it was moments like these that made everything feel a little bit easier.

As Zayan continued to massage her legs, she felt the weight of sleep pulling her down. Her head lolled back against the pillow, her breathing slowing as she drifted off. Just before sleep claimed her, she heard Zayan’s voice, soft and warm, speaking to their baby again.

“Alright, kiddo,” he said, his hand resting gently on her stomach, “let’s give your mom a break tonight, okay?”

And with that, Ayzal let herself slip into the peaceful embrace of sleep, feeling safe and cared for in Zayan’s arms.