The Promise

49) Omer

I never felt this light in the past 19 years. The idea of sharing my past with someone always scared me that I pushed everyone away because when someone knows your weaknesses, they use it against you.

But with Aurora it was different, I read before that love is giving someone the privilege to destroy you and yet, you trust that they won't do that, but today I felt this.

She put everything away; her fears, worries and her belief that I can break her aside and just stood there holding me as I fall. Now, I knew too why do they call it falling for someone; it's because you allow yourself to fall in front of that person and they have the choice to catch you or watch you crumble at their feet.

I'm sitting in my room working after I had a shower after the day. We parted ways at 12 am because she was already drifting off in my arms and it started to get cold. I wanted to wrap my arms around her the whole night, but I decided to give her space; she still needs time.

I start my daily check up on their accounts if they posted something new and they did. Ali posted a photo with Elianna; she's in his lap kissing his cheek as he smiles. He always looks happy in their photos giving her his real smile that I know too well.

The door knocks interrupting me, I stand to get it when I find it's her. She looks like a human burrito wrapped in a bed sheet. She looks up at me with tired eyes. "Dove? Come in." I usher her into the room, she gets inside dragging the sheet with her. When I close the door, she takes it off of her shoulder discarding it on a chair. I knew now why was she wrapping herself in it.

She's wearing a minty silk pajama with the tiniest shorts. "Can I stay with you for a while?" she asks. "Of course, dove. Are you okay?"

She nods, "I am, but I have insomnia can't sleep. I thought I will when we were together, but when I went back I couldn't."

My heart clenches for her, I open my arms for her as she rushes into my embrace. I take a deep breath feeling her warmth and taking in her sweat scent. "It's okay, dove. I know what does that feel. Stay with me." I pull her with me on the couch where I was sitting before, I pat on my thigh as she climbs in my lap resting her head on my shoulder then the laptop gets her attention. "Fuck." She mutters sitting up looking at the photo.

"What is it, dove?" I ask wrapping my arms around her waist looking over her shoulder. "The eyes. His eyes." She murmurs and I understand. I smile into her shoulder as I say, "you say you can't stand me yet, you pay attention to the smallest of details, dove."

She looks at me over her shoulder, "Your eyes aren't a small detail, Omer." She says then looks back to the photo, "Oh my God, different in everything, but the same eyes. Yours are deeper though or I think it's because I feel stuff looking at them. Shit, now I'm babbling from the lack of sleep." She hides her face in her hands.

I pull her hands away kissing the back of her neck, "Your secret is safe with me, dove." She giggles, "Don't tell Omer I said that." I smile, "I won't."

"Is she, his girlfriend?" she asks looking at the photo again, I nod against her shoulder. "Her name's Elianna, she was Joe's classmate. She was our sister; she always came with Joe to study and Ali always liked her."

"But I didn't get to see them get together. We left before they dated and when they got back without me. I guess he confessed and they started dating since then." I finish.

"Wow, a long period of time. Your brother is hot and loyal? I'm down." She muses as I tighten my grip on her waist, she squirms as I grip her jaw craning her neck backwards so I can talk directly in her ears, "This mouth shouldn't utter another man's name, dove. Even if he's, my brother."

She nods and I let her face, she tries to hide it but I see the blush creeping up her face. "You have an account on social media?" she askes stunned. "it's a fake one, I can't be present with a real one. I check their updates from this one." She looks at me and smiles, I'm glad she's not giving me the sympathy eye, "I should have your account too!" I smile, "You already do, but not this one, dove." She frowns, "you have the company's official one."

Her eyes widen, "You're in charge of it? I thought Dionne is!" I nod, "She did, but I do too". She narrows her eyes, "wait, so the photos you have in the file and in the drawers at your place, you had them from the official account." She states and I nod again.

She smiles and whirls again giving the post her attention, her face falls "they both share features with you" she whispers, "The hair with Joe and the eyes with Ali." She finishes, I kiss her temple. "That's right my smart girl."

"You don't want to see them?" she asks giving me her attention. I take a breath and nod, "Of course, I do. But I won't, it's better that way. I don't want to ruin their lives." She opens her mouth to retort, but I silence her with a finger on her lips. "End of discussion, baby." I say and she looks down and nods, I pull her closer lifting her legs on the couch. She curls in my lap placing her head on my shoulder as I continue to scroll for a while when I feel her breathing evens as she drifts off.

I carry her to the bed and as I leave for the couch, she catches my hand. "Please, stay." She slurs sleepily. I climb next to her and watch her all night as she sleeps.