Against the Ropes [Imane Khelif]

23. a safe haven

Imane arrived at their special spot, a secluded cliff overlooking the city. The sun was setting, casting warm hues across the sky, but the beauty around her did little to ease the knot of worry in her stomach. She paced back and forth, glancing at her phone, hoping for a message or a familiar figure to appear.

Just as despair began to creep in, she spotted Maya in the distance, her silhouette framed by the fading light. A wave of relief washed over Imane, and she couldn't help but smile as Maya approached.

"Maya!" Imane called, her heart lifting.

Maya paused, her expression cautious. "I'm not supposed to be here."

"Why not?" Imane asked, concern furrowing her brow.

"Rachel will be so mad," Maya replied, glancing back as if expecting Rachel to appear.

Imane took a step closer. "Does Rachel get mad often?"

Maya hesitated, her gaze dropping to the ground. "I... I have to leave," she said, her voice strained.

Imane gently reached out, taking Maya's hand in hers. "Please, just stay a little longer. I miss you," she pleaded, her eyes searching Maya's.

After a moment, Maya pulled her hand away, the weight of the moment palpable. "I'm sorry, Imane. I just... I don't want to cause any more trouble."

Imane's heart sank, but she steadied herself. "I just miss my friend. I wanted to see you smile again."

Maya looked torn, but the sincerity in Imane's voice seemed to reach her. After a brief hesitation, she nodded and took a seat on the edge of the cliff, looking out at the sprawling city below.

Imane joined her, a sense of calm settling in as they both gazed at the horizon. For the first time in a while, there was a flicker of hope that perhaps they could find their way back to each other amidst the uncertainty.

As they sat on the edge of the cliff, Imane glanced sideways at Maya, hoping to coax a smile from her. "Do you remember that time in high school when we decided to skip gym class and go to that old abandoned treehouse?"

Maya's expression shifted slightly, curiosity sparking in her eyes. "Yeah, I remember. We thought we were so sneaky."

Imane chuckled, her heart warming at the memory. "We climbed up and found all those old magazines and snacks left behind. We ended up laughing so hard when you got stuck trying to climb down."

Maya let out a small laugh, the tension in her shoulders easing. "I was terrified I'd fall! But we had the best time just talking and pretending we were on an adventure."

Imane nodded, the fondness of the moment washing over them. "And we promised to go back and decorate it, remember? But we never did."

Maya smiled softly, a hint of nostalgia lighting her eyes. "Yeah, I think about that sometimes. It was just nice to be free for a little while."

Encouraged by her smile, Imane leaned in. "I miss those days. We were so carefree, just two kids in our own world."

Maya's smile widened, and for a moment, the weight of everything seemed to lift. "I miss that too," she admitted, her voice almost a whisper.

Imane couldn't help but notice the smile that had spread across Maya's face. It was a beautiful, genuine smile, one she hadn't seen in far too long.

"I've missed seeing that smile," Imane said softly, her heart swelling with emotion. "You have no idea how much it brightens everything around you."

Maya's cheeks flushed slightly at the compliment. "I probably have to get home before Rachel does."

Imane felt a pang of concern. "Why are you so scared of Rachel?" she asked abruptly.

Maya shook her head, denying it. "I'm not scared."

Imane leaned in closer, her voice gentle but firm. "I see right through you, Maya. But if you tell me to stay away forever, I will."

Maya paused, the weight of Imane's words sinking in. Instead of responding, she took a deep breath and said, "Thank you for this time we spent together. It really meant a lot."

With that, Maya stood up, brushing off her jeans. She turned to head home, leaving Imane with a mixture of hope and worry, knowing their conversation was far from over.