In the Heart of Darkness

Chapter 18: Shattered Silence

Zara couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed between them. Ever since Ibrahim's mother and daughter had left, he had grown distant. It wasn't just the physical distance of moving her back to the guest room—it was the silence, the walls he had built around himself.

Each morning, he would leave early for work, often without saying goodbye, and by the time he returned, it was late, and he was already retreating into his study or bedroom. There were no longer any quiet glances across the breakfast table, no shared moments in the garden, and the connection she had begun to cherish felt like it had been severed.

Zara tried to brush it off, convincing herself that it was all in her head, that perhaps he was just busy with work. But the hollow feeling in her chest refused to leave.

---

The morning started like any other. Zara woke up early, her mind preoccupied with the start of her second semester at university. As she moved about the kitchen, helping Nancy prepare breakfast, she couldn't help but wonder where Ibrahim was. He hadn't come down yet, and she didn't hear the usual sounds of him moving about the house.

Nancy caught Zara's pensive look as she chopped vegetables. "Is everything alright, Madam?"

Zara winced at the title. "I thought I told you not to call me that, Nancy."

Nancy smiled apologetically. "Old habits, sorry. But you've been quiet. Something on your mind?"

Zara sighed, leaning against the counter. "It's just... Ibrahim. He's been so distant lately. Ever since his mother and Sofia left, it's like he's avoiding me."

Nancy glanced around, making sure no one else was within earshot before speaking. "I've noticed too. But, you know, maybe he's just dealing with something. He's a complicated man."Zara nodded, though the explanation felt too simple. "Maybe."

---

At university, Zara found some distraction. The familiar buzz of students filling the hallways, the rustling of papers, and the chatter of the students gave her a brief reprieve from the storm brewing inside her. 

As she entered the cafeteria, she scanned the room for her friend Ayesha, who waved her over with a bright smile, oblivious to Zara's inner turmoil. Zara walked over to the table, sitting down across from her.

"Asalaam o Alikum, Zara!" Ayesha greeted, her smile wide and infectious. "How's your day going?"

Zara forced a smile, trying to match Ayesha's energy. "Walikum Asalaam... it's fine, just a bit overwhelming with the start of the new semester."

Ayesha nodded sympathetically. "Yeah, I get that. But hey, we'll survive! I ordered your favorite coffee."

"Thanks," Zara murmured, taking a sip of the coffee. She stared into her cup, her thoughts drifting to Ibrahim once again. His face, his distant behavior, the silence between them—it all swirled in her mind. She hadn't realized how much she had grown to care about him, how much his presence, even when quiet, had become a part of her world.

Ayesha, noticing Zara's distraction, raised an eyebrow. "Zara, hellooo? You seem lost. What are you thinking about?"

Zara blinked, coming back to the present. "Oh, nothing. Just... stuff."

Ayesha gave her a playful look. "Stuff? You're clearly thinking about something—or someone." She winked.

Zara blushed slightly, not sure how to respond. "No, really, it's nothing."

Ayesha leaned forward, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "Okay, let's switch it up. Random question—what type of man do you prefer?"

Zara nearly choked on her coffee, startled by the unexpected question. "What? I... I don't know. I don't really have a preference."