In the city of Elmira-where cobbled streets met sleek storefronts and cafés buzzed with student chatter-Dr. Joshua Bennett lived a life of quiet order. At just twenty-five, freshly graduated from medical school, he had returned to Almira University...
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The rain pelted down on the dimly lit streets of Almira, casting an eerie glow on the wet pavement. Aina walked briskly, her footsteps echoing in the quiet night. A chill ran down her spine as she sensed a presence behind her. Glancing back, she caught sight of a hooded figure, their face obscured by shadows.
"No... not again," Aina whispered, her voice trembling.
Panic gripped her chest as a memory flashed through her mind - a similar scene from her past, filled with fear and uncertainty. Her heart began to race, pounding against her ribcage. Without thinking, Aina broke into a run, her wet hair whipping against her face.
The sound of heavy footsteps behind her confirmed her fears - the hooded figure was in pursuit.
"Leave me alone!" she cried out, her voice lost in the sound of rain.
Aina's eyes widened in terror, her breath coming in short, ragged gasps. Tears began to blur her vision, mixing with the raindrops on her cheeks.
As she ran, fragmented memories assaulted her - the feeling of helplessness, the sound of her own sobs echoing in her ears. The past and present seemed to merge, intensifying her fear.
"Please, no... not again," she muttered between gasps.
A/N: Listen to the music above
Suddenly, through the curtain of rain, she saw a familiar silhouette. Joshua stood there, his own clothes soaked through, concern etched on his face.
"Aina?" he called out, his voice laced with worry.
Without hesitation, Aina flung herself into his arms, burying her face in his chest.
"Joshua!" she sobbed, clinging to him desperately.
Joshua's arms encircled her protectively, his body tense as he scanned the area for any threat.
"What happened? Are you okay?" he asked urgently, his voice barely audible over the rain.
Aina clung to him, her body shaking with a mixture of relief and lingering fear. In that moment, despite the complications of their relationship, Joshua's presence was a beacon of safety in the storm of her emotions.
"Someone... someone was chasing me," she managed to say between sobs.
As they stood there in the pouring rain, Aina's racing heart began to slow. She looked up at Joshua, her eyes filled with a mix of gratitude and confusion.
"It felt so familiar... like before," she whispered.
Joshua's brow furrowed with concern. "You're safe now," he assured her, his voice gentle. "I'm here."
The hooded figure was gone, leaving behind only questions and the lingering echo of a past not fully remembered. Aina's grip on Joshua tightened as she whispered, "Don't let go... please."
Joshua nodded, his eyes scanning the empty street. "I won't," he promised, his voice firm despite the uncertainty in his eyes
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Joshua's POV
I held Aina tightly in my arms, her body trembling against mine as we knelt by the water's edge. Her ragged breaths came in short gasps, each one sending a shiver through her frame. I could feel her heart racing, pounding so hard I feared it might burst from her chest.
"Shh, it's okay. You're safe now," I murmured, stroking her hair gently. But my words seemed to fall on deaf ears as Aina continued to shake uncontrollably.
She pulled back slightly, her tear-streaked face illuminated by the dim streetlights. Her eyes, wide with fear and anguish, met mine. "I... I don't belong here Joshua. I don't. This is not my city," she choked out between sobs.
My heart clenched at the raw pain in her voice. I cupped her face gently, trying to anchor her. "What do you mean, Aina? Of course you belong here."
But she shook her head violently, her words tumbling out in a frantic rush. "There are people trying to harm me. No matter how much I try to live as the Aina in Almira, I can't. They never let me do that."
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she clutched at my shirt, her knuckles white with the force of her grip. "I am not Aina, Joshua. I'm not the one who you met here. I'm not."
Her body wracked with sobs as she collapsed against me, burying her face in my chest. I held her tightly, feeling utterly helpless in the face of her distress. My shirt grew damp with her tears, but I didn't care. All that mattered was the broken woman in my arms.
"Aina, listen to me," I said softly but firmly, tilting her chin up so she would meet my gaze. Her eyes, red-rimmed and glistening with tears, looked so lost it made my chest ache. "I don't care who you were before or what name you had. You're Aina to me. The woman I've come to... care for deeply."
I swallowed hard, fighting back my own emotions. "Whatever is happening, whatever you're afraid of, we'll face it together. Do you understand?"
Aina's lower lip trembled as she nodded almost imperceptibly. I pulled her close again, cradling her head against my chest. As we sat there by the water, her sobs gradually subsiding into quiet whimpers, I made a silent vow. No matter what secrets her past held, no matter who might be after her, I would protect her.
Because in that moment, with Aina fragile and vulnerable in my arms, I realized a fundamental truth - she had become my world, and I would do anything to keep her safe.
We remained by the water's edge, Aina curled in my arms, her body still trembling. The gentle lapping of the water provided a stark contrast to the turmoil I could feel radiating from her. I held her tightly, desperately wishing I could shield her from whatever was causing her such distress.
Aina's voice, muffled against my chest, broke the silence. "You don't understand the seriousness. You don't." She pulled back slightly, her tear-stained face looking up at me with a mix of anguish and resignation. "I am not Aina from Almira, not from Turkey. I am someone from Finland."
Her words hit me like a physical blow, but I refused to loosen my hold on her. Aina's hands pressed against my chest, a weak attempt to push away. "Let me go Joshua. You deserve better."
I shook my head, my throat tight with emotion. "No, Aina. I'm not letting you go." I cupped her face gently, forcing her to meet my eyes. "I don't care where you're from. Finland, Turkey, or the moon - it doesn't matter to me. You're Aina, the woman I've come to care for deeply. That's all that matters."
Her lower lip trembled, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks. I could see the conflict in her eyes - the desire to run warring with the longing to stay. I pulled her close again, resting my chin on top of her head.
"Whatever you're running from, whatever secrets you're carrying - we'll face them together," I murmured into her hair. "You don't have to do this alone anymore."
As we sat there, the water lapping at our feet, I silently vowed to stand by her side, no matter what challenges lay ahead. Aina might think I deserved better, but to me, there was no one better than her.
