A veil of hearts

•unveiled truths•

31
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Joshua's POV

I gently wiped away Aina's tears with my thumb, my heart aching at the pain etched across her face. As I did so, I suddenly realized something that had escaped my notice in the chaos of the moment - Aina wasn't wearing her hijab. Her dark hair fell in damp strands around her face, obscuring her features in a way I'd never seen before.

Carefully, I tucked the errant strands behind her ears, revealing her vulnerable expression. The simple act felt strangely intimate, as if I was seeing a side of Aina that had been hidden until now.

"How did you end up like this, Aina?" I asked softly, my fingers lingering near her ear. Then, remembering her usual attire, I added, "Are you comfortable without your hijab?"

Aina's eyes, still glistening with tears, met mine. There was a flicker of something in them - recognition, perhaps, or a memory surfacing.

"I was like this before," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the lapping water. "I saw myself in Finland. Studying medicine there."

Her words sent a jolt through me. This was tangible proof of her earlier claim, a piece of her hidden past emerging.

"You remember studying medicine in Finland?" I prompted gently, trying to keep my voice steady despite the whirlwind of questions in my mind.

Aina nodded slowly, her brow furrowed in concentration. "It's... it's not clear. But I remember lecture halls, and textbooks about anatomy. And... not wearing a hijab."

I cupped her face in my hands, anchoring her in the present moment. "Aina, this is important. Whatever you remember, whatever you've been through - it doesn't change how I feel about you. But if you're in danger, I need to know so I can protect you."

She leaned into my touch, closing her eyes briefly. When she opened them again, there was a mix of fear and determination in her gaze.

"I don't know everything, Joshua," she said, her voice stronger now. "But I think... I think I was someone else before I came to Almira. Someone without a hijab, studying to be a doctor in Finland. And I think that person... that version of me... is in danger."

As I held Aina close, her hair tickling my chin in a way I wasn't used to, I realized we were standing on the precipice of something much bigger than I had imagined. The woman in my arms was both familiar and a stranger, and I was suddenly aware that loving her might be far more complicated - and dangerous - than I had ever anticipated.

But as I looked down at her, vulnerable and trusting despite her fear, I knew one thing with absolute certainty: whatever came next, whatever secrets her past held, I would stand by her side. Because Aina - whether from Almira, Finland, or anywhere else - had become my world, and I would do anything to keep her safe.

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After our emotional encounter by the water, I knew I couldn't leave Aina alone. Her revelation about her past in Finland and the fear in her eyes convinced me she needed a safe haven, if only for the night. I gently guided her to my apartment, my arm protectively around her shoulders.

Once inside, I immediately set about making her comfortable. "You're soaked through," I said softly. "Let me get you something dry to wear."

I rummaged through my dresser, pulling out a soft, oversized sweater and a pair of sweatpants. "Here," I offered, holding them out to her. "They might be a bit big, but they're warm and dry."

Aina took the clothes with a grateful nod, her fingers brushing mine. "The bathroom's just down the hall," I added. "Take your time."

While she changed, I busied myself in the kitchen, preparing a steaming cup of chamomile tea. When Aina emerged, she looked small and vulnerable in my oversized clothes, but the sight of her in them stirred something protective in me.

I handed her the mug of tea. "This should help warm you up," I said gently.

As Aina sipped the tea, I noticed her eyelids growing heavy. The emotional toll of the night was clearly catching up with her. Without a word, I retrieved a soft blanket from the back of the couch.

Carefully, I draped the blanket over her, tucking it around her shoulders. Aina's eyes fluttered open at the gesture, a mix of gratitude and something deeper shining in them.

"You should rest," I murmured, smoothing a stray lock of hair from her forehead. "You're safe here, I promise."

Aina nodded sleepily, already drifting off. I stayed by her side, watching over her as she fell into a deep slumber. Even in sleep, her brow was furrowed with worry.

The soft glow of the bedside lamp cast gentle shadows across Aina's sleeping form as I carefully lifted her into my arms. She felt impossibly light, almost fragile, as if the weight of her secrets had somehow made her ethereal. Her head lolled against my chest, and I found myself holding my breath, afraid to disturb this rare moment of peace.

With slow, measured steps, I carried her towards my bedroom. The hallway had never seemed so long, each step a deliberate act of care. Aina's warmth seeped through the borrowed clothes she wore - my clothes - and I was acutely aware of how right it felt to hold her like this.

As I lowered her onto the bed, the mattress dipping slightly under her weight, Aina stirred. Her hand, small and delicate, found mine in her sleep-addled state and held on. The simple gesture sent a jolt through my system, a mix of surprise and tender affection that caught me off guard.

I gently tried to disentangle my hand, but her grip tightened, as if even in sleep she was afraid to let go. A lump formed in my throat as I realized how much trust she was placing in me, how vulnerable she allowed herself to be in this moment.

"It's okay, Aina," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "You're safe here."

Her fingers relaxed slightly, but didn't fully release. I found myself perched on the edge of the bed, unwilling to break this tenuous connection. The steady rise and fall of her chest, the peaceful expression that had finally settled on her face - it all seemed so precious, so fragile.

Before I could second-guess myself, I leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. It was a gesture of protection, of promise, of something deeper that I wasn't quite ready to name.

"Sleep well," I murmured against her skin, finally managing to slip my hand from hers.

As I stood to leave, to make my way to the couch that would be my bed for the night, I paused at the doorway. Looking back at Aina, curled up in my bed, wearing my clothes, I felt a fierce surge of protectiveness. Whatever storms were coming, whatever ghosts from her past threatened to resurface, I would be there. To shelter her, to fight for her, to love her if she'd let me.

With one last look at her sleeping form, I quietly pulled the door closed, leaving it open just a crack. As I settled onto the couch, my mind swirling with the events of the night, I found comfort in knowing that for now, at least, Aina was safe. And as long as I had breath in my body, I would do everything in my power to keep her that way.

AUTHOR's NOTE

Tell me how you all felt.

Do not be a silent reader. I truly want to know your opinions.