In The Grip of Trust

Chapter 15: A Fragile Morning

Ayesha stirred in her sleep, slowly waking up to the soft light filtering through the curtains. Her head felt heavy, and her body ached as she tried to shift her position. She blinked slowly, her vision adjusting to the room.

That’s when she noticed Amir, sitting upright on the bed beside her, his back leaning against the headboard. His eyes were closed, his head slightly tilted, and he was clutching her hand tightly in his. The sight of him sleeping there, looking so tired yet holding on to her so protectively, made her chest tighten with emotions she wasn’t ready to face.

For a moment, she lay still, feeling the warmth of his hand against hers. The memories of yesterday came flooding back—the argument, the insults from her past crush, and her collapse in the bathroom. Shame and pain washed over her, and she closed her eyes tightly, willing herself not to cry again.

As she tried to shift out of bed, her slight movement woke Amir. His eyes fluttered open, and the moment he saw her awake, a rush of concern filled his face.

“Ayesha…” His voice was soft, full of worry. He straightened immediately, releasing her hand and leaning closer to check on her. “How are you feeling? Does anything hurt?”

Ayesha, her voice weak, managed a small, “I’m fine… just tired.”

But Amir didn’t seem convinced. He pressed a gentle hand to her forehead, checking for any signs of fever. “You don’t have to pretend, Ayesha. You passed out yesterday, and I was really worried. You need to rest.”

She nodded slightly, not having the energy to argue. Amir let out a small sigh of relief, glad she wasn’t resisting the care she needed.

“I’ll bring you some food and your medication. Just stay here,” Amir said as he stood up, giving her a reassuring look before leaving the room.

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As Ayesha lay back on the bed, she took a deep breath, trying to process everything. She felt emotionally drained, like all the weight she’d been carrying for years was finally pressing down on her. She had tried to be strong, to pretend that she didn’t care about anything, but after yesterday, it was getting harder to keep the facade up.

Soon, Amir returned with a tray of food and her medication. He set it on the bedside table and carefully helped her sit up, arranging the pillows behind her for support.

“You need to eat something,” he said softly, handing her the glass of water and the pills. Ayesha hesitated but took them without argument, knowing she didn’t have the strength to refuse.

As she nibbled on a piece of toast, the door opened, and Amna Aunty entered the room with the children—Zain, Bilal, and Amina—all following closely behind. The moment Zain saw Ayesha awake, his face lit up, but there was a hint of sadness in his eyes.

“Ayesha Mamma!” Zain called softly, rushing to her side with his little siblings in tow. Bilal and Amina, still young and babbling in their toddler way, reached for her, their faces full of concern.

Amna Aunty gave Ayesha a warm smile. “They’ve been worried about you, Beta. All morning, they’ve been asking when they could see you.”

Zain climbed onto the bed and gently touched Ayesha’s arm, his eyes wide and filled with childlike worry. “Ayesha Mamma, are you okay now? We were scared.”

Ayesha’s heart clenched at his words. She hadn’t expected such concern from the children, especially Zain, who had already started calling her “Mamma” with such ease. She managed a small, tired smile and nodded.

“I’m okay, Zain. I’m just a little tired,” she said softly, reaching out to pat his head.

Bilal and Amina, though still too young to fully express their feelings, reached for her hands, their tiny fingers wrapping around hers. They looked up at her with wide eyes, as if sensing something was wrong.

“Don’t worry,” Amir chimed in, kneeling beside Zain and placing a hand on his son’s shoulder. “Ayesha Mamma will be fine. She just needs to rest, okay?”

Zain nodded, though the concern didn’t completely leave his face. He looked at Ayesha again and whispered, “Promise?”

Ayesha felt a lump in her throat but managed to nod. “I promise.”

The twins, seeing their brother calm down, let out small giggles and babbled something unintelligible, making everyone in the room smile.

Amna Aunty shook her head fondly. “You have a house full of love, Ayesha Beta. They’ll keep you going.” Her words carried warmth, but also an unspoken hope that Ayesha would let that love in.

Ayesha looked at the children, their innocent faces, and then at Amir, who was watching her with a mix of concern and something else she couldn’t quite place. Her chest felt tight, overwhelmed by the kindness and affection she felt from them all. She didn’t deserve this, not after everything she’d been through, not after the walls she had built to protect herself from more pain.

But for now, she decided to let herself be cared for, even if she didn’t believe she was worthy of it.