In the city of Elmira, where fate weaved intricate tales of love, two men found their hearts entangled in the enigma of a hijabi girl named Aina.
Felix Caldwell, a brave and dedicated military man, had encountered Aina years ago in the midst of chao...
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Joshua's POV
A/N: Play the music
I entered Aina's room, my heart pounding in my chest. The sight of her lying there, so still and pale, sent a jolt of pain through me. I approached her bed, my feet feeling like lead with each step.
Gently, I took her hand in mine, marveling at how small and fragile it felt. "Oh, Aina," I whispered, my voice catching in my throat. The emotions I'd been holding back threatened to overwhelm me. I leaned forward, resting my forehead against our joined hands, trying to draw strength from the contact.
That's when I heard it - a faint murmur, so quiet I almost missed it.
"I love you too," Aina's voice, barely audible, reached my ears, "but I know you'll ruin yourself for me, Joshua."
My head snapped up, my eyes wide with shock. For a moment, the world seemed to stop spinning. She loved me. Aina loved me too. A surge of joy, so intense it was almost painful, flooded through me. My heart soared, and I felt lightheaded with the rush of emotion.
But as quickly as it came, the elation was tempered by the second part of her unconscious confession. "You'll ruin yourself for me." The words hit me like a physical blow, the pain of them mixing with the lingering euphoria of her first statement.
I stared at Aina's face, searching for any sign that she might wake up, that I could talk to her about this. But she remained still, lost in whatever dreams or memories held her captive.
A lump formed in my throat as I processed the complexity of her feelings - love mingled with fear, affection tangled with a desire to protect me from herself. It was so quintessentially Aina that it made my heart ache with tenderness.
Tears welled up in my eyes, a mix of joy at her reciprocated feelings and sorrow at the barriers she'd erected between us. I wanted to shake her awake, to tell her that nothing could ruin me more than losing her, that facing any challenge with her by my side would be worth it.
But I couldn't. Not now, not like this.
Instead, I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart and swirling emotions. I had to be strong for her. I had to show her that her fears were unfounded, that together we could face whatever lay ahead.
With renewed determination, I squeezed her hand gently. "Don't love me back, Aina," I said softly, the words painful but necessary. "But let me help you."
As I continued to speak, pouring out my heart to her unconscious form, I felt a strange mix of hope and resignation. The knowledge that she loved me too would have to be enough for now. What mattered most was helping her, standing by her side as she unraveled the mystery of her past.
