Love on Trial

Chapter 13: Devastation

Maxine’s POV

I watched A'ishah walk out of the house with Miguel, my fists still trembling inside my sweater. The second he touched her, something dark flared inside me. It took everything not to charge at him, not to scream at him to let her go. My heart felt like it was being squeezed painfully, the same way he was gripping her hand.

A’ishah looked back at me one last time before she disappeared. And that look... that look of confusion, mixed with guilt, twisted something in me. I couldn’t read it, and that made it worse. Was she leaving because she wanted to? Or because she had to?

I hated this. I hated that Miguel could just show up, and she’d go with him. No explanation. No real goodbye. It felt like I was watching something slip out of my hands, and I didn’t even know how to stop it.

I took a deep breath, but it didn't help. The lump in my throat refused to go away, and my chest tightened even more. The sound of my family chatting in the background felt like static in my ears, drowned out by the rush of my own thoughts. Everything felt wrong. Ms. Den, Miguel, the whole day.

I shook my head as I started to walk away, my steps heavy. I needed to get away from everyone. I didn’t want to be here anymore, not without her. Not after everything that had just happened.

She was supposed to be here, with me.

I stormed up to my room and slammed the door behind me, leaning my back against it. My breath came in ragged gasps as I tried to make sense of what just happened. Miguel showing up like that felt like a slap in the face. It felt like a reminder that A'ishah’s world wasn’t just mine to protect.

The worst part was, I couldn’t do anything about it.

I slid down to the floor, pulling my knees to my chest. I thought today would be different. I thought spending Christmas with her would finally give me the chance to show her how much she meant to me. But now… it just felt like the universe was laughing in my face.

I let out a shaky breath, staring at the empty space in front of me. I could still feel the warmth of her hand in mine from earlier, the way she had looked at me so softly, promising she wasn’t going anywhere. But now she’s gone. Just like that.

The jealousy gnawed at me, twisting my thoughts into something ugly. A part of me wanted to storm over to wherever Miguel was taking her, to drag her back, to make him see that she belonged here, with me. But I knew that wasn’t fair. A'ishah wasn’t mine to control.

Still, that didn’t stop the ache.

I rested my head on my knees, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill. Why did it have to be so complicated? Why did she have to leave just when things were starting to make sense between us? My mind kept replaying the moment she smiled at me, the way her hand felt against my cheek, and the softness in her eyes when she looked at me.

But now, all I could think about was her leaving with him.

I clenched my fists tighter, hating how powerless I felt. Hating how much I cared. Hating how much it hurts.

Just as I was lost in my thoughts, there was a soft knock on my door. “Maxine?” It was my sister’s voice. “Can I come in?”

I didn’t answer at first, but after a moment, I forced myself to stand up and open the door. My sister stepped in, her eyes full of understanding as she closed the door behind her.

“You okay?” She asked softly, sitting down beside me on the floor.

I shrugged, not trusting myself to speak. The weight of everything was still too much.