The Choice

52) Aurora

I'm sitting with Omer in my office- his previously- when Joe knocks and barges in with Dionne at his heels.

"Dada's nowhere to be found."

"We looked everywhere and tried to track any of his traces, but really nothing." Dionne quips leaning against the wall thrusting her hands in her pockets.

I massage my temples, we've been trying to cover his tracks for days now, but he just appeared in our lives like the boogie man and poof, gone.

Joe takes the spot opposite from Omer in front of my desk, his frown is matching the one etched on my fiancé's face.

"he's just taunting us like always." Joe shrugs and Omer shakes his head.

"This time is different, he knows Aurora. He said he knows her father."

Joe bites the inside of his mouth, "that means nothing he just wants to drag her out to get more info about us, everybody in our community knows Aurora is a Mughrabi now."

"Also, don't forget about your proposal, Mughrabi. It's viral; the way you promoted her as the manager then you proposed."

I sip from my coffee and stand, their eyes follow me, "mm, I hate to leave this beautiful gathering, but I'm having a meeting in two and I should go."

Dionne scoffs opening the door for me, "typical."

I roll my eyes at her and hear Omer snort. I wink at him and leave.

"Omer, quick what flavor?" I speak through the phone. I hear water running, "depends on how you like it's taste, dove."

I suppress the urge to groan in the middle of the grocery store and push, "Omer, say which juice or I'll get Guava."

"No!" he gasps like the big baby he is, "not guava, get strawberries."

"m'kay, be there in five." I respond then decline.

I pay for the stuff I got and exit the store getting into my car and head home. I tap against the steering wheel to the rhythm of the music when something catches my eyes in the rearview mirror.

I don't know if it's normal or that I'm a bit paranoid recently.

I press a bit harder on the gas to get away from this road getting into another, but then I notice it. It's a car that's following me. A black sedan that doesn't show what's inside. I debate calling Omer, but decide to let this thought aside and take another turn, maybe our routs are just the same and the car won't follow me again this time.

My breath quickens when the car follows me again. Now, I start speeding through the streets with a stalker at my back. I grip the wheel harsher; my knuckles turn white in the process and try getting into another secluded street to get rid of him. I let a tiny breath of relief when I lose him driving into a wide street again. Then suddenly, my car tires scream when I press on the breaks because he just crossed my way stopping horizontally in front of me interrupting my way.

I'm fucked. My hands shake but I put the car on reverse and start backing away reaching for my phone when the door to the car opens and Omer's father descends it. Holding a gun.

"Come down, Aurora and talk to me. Let us have a civil conversation, honey." He says, face unreadable. Not angry and not pleasant as well.

He takes a few steps towards my car squinting trying to see me. I eye his gun and descend my car slowly.

I nod at the gun in his hand, "is that your way of being civil?" I drawl wearily and he gives a small smile before tucking the gun behind his back displaying his now empty hands in front him to offer peace.

"What do you want?" I snap.

"Just a few minutes of your time. To talk." He clarifies.

"I don't know you." I eye him.

He smirks. Ali.

His smirk now reminds me of the one Ali gives Elianna when they taunt each other.

"let's not lie to each other and waste our time introducing ourselves, Aurora."

I curl my lips in disgust, "get the fuck away and stop following me. One more move and I'll call the cops."

"I'm not here to harm you, Aurora. Get- get away from him. Don't marry him." His face softens and I feel my disgust towards him rise.

"Who are you to tell me what to and what not to do?"

"Aurora, please."

I bark a laugh, "ha! Look at you begging and acting like a good person when you taunted me with a gun! But you know what?!" I take a step forward, "you're just a pathetic person and the worst father I've ever encountered." I see a flash of something cross his eyes, is that hurt?

"You know nothing about me!" his voice rises, but I don't care. If he'll reveal his true skin then I'll reveal mine too.

"Oh, believe me I don't want to. Although I heard enough, you're a shame to the humans in general. Look at you showing your real self bit by bit."

"Fine, you won't hear me out then-

I interrupt him and I don't know what I'm doing challenging an armed man, but my partner taught me not to back away from a fight I have the right in. ever.

"What? Are you going to shoot me with your gun?!" I yell.

He shakes his head, "I can't, Aurora." His voice cracks and he doesn't cover it.

"Why?" I ask already done with this conversation.

"you'll know in the right time. I'll disappear from your life, but- but listen to me, girl."

His words take me aback, no not that easily will we get rid of him. He's a snake, we can't get tricked by a few sweet words knowing well enough that they'll be dripping with his venom.

I take a deep breath, "Get. The. Fuck. Out of our lives."

He eyes me, studies me like he's looking for something then nods. I jerk my chin towards his car and he gets inside without any other word and drives away.

I wait till I don't see his car anymore and get into mine letting out a long exhale pulling out of this driveway returning home with a small and maybe not a simple realization.

He doesn't look like Omer. Or Joe. But is a carbon of Ali.

And maybe someone else.