𝑭𝒂𝒕𝒆

Chapter 17

In the evening, Zahra sat at the kitchen table sorting through bills, she felt a frustration at her. Hisham had texted earlier to say he'd be late again, caught up in meetings with a potential new client. Zahra understood the importance of his work, but she still feels that something was missing—that they were slowly drifting into separate worlds once more.

When Hisham finally walked through the door that night, Zahra already waited for him in front of door.

"You're late again," she said, not looking up from the pile of papers in front of her.

Hisham sighed, knowing the conversation that was about to follow.

"I know, Zahra. I'm sorry. The meeting ran longer than expected."

Zahra pushed the bills aside.

"It's not just tonight, Hisham. It's every night. You're never home anymore. I know your business is important, but I feel like everything else is falling on me.."

"I'm doing this for us, Zahra.. I thought we were on the same page about this."

"We are, but it feels like in building your business, we're losing what we have. You're always working, and I'm always here trying to keep things together. It's like we're living two different lives."

"What do you want me to do, Zahra? Do you want me to stop growing the business? To just walk away from everything we've worked for?"

"That's not what I'm saying. I just want to feel like we're still in this together. That we're not growing apart while your business grows."

Hisham sat down beside her. He hadn't realized how much his focus on work had been affecting Zahra.

"You're right, Zahra. I've been so focused on the business that I haven't been paying attention to how it's affecting us. But I don't know how to balance it all, Zahra.. the business is growing and I can't afford to slow down now."

"We don't have to have all the answers right now, but we need to figure it out together. Maybe that means setting boundaries with work, or finding ways to share the load at home. I just don't want us to lose sight of what really matters."

Zahra held his hand.

"Me too, Zahra. I don't want to lose us either. I'll do better. I promise.."

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In the evening, after a particularly long day.. Hisham surprised Zahra by coming home early. He walked into the kitchen with a bouquet of flowers in hand.

"For you, gorgeous.."

Zahra raised her eyebrows.

"What's the occasion?"

"No occasion. Just wanted to remind you how much you mean to me.."

Zahra took the flowers, realizing that even though they were still figuring things out, the effort Hisham was making meant everything.