From Aliya to Hafiz

Forty-three.

Hafiz.

I was woken up by the feel of sunlight on my face, bright and warm. The first sensation I felt was the furious pounding in my head, then how badly my body ached.

Then I realised I was lying on the cold hard floor of my balcony. Groggily, I stumbled to my feet as I wondered how I got home yesterday. When I looked out at the pool, I jolted in shock.

"Fuck!"

I left Aliya in the police station.

The realisation made a shiver of horror run down my spine and just as I turned around, I caught sight of someone curled up in the pool deck. And the colour of the clothes told me it was Aliya.

Shocked, I ran out of my room and took the stairs two at a time. When I tried to open the glass door that led to the backyard, it didn't budge no matter how hard I pushed it. It wasn't until I pressed the hidden button on the glass and my thumbprint was scanned that I heard a click.

Did the system malfunction? Who the fuck turned on the emergency lockdown mode?

I shook that thought off because it wasn't important right now, I had to get to Aliya. Ignoring the pain in my head, I ran across the yard to the pool. She was curled up on the floor and her yellow dress was crumpled and soiled with mud.

From where the dress rode up, I saw the little cuts and scrapes on her arms and calf. Her right sleeve was also tinted a bit red.

She was in terrible shape

Heart wrenching painfully, I knelt by her and gently touched her face as I wondered how the fuck she got here. I knew I left her in the police station so how did she get back?

"Lia?" I called softly.

She stirred and her eyes fell open. They were red and she took a moment to orient herself before her eyes met mine.

"How did you get here?" I tried to help her up but she flinched away from me and tumbled unsteadily to her feet.

"Careful," I stood up and held her when she stumbled, her hands going to grip her head.

"Let go of me!" She glared at me with such a venomous look I took a step back in shock. But then I recalled dragging her to the station and cuffing her then throwing her into a cell.

My heart squeezed painfully and I looked away. "I-I..." I trailed. "I didn't...you shouldn't have pushed..."

My eyes looked back at hers clouded with anger and hatred. This was what I wanted, she should hate me enough for the both of us so that when I felt weak, she wouldn't allow me to lean on her. I should be glad.

But at that moment, I found it hard to breathe. "Lia I—"

I didn't get to complete my statement before she raised her hand and slapped me across the face.

Hard.

Shocked, I felt my discomfort fade away to anger. "What do you think—"

She cut me off with another slap that sent my head snapping to the side this time around. "You piece of shit. How dare you get me drunk!? Do you know what you've done!? I'm going to kill you!"

She raised her hand to hit me again but I caught her wrist. "What are you talking about!?"

She used her other hand to slap me and that made something in me snap. I held her wrists and pulled her against my chest as I spoke through clenched teeth. "You're messing with—"

This time around, she head-butted me.

I had never seen her this angry.

"Aliya can you just stop!? I don't want to hurt you!" I squeezed her in my arms. Even with the anger soaking my chest, I was melting at her proximity.