The Moment She Saw Him

Part 37

Sehar

When I opened my eyes, all I could see was white—white walls, white sheets, and a bright white light above me. It took me a moment to realize where I was. I looked around, confused, and saw that I was in a hospital room. The smell of medicine and disinfectant filled the air.My head felt heavy, and my body was weak. I tried to sit up, but my arms felt like they had no strength. Before I could figure out what had happened, the door opened, and Ziya walked in. Her eyes widened when she saw me awake.
"Sehar! You're awake!" she said, rushing to my side. She sat down and gently held my hand. "You scared us so much. You fainted during the ceremony. We were all so worried."
I blinked, trying to remember. The last thing I could recall was crying outside, feeling like my heart was breaking. Everything after that was a blur.
"Ziya..." I said softly, my throat dry. "What happened?"
"You fainted," she explained, her voice shaky. "We found you lying outside. Raza and Hamza brought you here." She paused, looking at me carefully. "Are you okay, Sehar? What happened back there?"
I didn't answer right away. I didn't know what to say. How could I explain the storm of emotions inside me? How could I tell her that seeing Hamza again had brought back everything I'd tried so hard to forget?

Before I could reply, a nurse walked into the room and started checking my blood pressure. She frowned slightly as she noted the reading.
"It's too low," she said, looking at the chart. "It should be around 110/68 mmHg, but hers is only 70/40 mmHg. We'll need to start her on an IV drip immediately."
She adjusted the bed and quickly set up the drip. The cold fluid began to flow into my arm, and I felt even more drained. Before I could process what was happening, I heard familiar voices outside the room.The door opened, and my mom walked in, followed by my dad, brother, and sister. The worry on their faces was clear, and it broke my heart to see them like that. My mom rushed to my side, gently placing her hand on my forehead.
"Sehar, what happened? Are you okay?" she asked, her voice trembling.
I managed a weak smile. "I'm fine, Mom. Just a little tired," I said, trying to reassure her, though I knew I didn't sound convincing.
My dad stood at the foot of the bed, his arms crossed, trying to stay calm. "Tired? You fainted, Sehar. That's not 'just tired.' You need to take care of yourself," he said firmly, but there was more concern than anger in his voice.
My little sister sat down beside me, her big eyes full of worry. "You scared us," she whispered, holding my hand tightly. My brother stood by the door, looking like he didn't know what to say. He wasn't great with words, but I could see the concern in his eyes.
"I'm sorry," I said softly, looking at all of them. "I didn't mean to worry you. I just... I've been a little overwhelmed lately."
My mom gently brushed my hair back. "You don't have to handle everything on your own, Sehar. We're here for you," she said, her voice kind but firm.
The room fell silent for a moment, the air heavy with emotion. I felt a lump in my throat. They were right—I wasn't okay, and maybe it was time to stop pretending that I was.
Just then, the nurse walked back in. "She'll need to rest for a few hours while the drip works. Let her relax," she said, smiling gently at my family.
My mom nodded and tucked the blanket around me. "We'll stay right here, Sehar," she said. And for the first time in a long time, I felt a little less alone.

Hamza

I heard Ziya's voice through the slightly open door. "Sehar is awake. She's okay," she said. Hearing those words, a wave of relief washed over me. My chest felt lighter, and I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.I took a step toward the door, ready to go in and see her. But then I froze. My feet refused to move forward. I couldn't do this to her again. She was lying in that hospital bed because of me—because of the pain I had caused, even if unintentionally.What right did I have to walk in there and act like I cared when I had been a part of the reason she was hurting? I clenched my fists, torn between the overwhelming need to see her and the guilt that kept holding me back.I stepped back, leaning against the wall outside the room. I could hear the soft murmurs of her family inside, their voices full of concern and love. She had people who cared about her, people who would take care of her. Maybe it was better if I stayed away. Maybe I had already caused enough damage.
As I stood there, Raza walked up to me. He must have seen the conflict on my face because he gave me a knowing look.
 "You're not going in?" he asked softly.
I shook my head. "I don't think I should. She doesn't need me there."
Raza sighed. "Hamza, she's not here because of you. Life isn't that simple. We all have struggles, and sometimes they build up until we can't take it anymore. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't be there for her."
I looked away. "I've already hurt her enough, Raza. Being near me won't help her—it'll just make things worse."
"You don't know that," he said firmly. "But I do know one thing—you still care about her. And no matter how much you try to stay away, you're hurting just as much as she is."
I didn't respond, but his words stayed with me. I stood there, torn between my guilt and the part of me that wanted nothing more than to be by her side. For now, all I could do was hope that she would be okay and find the strength to heal, even if it meant healing without me.