Terminal One

Breakup to Makeup

Later that night...

Fatima and Zac were done bathing the kids, placing them into bed without any hiccups...surprisingly.

They haven't spoken to each other all day, besides the occasional conversation, in fear of it turning into another argument that they didn't want. They were cordial, especially in front of the kids, knowing that they fed off their energy.

They also managed to shower together but still said nothing which felt completely awkward and shorter than usual.

Fatima gets to bed first as Zac comes in from having a moment.

Not saying a word, they glance at each other but still no words.

Getting into bed, Fatima turns off the light on her side, while Zac keeps his on to read his Bible and journal. Every now and again, he glances over at Fatima knowing she's not sleeping just by the way she's breathing.

Considering she does her prayer and journal time directly after story time with the kids, she's usually in bed sleeping by now but her mind is racing.

30 minutes later...

Zac puts his journal and Bible in the nightstand, then turns off his light. However he continues to sit in the dark with his back against the headboard thinking....

Taking a few deep breaths he hears a soft sniffle, "Mamas, talk to me." he voiced.

"You talk to me." Fatima uttered in tears getting up. She turns on her light, then sits on her knees.

"You always want me to talk to you. YOU talk to ME!" "But that's what I'm trying to do." "No, you're not." she trembled, wiping the tears from her eyes.

Zac sighs, giving his head a subtle shake. "Why, don't you want to have kids..." "Zac, I'm not saying I don't want them. I just don't want it right NOW." she reiterated. "We literally have two toddlers right now and a baby would take away from that."

He listens, "And if I'm being honest." Taking a breath. "Zac, I'm still dealing with a lot of trauma. We just started back having sex. And I want to take this time to enjoy us, the kids, YOU, myself, and heal." she ended.

Zac takes a breath, grazing his tongue across his front teeth. "Ok." "Zac, don't do that." "Do what?" he answered with a shrug. "you voiced how you felt, so it's over."

Fatima shakes her head. "So you don't have anything to say." "I do but what does it matter?" "What is THAT supposed to mean?" "Fatima, I almost DIED...." "You don't think I know that?" she asked rhetorically with a raised eyebrow.

"You don't understand." "Well, help me to understand Zac. Because you've been shutting me out for a while. We can't keep doing this." she voiced trembling.

He takes another breath. "What's wrong?" she asked, practically begging him to open up.

"It haunts me in my sleep." he voiced. "The explosion, being dead, then waking up alone not knowing what happened, then I come home..." he starts to tear up.

He threw his legs to the side of the bed, sitting there. Fatima waits a moment then crawls over to him.

She gently places her hand on his back, then snaking it around to his chest, leaning into him.

He breaks, "I can't shake it..." he expressed. "I'm on edge all the time. Little things trigger me..." Fatima nods listening, "Then I come home to find out you've been violated in the worst way. And the thought of losing you and losing myself....." he unwraps her arms from around him.

"Like I hear you and I get it. But tomorrow isn't promised," "Exactly. Which is why I want to enjoy every moment with you, NOW." Fatima reiterated, "Again. I don't know where I would be right if Dr. Jeff didn't come to my rescue. Then you come home and have to deal with my trauma on top of your own..."