No Ordinary Love

Chapter 4

****NOT EDITED****

The weeks flew by quickly. Everyday they went somewhere and explored, always accompanied by Roman as their chaperon. It annoyed Zayra, she couldn't stand his intense gaze it unnerved her, she felt the pull like the moon calling the sea and it ate at her.

She was quick at many things but emotions were very difficult for her. She went from one extreme to the next.  She excelled at everything she set her mind to. Right now she was trying to make Roman stop looking at her that way. She began to doubt herself recently.

She was failing at this.

She needed him to stop. She was rude, she teased him, she would escape from him making him search for her for hours. She was fucking with him and still he continued. This proved most difficult. She had to approach it through another angle. She already deduced that he wasn't responding to ill treatment.

If she tried the opposite, maybe he'd realized she wasn't that great. That she was nobody and he'd move on. This way Zayra wouldn't feel uncomfortable under his gaze and she'd be able to be around him comfortable with his family, or so she thought. She hoped her heart would then cease to thump erratic and feel flushed when he was close by.

They were on their way to Don Xavier's and Enrique's sister Yolanda's home. She had married Don Xavier's best friend Antonio. Their  daughter was turning 15 and they were having a big ball. He was also a business partner of the family business, Everyone was made to go, including Zayra and her mother. In the few weeks, Lucia began to glow again, she moved and spoke more, her body and soul healing.

Zayra was excited she had known Aida for years too, they had some sort of frenemy relationship. She saw everyone in high spirits and she embraced herself in it, smiling enjoying the moment.

******

The place was packed, they had gone all out with the celebration. Zayra looked around overwhelmed by all the people, the noises and smells. She was behind her crowd, trailing as she tried to breathe and not feel closed in. She began to panic, she hadn't had an anxiety attack in months.

Her left hand felt warmth comfort. Her eyes traveling to her hand then up to the person holding it. She gasped as she saw it was Roman, concern in his eyes.

"Are you okay" he said softly.

She shook her head.

He nodded, pulling her to his side. He gently guided her outside of the home to get air. She swallowed the night air. She took gulps of it, repeating the poem by William Ernest Henley this always helped.

Out of the night that covers me,
      Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
      For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
      I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
      My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
      Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
      Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
      How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
      I am the captain of my soul.

She felt Roman rubbing her back as he held her to him. Her breathing became normal and she suddenly realized they were embracing. She moved back from him, embarrassed.

"Thank you." She managed to say.

"You're feeling better?" His gaze serious.

"Yes." He still had his hands on her shoulders. "I owe you one."