*Author's Note: A little overdue. I really had a hard time writing this. Get the tissues*
“How’s your mom holding up?”
“She’s just happy that he isn’t suffering anymore. We spread his ashes over at his favorite beach that he used to go to when he was a kid.”
“Well, how are you doing, babe?” Jessica was more concerned than ever regarding her husband’s well-being. She had countless dreams about that being the last time she heard his voice and it was killing her if it were true.
Please God. Let him stay with me longer.
“I went here with the heaviest heart. I wanted him to feel the pain that he caused our family. He split us apart by cheating on my mum. How could he even do that to us? My mum cried countless nights and I was always there being the man that he chose to not be. But when I saw him, he was still my dad. He was struggling and he had an even heavier heart than I did. The cancer was nothing compared to the guilt he felt. I just hated that he felt alone because of that. I needed to be there for him,” Jess could hear Zayn choking up on the phone.
“Do you forgive him, honey?”
“I did. On his last day, he told me that he needed me to take care of her. I know he meant mum and he told me he was sorry for every heart break that I caused him. When I told him that I loved him no matter what, he smiled. Jessica, I haven’t seen him smile since the incident happened. He doesn’t smile unless he really means it. It just made me happy that I could be the reason for his last smile.”
“Zayn Malik, I’m so proud of you.”
“What have you been up to?”
“Work, Landon, and waiting for my prince to return.”
“Have you been watching the news?” Malik knew she wasn’t as happy as she tried to express.
“Every second of every day.” She wasn't Jessica without worrying about her Zayn.
“Love, don’t be worried. Just pray and everything happens for a reason.”
Malik was referring to the Pakistani revolution that he was tossed into by the bouts of his father’s death. He came in a time when the people wanted to be heard and they were doing whatever they could to have their voices listened to. It was their time. They were armed and there were martyrs at every end of the country; sacrificing their lives for a cause that meant everything to them. Zayn was able to enter the country with just a warning due to his birth right of culture. He didn’t want to personally inform Jessica on the riot that the Al Qaeda quelled. They were going after America for killing random citizens and involving themselves in situations that the Pakistanis thought they didn’t need any part in. With their move to New York and Zayn flying privately back, how could he not be a target? The thought killed every piece of Jessica.
“Please don’t say that.” The tears were forming. “Think positive. You’ll be back home in no time.”
“Yeah, babe. Positive. I’m about to board the plane. Tell Landon I’ll be back soon. I love you more than anything, Jessica.”
“Impossible, Malik.”
***
2:43
Landon Malik was released from school and on his way home. The kids got to get out of school early on account of it being Memorial Day and the mourning of their troops and lost ones.
2:47
Landon stopped at the local corner store to get an apple juice on his way home with his friend.
