Hiraeth.Malik.

chapter 7

Arabella Roberts

Talking with Zayn yesterday made me realise a lot of things about him.

He was color blind but I knew that already. He lived with his best friend Louis who helped him pick out his clothes and organise his stuff if it had anything to do with color.

Zayn didn't know which color was which. He has never seen color before so it was quite a task explaining to him how beautiful his eyes looked under the sunlight, the rays hitting all the golden flakes and dark brown lines, highlighting the hazel in his orbs. Even though I doubt I ever will.

He was originally from Bradford, England. But came here for studying purposes. he had three sisters and no brothers.

His life was quite average but I knew there was more to him than what he was letting show. I know he was broken and bruised before. I know he had his heart shattered by someone who most likely didn't deserve it to begin with. I know he was strong enough to pretend like all was good. And most of all I know he is a beautiful person inside out. He has such a pure soul and I couldn't help but admire him for that. How could someone so broken be so strong and forgiving and kind. It was beyond me how he still smiled so brightly you almost couldn't see what was wrong. almost. Because i saw beyond that. And I still wanted to see more. But I was thankful he did because his smile was more beautiful than any other sight I've seen. It was the brightest sunrise and the calmest sunset. And maybe that's the only part of him that wasn't doomed since the beginning of time.

After walking back to my dorm that night, I kept thinking about Zayn. I could tell he had some heavy weight on his shoulders, and I wanted to carry that weight with him. For him. Because baggage isn't meant to be held on to.

I dozed off with the thought of Zayn smiling and his eyes shining brighter than ever.

Zayn Malik

Arabella. she was the second girl to ever like me for me. or at least that's what I think. she didn't run for the hills as soon as she knew I was color blind. She stayed. Most people back in high school would either not want to talk to me because who would want to be friends with the kid with a disability. And the others bullied me. Only Louis ever stuck around.

Arabella was different than any other girl I've ever met. she was clumsy and cute and sincere and herself. she didn't pretend to be someone she wasn't just for show or for popularity. I liked that.

I am starting to like her too much. Not sure if that's because she is who she is, or because she's the first person who actually gave me a chance, who believed I could be more than just the color blind kid. The first person after HER.

I didn't want to tell Louis about her because I knew he would be hard on her. Not because he's selfish; but because he's looking out for me. He knows how many people have hurt me in the past and he doesn't want that happening again. But Arabella is different. I know that. She can't be one of them. She believed in me. and after I met her I didn't really feel the need to see color anymore. She was all the color I needed. I wasn't planning on trusting anybody anytime soon but then she came along and she just destroyed all plans I had of shutting myself out from the world. I needed her by my side as a best friend. As a shoulder to lean on. As an anchor for when I drift away from home. And if she doesn't stay, then I'll be doomed till the end of time, really.