The Nearest Heaven ✔️

Part 12 - Fears

Part 12 – Fears

Faraaz was trying to be as strong as he could, but he found it exceedingly difficult. Each night he heard Fadiyah cry herself to sleep, each night he laid in his bed staring blankly at the white ceiling as he tried not to give in to his thoughts. How could he help her when he couldn't even help himself? He wasn't a man. He wasn't man enough for her. He shouldn't have married her. He should have had Waqqaar marry her rather. Perhaps, if Waqqaar married her, she wouldn't have been dealing with the darkness that was depression.

He wanted to be enough for her. He wanted to be the man she saw him as. Faraaz just didn't know how to get there. He wanted to be her protector. He would just have to find a way to get there – even if he died.

"Jacob," he sighed in relief as he heard Jacob step up on the last stair. "Please help me to my bedroom."

Jacob nodded at him and got the wheel chair. Slowly, Jacob pulled on foot off the chaise and then the other, before he helped Faraaz into an upright position. Thereafter, Jacob bent as he wrapped a strong arm around Faraaz's back and inched him into the wheel chair. "Ouch!" Faraaz exclaimed as Jacob threw Faraaz's arm around his shoulder.

Shocked, big brown eyes looked at Jacob. "That's a good sign!" Jacob encouraged happily. "It means that you are going to recover sooner than we all thought!"

Faraaz nodded weakly, not trusting Jacob's enthusiasm. The last time he got happy, he lost all sensation. "I want to talk about your project," he mumbled.

Jacob's eyebrows furrowed in confusion as he took a split second to think what about Faraaz said. Then, as if a light switched on, he understood. "Ah! Yes," he said eagerly as he rolled Faraaz into his room. Jacob shut the door and then helped Faraaz onto the bed before finally settling down on the chair and speaking. "There's not much on him. There is his primary school, high school and university that he went to. His parents are rich. His mother is some high-end fashion designer. His father is some prominent businessman. His family are all very educated, all from prestigious universities. I'm sure that there are some nutters there, but I couldn't find any, as yet. I'm doing more research into his high school and university years. I'm also searching more into his behaviour. If he threatened Fadiyah, there is no saying how many times he could have done it before. So, somewhere there must be some details."

Faraaz listened attentively. "Do you want me to get a PI to help? Maybe it will speed up our investigation?" he asked kindly.

Jacob shrugged. "I don't know, whatever you think is best. Maybe the PI will be best. He can travel and gather information. I just can't leave you. It will raise suspicion with Fadiyah."

Faraaz sighed. "Yeah. Hire a PI, and deal with him. But don't stop your investigation. Tell him to do as much digging as he can. I want everything on him – from the day he was born."

"Okay, Faraaz." Jacob stood up, ready to leave, but he hesitated.

"Has...has Fadiyah said anything?" Faraaz choked out.

Jacob looked down, his forehead creased as he thought about what to say, how to phrase his words. He swayed on the balls of his feet and bit the corner of his lip. "No," he said quietly, afraid to push Faraaz even further into regression. "She still hasn't spoken to anyone."

Faraaz hung his head forlornly. "Oh, okay."

Jacob looked sad as he left Faraaz, but there was nothing that he could do. He had tried for months to make Faraaz happier, or content even, but nothing had worked, then suddenly Fadiyah walked in and Faraaz wanted to change on his own.