Broken Wings

The Last Leaf

CHAPTER NINETEEN

The phone call had left Sharon shocked and confused. The words replayed itself in her head again and again. Stephie was blabbering something on the background about the whole situation but nothing made sense to her. She couldn't concentrate on anything else. She was doing all this because she thought it would help her in solving the puzzle Amaira had become in her life, but with the received information it seemed like it all had jumbled up in a graver puzzle.  

"Sharon, they have sent the e-mail," Stephie said and the words hit her hard, she felt terrified. She was a call away from the truth. One call and all her miseries would be put to rest. All the nights that she has spent alone even after having her husband in the same roof could finally have a valid reason. All the months when she kept her child deprived of the words of his father could finally be dealt with the truth. It all felt so close.

"Sharon! Where are you?" The voice entered her ears like a syringe and numbed her working like an anesthesia.

The guilt suddenly started crawling inside her chest making her wince in shame. They had decided to respect each other, trust each other but what was she doing, sneaking on his secrets when all he had asked her was a bit of a time. She felt herself getting choked, as soon as she saw Stephie out of the room she banged the door close and let her tears loose. It all felt disgusting to her, She hated the situations, she hated Swayam, she hated herself but nothing made her feel better.

"Sharon, what's wrong? Why have you closed the door?" Swayam's concerned voice filled her with remorse, more so because she knew she was going to go ahead with whatever was in her mind and that this breakdown was momentary. She knew she wouldn't back out now. She wiped the tears off her face and shut his voice off with pillows on ears. She was guilty enough but she wasn't going to let it come in her way.

                                                                  ************

It was after half an hour, that she opened the door to find Swayam sitting on couch in silence. There was no trace of Stephie which meant she was gone for today.

"Swayam" Sharon called him softly. He got up at once at her sight and moved towards her.

"What's wrong?" Fear had become so common on his face in these few months.

"Nothing. I just fell asleep I think!" 

"Sharon!" He said in a tired voice and hugged her from side.

Swayam was acting a bit weird, or so did Sharon think.

He was holding her hand and was talking about anything and everything tonight. Things she wanted to hear, things she had no idea about, things which were important, things which were insignificant to her. He talked about everything except them. It felt like he wanted to talk about something, he wanted to vent something but was unable to do so.

She wanted to ask, but stayed silent, just like he wanted to tell her something but was staying quiet.

                                                                         ***********

Unusually, Swayam stayed at home next day making things difficult for Sharon.

"Swayam, I want to go out alone!"