BURNED

Chapter Three

Halal returned home once it was past nine, she and Daria had gone to the mall from the coffee shop. The both of them had been so engrossed with browsing every store at the and making up for lost time that they'd lost track of time.

"I hope we can meet up again Halal, how about you come over to my house on Sunday. You can come with your husband if you like, I'd like you to meet my family" Daria had said right before they parted.

"You know that I'll clear my schedule for you, not that I'm busy these days anyway. I'd love to meet your family this sunday" Halal smiled. She didn't bother to add that she wouldn't be coming with her husband.

"Great, I'll call you soon. Good night Halal, it was wonderful seeing you again" Daria hugged her.

Halal grinned and patted her back. "Take care of yourself Dar" Halal said before pulling away.

"I will, thanks" Daria smiled. "And I'll forward your number to the repair guy, so you both can be in touch okay?" Halal said right before Daria walked away.

"Okay Hallie, thanks a lot" Daria said and waved again before walking into the awaiting car. They'd both phoned a car hire network but Halal's ride was yet to arrive. About ten minutes after Daria's cab left, hers arrived. She hopped into the car dreading what was awaiting her at home.

She expected Valentino to be out of the house or at least in bed but he was home and very much awake. In fact he'd opened the door for her before she could even turn the door knob.

"Good evening" she said and pushed past him into the house. She waited for him to rage and rant as she took off her sandals.

"Where have you been?" he asked quite calmly. Not quite what Halal had been expecting.

"I needed a breather" Halal responded not looking at him.

Valentino sighed before moving closer to her. "Halal about our conversation earlier..." he began but She cut him off instantly.

"Look I think we've established the fact that you don't care about me, you care more about children. The way you treat me Valentino, I don't understand how one could treat their partner that way" Halal said. She didn't want to talk much because anytime she poured out her feelings to him, he mocked her or accused her of trying to guilt him.

"I care about you Halal, you're my wife. If you were in my position, what would you do? It's been eight years Halal" Valentino said placing his palm gently on her shoulder.

She pulled away from his touch sharply as if he burned her "You forget something husband, we're in the same position. I got pregnant, in case you have forgotten. I carried those babies for nine months, nine, like any other woman. At the end of those months, a dead child was placed in my arms. How do you think I felt?" she asked him tears slipping out of her eyes.

"I never got to hear them cry, never got to see their eyes look up at me in wonder, have them suck at my breasts. How do you think I'm feeling, how do you think I feel every time I see children, baby clothes or even toys! Do you realize I've not stepped in to the nursery ever since the miscarriage? I can't go in there without thinking about what I've lost" Halal said shaking her head.

"And with everything I'm going through, you still throw it in my face that I can't give you children" Halal said glaring at him.

"I understand Halal, believe me. I'm frustrated too, when I see my friends with children, I'm frustrated too" Valentino pressed a palm to his forehead. He looked genuinely distressed.

"I want us to have children, I don't know what is wrong Halal. It's been how many years, why do our children die the minute they are born into the world?" Valentino asked thin air.