Second hand hearts

Chapter 11 (Overthinking Out Loud)

"Someone as in a guy?"
Hafsah drawled the question slipping out of her mouth carefully. The surpise was evident in her tone.

"Yes but..."

"Haaa i knew it,you'll find someone that fits you like a second skin over there. Oh my God girly,spill tell me more!".

Amal only rolled her eyes mentally thanking God that it wasn't a video call,otherwise she wouldn't be able to contain Hafsah's squeals and crazy gestures.

"It's not what you think Hafsah. Calm your tits young lady ".

"Nah i am not keeping calm until i hear it all Amal. Who is it? "

With a triumphant sigh,Amal proceeded to tell her all about Bassam right from the day at the library.

"The other time i called him a woman answered and now i can't reach him Hafsah. What if he's married and he's messing with me or what if something bad has happened to him?".

Amal finished her sentence in a worried tone. She knew she wasn't supposed to be worried alot like this but she wasn't willing to risk it like this, she has learned a great deal from her past and the last thing she wanted to be dealing with right now was being the other woman to a man. On the other hand,having lost important people in her life, she gets too worried and sometimes too protective about the few people in her life.

"Amal,take a deep breath. I can assure you that you're overthinking".

She took a deep breath like Hafsah said and ran her free hand over her face. Magically,she felt a little better and the thumping in her heart reduced. Hafsah continued to reassure her that everything will be fine and Bassam might be busy with work that's why she hasn't heard from him and his line wasn't reachable.

"I have a feeling that this man isn't just in your life to mess with you Amal. Look at the age gap between you two,and from what i extract he's a responsible person. Ain't he?"

"He is" Amal mumbled quietly.

"You see,don't worry too much. I am sure there's a reason behind his prolonged silence. And if he doesn't call you again,I'll say his lost for he has lost a good woman right from his grip".

Amal felt lighter as their conversation carried on,and after having their usual friends' banter,the two ladies both hung up.

************************
"You've been exposed too much to the cold night air lately. You come home late from work Bassam,look where it had landed you now."

"I have been managing pretty well. Haven't had an attack like this in a long time,i actually ran out of bronchodilator hence the attack worsened " Bassam confessed between coughs and some wheezing.

"I was afraid we're going to lose you,don't do this to me again please " she blurted,her voice thick with emotion. She held his hand  brushing her other hand across his hair as she sat on the slim hospital bed he was laying in.

"Not that fast mother,where's Zara?"

"She has been worried sick. I had to force her to stay home today,i don't want the little girl witnessing bad memories like this".

He nodded in reply taking his breath short and rapid accompanied by wheezing.

"Take it slow and easy my love." She stated rubbing his chest back and forth to sooth the congestion in his chest,an action she has mastered over the years right from his childhood when he had frequent attacks.

Bassam had been in the emergency room due to an asthma attack he had suffered. He had been coping with the small symptoms for days and didn't quite take them serious since he hasn't had an attack in almost two years now,just minor ailments that he could handle himself. That fateful day of the chronic attack,he had felt his chest tightening and quite congested in the morning on his way to work. But he still managed and finish off the day hoping it will just pass away. But as the cold night air hit him on his way back home from office that same day,the coughing began and congestion increased. The driver, knowing his master's condition had suggested they stop by the hospital but he declined immidiately not wanting to raise alarm over something he could handle.

Minutes later he arrived home and made his way upstairs to his room taking rapid shallow breaths,the congestion increased and breathing became more difficult. Cursing lightly, he remembered that he didn't have any bronchodilator in stock since he barely had a serious attack lately. Everything went hazy and black,that was the last thing he saw before waking up in an emergency room with an oxygen mask attached to his face and IV wires on his arms. His parents had told him that after dropping him off,the driver immidiately drove to their house and informed them of his condition and that he was afraid it would metamorphose into a full blown attack. On arriving there,they found him passed out on the floor which looked like he fell from the stair case.

The door creaked open and the doctor came in with a nurse behind him.

"Evening Mrs Hussain" the doctor greeted cheerfully. An elderly man in his fifties,he had been Bassam's doctor ever since he was a child hence he was young hence, the family knows him very well.

"Good everning Doctor,i was just about to get you. His breathing is still not steady". She said with a worried expression marring her face.

"I'm better ma,stop worrying" ,Bassam assured her exchanging familiar smiles with the doctor.

"I've prescribed some medication for you and the dose starts today. The x-ray results have shown drastic inflammation of your lungs,that aided the severe attack and constriction in your chest. Luckily, you were brought to the hospital as soon as the attack begun otherwise it would have been more critical because your system almost ran out of oxygen".

The nurse popped the pills and gave him,his mother passed him a glass of water and he swallowed. He was actually feeling his breathing improving little by little and he made a mental note to himself to always keep bronchodilator in stock. His mind went to Zara and he couldn't bear the thought of his little girl losing her father because of his negligence to his own health. With a sigh,he plopped back to the bed hoping to get some sleep. The last few days at the hospital have been physically and mentally tiring for him. He hopes to get out as soon as possible.

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

Amal had been trying to reach Bassam for days now to the extent that she has given up already. A part of her feels scared that what if all wasn't well with him. It wasn't normal for a person to just turn off their phone for several days,well except if they're into some shady activities or they're some seriel killer at worse and she highly doubts Bassam was any of those. She snorted at her own thoughts and kicked stuffed her hand inside the pocket of her jacket. She was on her way home from class and she found the cold air that hits her body  coupled with the walk  quite refreshing.

For a moment she had wished she knew that woman Bassam described as his sister or atleast had a means of contact with the woman. She was sick with worry about Bassam's silence. She wondered to herself why it was so important for her that she hears from him or see him and her mind gave her the answer that she had been dreading all the time and running away from.

"You simply like being around him or hearing from him"

She winced at the admittance when it clicked to her that she didn't know what she was getting herself into. And highly doubted that Bassam feels the same about her.

"If  he doesn't then why did he kept coming back?".

"But if he does why hadn't he cared to contact you either?".

The inner voices inside her head kept talking and she couldn't conjure up the reason behind why a stranger come into her life and make her feel that way. She heard her phone's ring from inside her bag and for the first time,she was glad a phone call was about to literally  save her from herself. But the caller Id made her heartbeat grow rapid in just a second which resulted from surprise, happiness or relief or maybe a combination of all,she couldn't put a finger on which. It was Bassam and with trembling fingers she answered the call and placed the phone braced between her air and her shoulder as she zipped her bag and draped it on her shoulder. Her face fell immidiately on hearing his strained voice,it didn't sound like the usual energetic and clear voice of his.

"Bassam what's wrong with you?".

The question slipped from her mouth in a reflex silently hoping that whatever it is,she wasn't about to lose him too just like she has lost her parents and almost everything that she ever cared for.

*********************
My internet still sucks guys,hence the late update. I sincerely apologise.

Do you think Amal is overthinking or worst overreacting?
Comment and let me know your exact thoughts please.
Remember to share, and vote please. Thank you ❤