Beautiful Things (A Muslim Love Story)

Chapter Six: Forgiveness

"Merry Christmas," I smiled at my grandmother, hugging her. She laughed and kissed my forehead. God I love my dad's mom, even though she isn't Muslim. She respects Islam and her and my grandfather were both okay with my father converting.

Right now I'm over at their house for Christmas. It's not like we're celebrating it or anything, it's just respect towards my dad's family.

My grandparents give Emma and I presents, we both get French manicure sets. Then I chat with my cousin, Esther. She's sixteen, two years younger than me.

"So," she says. "Are you enjoying Darius? Is it hard? What are you studying?"

"I love Darius!" I exclaim. "It's a little hard. I'm studying political science."

"To become a lawyer, right?" She asks. I nod.

Christmas with my dad's family is great. We are still strictly Muslim, though.

All of a sudden Adam comes to my mind.

I think of how Alma's says we should be together. As if! Adam broke me. I'm broken.

......................

Adam's POV

"Hey, Salam," I greet my older brother, Omar. We do a bro hug.

"You look tense," he frowns. "What's up?"

Actually, I don't know what's up. Ever since I bumped into Asiyah, I haven't felt very well. I don't have feelings for her or anything. And I'm pretty sure she doesn't like me either after what I did to her in Junior High. God I'm such a jerk. Why would I ever hurt someone like that? And a girl too? What's wrong with me?

I shook my head. "I just need some time to think, that's all." I left the room. My little sister, Anisa ran up to me. She's only six. She's so cute, she's my life. I gave hear a bear hug and kissed her on the forehead.

I glanced outside of the window, to see white snow falling on the window sill. I need to ask Asiyah for forgiveness, I thought. I needed to, if is the last thing I would ever do. After the holidays, Inshaallah.

Please God, let her forgive me.

.....................

After the winter holidays, I spotted Asiyah at Darius.

"Hey, Asiyah! Wait up!" I called.

She turned around and looked at me. She looked beautiful.

"A-Adam?" She quivered. God I'm such an idiot! Now she's scared of me!

I gave her a heartwarming smile. "Asiyah, do you remember me?"

"Um, yes. From Junior High, Islamic Pillars School?"

I blew a sigh of relief. "Yes! That's me. Listen, Asiyah, I remember you, and I don't think we had a very good past."

She looked down to the ground. "No, we haven't." We were walking near the entrance of the university.

She looked really depressed.

"Asiyah, will you forgive me for everything I've done to hurt you?" My words came out quick, and it sounded like I had asked her to marry me.

She glanced at me. All of a sudden tears started to stream out of her beautiful brown eyes. I felt so bad for her.

"Adam, you hurt me so bad! Almost everyday I cried in my bedroom, because of you!" She wiped her tears and stared at the ground.

This is all my fault........

"Asiyah," I began. "I am so, so sorry. I regret doing that. I hate to remember hurting you. Please forgive me. Please."

She looked up at me. "Adam I forgive you."

There was a deafening silence.

"R-Really?" I stuttered.

"Yes. But please, don't ever hurt me again."

"Never!"

She smiled at me. "It's good to see you, Adam Hassan."

I smiled back. "And it's good to see you too, Asiyah Sloane."