Hope

chapter 9-Her

While there was sun shining on top of her this morning, now the sky had turned into an orange blanket.

Something wasn't quite right. Her heart prephesed.

She eyed the cottage on her left, looking through the open door, trying to make out his shadow that's been moving around inside.

Something stiff in his movements.

Something strange in her judgment.

She looked at her white dress that she was still wearing.

Its torn edges reminded her of yesterday and what happened to her. Where she came from. No.

She chastised herself. She wont think about that anymore. She had left it all behind. She would never go back.

The force of it all turned her sight blurry and she blinked couple of times to stop what was expected in a matter of seconds.

She won't cry.

In her own episode of despair, she didn't see him coming out of cottage and standing in front of her until he cleared his throat bringing her out of her reverie.

"How are you feeling now?"

"I'm feeling good." She mumbled with slight confusion.

"Its time for us to depart." He declared taking away her breath in a full sweep.

She sprang up to her feet closing two feet distance between them in bewilderment.

Had it been any other occasion,  she wouldn't have dared this much.

"D-depart?" She stuttered making him break the eye contact and look away.

"But where am I supposed to go?" She cried out.

" You need to go back. Our time together has ended." There was restraint in his voice that sounded unfamiliar to her which she didn't like.

"Go back? But I-" she stumbled back but quickly gaining her posture back," I cant." She whispered with frightened eyes.

He sighed and advanced towards her placing his hands on her shoulders locking his gaze with hers and for a moment she knew she was in good hands,"you have to. You simply cant stay here." His demeanor was of a wise elder advising a child.

The moisture of her eyes now broke without restraint, and she saw a flicker of softness in his eyes but not long enough to let her hope that she could stay.

"But last night, I thought-" even after summoning all her courage, she couldn't complete her sentence.

He understood nonetheless.

"I'm hadi. Who directs towards right path. I'm simply a guide not a destination." He explained tightening his hold on her shoulders as if to stay in control. As if it wasn't easy for him.

The idea comforted her for some unknown reason.

"But you could be my destination!" She urged now desperately.

What was the purpose of holding back now? Tears streaming down her face were evident enough to decline all her lies if she made any.

"For that purpose, you first need to walk on the path."

She looked down. He couldn't look at her pained expressions either.

"Would you be my destination after this journey you are sending me on?" She finally plucked the courage to mutter but still looking at her fingers that she was fumbling nervously but also quite anxiously.

There was this fear she never felt before.

Not that she never felt fear but this was of different kind.

Not for bad. But for good.

He took her hands in his, engulfing them protectively and squeezed them.

"I will." He promised through his promising eyes much to her surprise.

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