Survivors Of The Lost

25

Stop trying to make love beautiful

Allow it to just exist

In its raw form

Some days it will shine, somedays it will barely glow

Most days it will be quiet

Only seen when looked for

A reflection of the people it exists within

Imperfect people

Who rise and fall

How can we expect something that

Lives,

Grows,

And dies.

Within us.

To behave differently that we do?

Ayah stared at her words. She was happy. Content with what this new life offered to her. It was after fajr she was writing her diary. It felt all the more real. Yesterday night had been amazing. They dozed off in each others arm, enjoying the serenity it offered.

It was around 7 in the morning when the alarm went off. Reminding her that it was time for shayan to wake up. She closed her diary and placed it securely in the bedside drawer.

She shook shayan's shoulder. But he wouldnt wake up. A tiny part of her told her that not to wake up shayan for work for she wanted to spend more time with him. A heavy sleeper he was she doubted if he would even wake up if there was 10 alarms in the room.

She smiled at her thoughts and looked at his face. She took a moment to admire his face. He looked more good when sleeping. No lines of tension on his forehead or no tight lip smiles.

Sleep allowed him to be him. A faint smile on his lips. She breathed in his scent. Being near him made her feel safe. Thinking that he need more rest she scooted closer to him and stroked his head. They slept very late last night. An hour before fajr.

After fajr shayan offered ayah to give her company but she refused. For he was already in lack of sleep. And now when It was time to wake him up, she thought that he was the owner of his own publication and a day of holiday wouldnt be bad.

But for a day she was with him she knew how he took his work seriously. And she didnt want to mess up with him by fussing over it.

If he worked too much, he made sure to spend time with ayah even if that meant staying awake until fajr, he didnt mind as long as his wife was content with him. She didnt know he was awake and enjoying her gentle hands stroking his head and playing with his hair.

Both were enjoying the little moment when a knock sounded on the door. She sighed and wrapped her shawl around herself and opened the door. She found her mother-in-law standing there. She felt the bitter memories come back to her but she forced herself to smile.

"Assalamu Alaikum aunty."

"Oh call me mummy. Is shayan awake?" She waved her hands. Ayah felt hurt that she didnt reply to salam but nonetheless she answered.

"No mummy."

"Okay. Wake him up and come down. I need your help." She said and turning around she left. She didnt want to go. She wanted to stay like this. With shayan. It felt so good But since along with being a wife she was a daughter-in-law hence she had to go.

Convincing her heart to go and help her mother-in-law she walked to bed and shook shayan's shoulder again. This time he opened his eyes. He listened to her step mother speaking and he didn't like the way she ordered around. He wanted to tell that to ayah that she didnt need to listen to her.