AFTER DARK

Chapter 7

Fears come and go with time but my fear, I thought; if not completely gone, had somewhat subsided.

I would be lying if I said I didn't care what Daria was thinking after we had left the building ... because I did. I constantly wondered if she was going to judge me for the brief interaction I had with the guy in her office or if she'd blame me for being a nuisance everywhere I went. Daria, nevertheless, remained silent.

On our way back to the hotel, neither of us spoke to each other. There was an air of awkwardness in the spaces between us, yet neither of us tried to address the issue.

More than what Daria thought of me, I now wondered what he might be thinking about me? The gentleman, Rehan. Surely he must be thinking I was a freak or a weirdo of some kind. Definitely, nothing good.

To my surprise, Daria didn't bring up the topic, even after we reached the hotel. Here I was -- constantly obsessing about how these two people might've run the thoughts of the encounter in their heads, and here she was, least bothered about it.

The night came, and she finally broke the long spell of silence. I was resting (more like "acting"), when she came and sat by my bedside.

"What are you so afraid of?" She asked considerately.

I turned on the lamp, my eyes still groggy from night-light.

"We need to talk about your fears Sarah ... it can't go on like this forever," she continued, firmly pressing her gaze onto mine. "Every time something happens ... you lose your wits completely."
"That's why I have you in my life ... you keep me sane," I said, giggling sheepishly.
"No Sarah, it doesn't work like that. Some day, you'll have to face your fears and move on with your life."
"Are you tired of me?"
"No," she replied, almost instantly; so fast that one could suspect she was getting defensive. "...and hey! Don't try to pin this on me."
"Are you tired of me, Daria?" I asked again, this time with more deliberation.
"No ... it's not that..." she said with a slight bit of tiredness in her voice.
"Then what is it?"
"It's just that ... I don't want you to make the same mistakes again."
"What -- you mean fall for another guy and then get hurt...again?"
"...I just feel...you need to stand on your own feet first...before even going down that road."
"Don't worry Daria ... I have no such intentions," I told her with a flat face. "And anyway ... who would ever want to be with a messed up divorcee like me?"
"Just be careful with yourself, okay?"

I nodded, then closed my eyes again. In the depths of my mind though, all I could see was the graceful smile of that gentleman I crossed paths with earlier today: the guy named Rehan.

Careful Sarah! I whispered to myself. Careful ...