Three

It was a cold night, the absence of stars in the sky predicted that it might rain later on. The full reflection of the moon was mirrored in the pool by which he stood, as the cold breed blew calmly he couldn't help but remember

'one would wish on a star strewn sky, to hear the voice of his beloved say the words he'd craved for what seems like forever, but here we are, out in the cold, in the harsh winds, underneath the blank sky, I hear you say those words and this moment surpasses every one of my fantasies, every one of my dreams, right now my emotions fly so high, they reach heights only heaven knows'

He slid his hands into the pockets of the thick hoodie he had on, the chilly breeze blew once more causing the water in the pool to sway ever so softly, disrupting the perfect reflection of the moon.

The hurt clutched him as he recalled the happenings if that night.

"Well someone's being poetic tonight". She had said.

"Only for you my dear, on for you". He had said to her.

Though the stars were absent her smile seemed to lighten the sky, and the twinkle in her eyes.....the stars could only wish, they could never.

The winds blew harshly but it didn't seem to bother them at all, the light skirts of her dress swayed with it every now and then.

"I could stand here with you forever". She said quietly as though she feared the winds were eavesdropping on them.

"Forever?". He chuckled softly. "Forever merely marks the beginning for us, my sweet".

She smiled and nodded her agreement.

"All the same, I wouldn't choose to spend forever with anyone except you". She said .

He could see the honesty in her eyes, oh those eyes, when had he fallen so hopelessly in love?

"Then marry me". He said , his eyes boring into hers, he stretched out his hand for her taking. "Be Mine".

She said nothing, just stared back into his eyes.

"Not the grandest proposal, certainly not as romantic as we may have fantasize,  but this will do just fine, I can always get you a ring some other time". He said.

She laughed and slid her hand into his, her tears had broken free now and they were had to restrain so she let them fall, she brushed some away with her free hand.

"You owe me a ring".

"Raysham".

Her soft voice brought him out of his reverie.

Slowly he turned around to face her.

"It’s cold out here". He said. "You shouldn't have come out".

"It was about to rain and you didn't come inside, I got worried, I thought I'd come get you". She said quietly.

"Is that so?, you care that much?". He said bluntly.

She flinched. His words cut through her like a heated knife would through butter, the hurt showed clearly on her face; she turned to leave at once.

Almost immediately guilt set in and he held her hand to stop her.

"Lateefah wait". He said quietly.

She didn't turn around, she didn't want him to see the tears that were now streaming down her cheeks.

"I'm sorry". He apologized.

She said nothing.

"It'll start raining soon, go inside, I'll come join you". He told her.

She nodded.

He let go of her wrist and her hand fell to her side, and with the warmth of his touch still lingering on her skin, she walked away quickly.

The first drop of rain fell, he looked up to the dark sky, he watched as dark clouds cloaked the moon, the only source of light in the sky now being the occasional flashes of lightning.

"Bring her back to me". He whispered a quiet prayer into the night before he began heading into the house.

***

She splashed some water on her face once more before she turned off the tap, the sound of flowing water ceased and the restroom hushed once more, except for her heavy breaths sounding in the room in was quite quiet.

She carefully wiped off the water from her face with a handkerchief, she stared at her reflection in the mirror; how sick and frail she looked, her eyes were red and moist as a result of five minutes of retching, heaving, and throwing up.

With a trembling hand she reapplied her make-up, satisfied with how she had his how she truly looked behind the make-up she turned around and walked out of the adjoining restroom into her office.

"You missed your appointment again. Your doctor called earlier".

Hytham's sudden voice caught her off guard and she gasped, her hand flew to rest on her rapidly heaving bosom to calm herself, she could feel her heart beating erratically against her chest.  She scanned the office quickly and on found Hytham sitting on one of the leather couches, she let out a heavy breath and walked to another couch, she let herself fall onto it heavily.

"You baby-sitting me now?". She said rolling her eyes.

She had wanted to be alone but with him here that was impossible.

"Don't try to change the topic Sayya". He said.  He abandoned his seat and joined her on hers.

"I was busy, Hytham, I wouldn't have misses it if you had been around to help with some work". She said. "And don't come bursting out of nowhere, you almost gave me a bloody heart attack".

He grimaced.

"Sayya don't start with me right now, what is wrong with you? You'd rather stay here and burn out the last of your energy than go to the hospital?". He asked almost angrily.

"Yes". Was all she said.

"Dammit, you're gonna get yourself killed you idiot, you stupid girl". He bit out.

"No, you're gonna kill me with your nagging". She retorted. "Just let me be".

She stood up and headed for her desk but he held her hand and pulled her back so that she fell back to the couch.

She groaned painfully and her hand flew up to grip her temple in hopes that the throbbing pain would lessen.

"Just look at yourself, Sayya, look how weak you are". He said. "And yet you insist on working".

She said nothing, just leaned into the couch fully, her heavy eyelids drooped and her breathing began to steady after a while.

"Listen to me Sayya, you may not value your life but I do". He said.

"How nice of you". She slurred, sarcasm thick in her tone.

He ignored that.

"You're more than just a cousin to me, you're a sister for heaven's sake, one which I can't sit back and watch get herself killed". He said. "I won't let you throw your life away for that bastard".

Her eyes fluttered open at once.

"Leave him out of this, Hytham, I do not want to talk about any of this right now". She said. "I have work to do".

He chuckled bitterly.

"Enough Sayya, I'm here now, I'll get the work done, but please let me help you". He said squeezing her hand lightly. "I'll have the driver take you to the hospital, I'll carry on with the work".

She shook her head slowly for fear that the piercing pain would hit hardly.

"I just want to go home, Hytham". She said.

She didn’t want to go to the hospital, she didn’t want to have to deal with her doctor, she didn’t want to have to deal with Hytham at the moment.

"Look I get it, I hit a nerve, I shouldn't have dragged him into this, but please, go to the hospital". He said.

"I'm fine". She lied.

"Fool yourself all you want, lie to yourself as you please, but you can't fool me". He said. "Tell me Sayya, do you really not want to leave anymore?".

She chuckled humorlessly.

"I'm as good as dead, Hytham, if you consider this living then you're delusional". She said.

"All this, you're doing all this to yourself because of him. Sayya what the hell's wrong with you? Just forget about him, end that torture which you call a marriage, end it all, there are sensible men out there, they'll be stumbling over one another to marry you". He said.

She inclined her head to face him.

"I don't want them okay? I don't want any other 'sensible man', I want Raysham". She said quietly, her voice trembled as sobs choked her.

"Why? If he truly cared for you he never would have let you go, why do you insist on torturing yourself? Why prolong what could have been done and over with by now?". He said.

"Because I love him, I can't live without him, you wouldn't understand ‘cause you're a rake". She said and A  pitiful smile curved her lips. "He didn't let me go because he didn't Care, he let me go because it was what I wanted".

Her tears broke free and she sniffled quietly.

Hytham's scowl softened.

"Then why did you leave, why didn't you stay with him?". He said.

She let out a shaky breath.

"You know me, I never did learn to share what was mine, I was always the ‘all or nothing’ kinda girl.  I'd rather leave him than have to share him with her". She said.

He shook his head and sighed before he pulled out his handkerchief and reached out, gently he wiped her tears of with caution so he didn't smudge her eyeliners.

"He deserves to be happy, all Raysham ever did was love me, it was my decision to leave and I'll stand by it". She said.

"It’s alright". Hytham said, he rubbed his temple wearily. "Come on, I'll take you to the hospital myself, you're burning up".

He stood up and stretched out his hand to help her up, he was glad she didn't argue, she just slid her hand into his and let him pull her up.

"Hytham". She said as they walked to her desk.

"Hm?".

"I always dreamt of being like Aunt Zarah to your kids, you seem to be letting my dreams down, why aren't you married yet?". She said trying to lighten the mood.

Hytham smiled subtly as he gathered her things into her purse.

"I bet the little ones will love you as you did Aunt Zarah". He said. "I'll get married soon, just haven't found the right one yet".

She sighed.

"Well I hope you find her soon". She said and smiled a little. Cause I'm running outta time.