Unread Messages

Nadim sat at the kitchen table, watching the steam rise from his untouched coffee. 7:13 AM. He’d been up since five. Not because of work — because of a feeling. The same feeling that had been crawling over his skin for weeks. Something in her had changed. Yasmin’s laughter had a delay now. Her hugs felt like rehearsals. And she had started sleeping with her phone face down. It was a small thing. But small things become evidence in the court of suspicion. She used to rest her head on his chest and whisper, “Stay five more minutes.” Now she left early and said, “I’ll grab coffee on the way.” Last week, she forgot her perfume on the sink — something she never did. Two nights ago, she left her earrings in her coat pocket instead of their shared tray. Nothing explosive. Just enough to make him feel like a stranger in his own story. This morning, she left in a rush — again. She didn’t even kiss him on the cheek. Just grabbed her keys and vanished. But she left something behind. Her phone. Nadim stared at it glowing on the counter. 3 new messages from “Ali 🚗” He’d never seen that emoji before. She hated emojis — said they made conversations feel fake. But this one? Next to a name he didn’t recognize? He tapped the screen. No password. Just curiosity. Just five seconds. Ali 🚗: > Last night was crazy... you're a goddess wallah. Can’t stop thinking about that scar on your back 😈 Same time tonight? His thumb froze above the reply button. His pulse buzzed in his teeth. Again. And again. He read them three times, hoping the words might rearrange themselves into something innocent. They didn’t. Then he heard keys in the door. --- Yasmin walked in, holding a bag of croissants like nothing had shattered. “Forgot something,” she said cheerfully, but the moment she saw her phone in his hand — her smile dropped. Nadim didn’t move. Didn’t blink. He held the phone like it was a weapon. She paused in the doorway. “I can explain,” she whispered. “I hope you do,” he said quietly. “Because tonight… I’ll be waiting. Just like Ali.” ---