11.
844 Words
Thick silence stretched in the room. As I shifted my gaze around, I found that they all had their mouths hanging as they stared at Anisa.
"I can give her more acupuncture and have her rest for a day, before..."
"I am perfectly fine and I know what I am saying!" Anisa screamed, pulling her hand away from Imani's. "You think I'm not okay? Is that it? Well, sorry to burst your bubbles! I am perfectly fine. This is a book! A damn book!"
"Anisa..."
"Don't touch me, please." She moved back again, almost crashing into Imani. "I just want to go home," she cried. "I have a sick mother who relies on me. She can't do anything and I was hoping I could help her." her body jerked more from the intensity of her outburst.
I wanted to embrace her in my arms and have her cry for as much as she wanted. I wanted to assure her that we would find a way to set things right, but I didn't want to scare her even more.
"I have to go back. You have to take me back. You promised," she continued, moving closer to me now. "Please, take me back home. I don't belong here. I don't want to stay."
"Anisa…," I called softly, carefully taking both of her hands in mine as I climbed into the bed completely, tucking my legs underneath as I sat on them. "Stop crying. We'll find a way to do this."
"I...I..." She hiccuped, leaning into my touch. "I am sorry I can't do this. But I don't belong here. You understand that, don't you?" She asked, staring at me with her beautiful hazel eyes.
I was melting in her gaze. And yet, still feel all the emotions she was feeling. The confusion, the sadness and the fear.
"I do," I murmured, pushing away the hair on her face. "I understand you perfectly, Anisa," I added, cupping her right cheek in my hand.
She closed her eyes, leaning into my touch. The thudding in my heart doubled, and for a moment, I thought it would rip out of my chest.
The pull was stronger today. I had no idea why, but I was struggling to hold myself back. I was struggling to stop myself from pinning on the bed and inhaling her scent. I...
"Will you take me back? Do you believe me now? This is a book, right?"
"Yes, Arwa. I believe you," I whispered as I leaned closer. I pulled her into me, encircling both of my arms around her small waist. She stiffened, almost as though she was still scared. But after a moment, she eased, and surprisingly enough, wrapped her hands around me and buried her face in the crook of my neck.
My breath hitched, causing the tightness in my chest to increase. I wanted to beam with a smile, pick her up and twirl her around the room while listening to the soft sound of her giggles.
I tightened my arms around her, as though afraid she'd be vanishing at any moment. I buried my face in her hair, inhaling the scent I still couldn't make out. She smelled different. Different from anything I had ever smelled.
My thoughts drifted back to her insistence of this being a book, which, ironically, made no sense whatsoever. But I couldn't and won't tell her she wasn't right. It was obvious that she was scared and paranoid, and perhaps, the accident she had was affecting her reality.
From all indications, she might have no clear memories of her past. And I'll be with her through it all while we figure this out.
"You remind me of tacos and burritos. Do you have them here?" The sound of her voice caused tingles to run on my skin. I love listening to her talk.
I love everything about my mate.
"You smell of them so much that I find myself craving for them." She added.
I didn't know what tacos or burritos were, but I liked that she loved my scent. That's a good sign, right?
But then, she suddenly began pulling away.
"I'm so sorry about that. I am just an emotional wreck and..."
"You don't need to apologize. You are my mate." I sighed.
She was silent, as though weighing the words she was about to say. I had my eyes fixed on her, ignoring Kosey, Imani, and Milena. Anisa was my only focus.
"I think I've found a way out of this. You said I am your mate, right?" She said, staring at me with those cold eyes. "From the little I've read, I've understood what that means and how it works. All I have to do is reject you, and I can go back home."
Every emotion I thought I had in check. Every hope, every wish crashed alongside Anisa’s words. I heard the gasp from Imani, and the almost nonexistent gasp from Milena as well. But I didn't dare move. I couldn't.
"I reject you as my mate." She pronounced.
- Writer
