> Derb Sultan: One Step In, No Way Out

"Waiting for the Unfinished Promise"

After sending the message, Nour kept staring at the phone as if waiting for a quick reply from him. But nothing. Silence.

She sighed, closed the phone, turned around, and entered the house. She placed the dress over the bed, standing in front of it, as if asking herself: "Should I wear it or not?"

She couldn’t resist; she grabbed it and twirled with it, trying to imagine herself wearing it in front of the mirror. Her eyes sparkled with a slight gleam, like a little girl trying on a princess dress for the first time.

But before she could fully sink into that feeling, the phone rang. She grabbed it quickly and stared at the screen... it was him.

She hesitated for a moment but then made the call.

Nour (in a semi-serious voice with a playful tone): "Are you watching me?"

He (in a low, calm voice but with something that sounded a bit frightening): "No need to watch, I know you."

Nour fell silent, half wanting to laugh, half wanting to stay formal. But her curiosity was stronger:

Nour: "Do you like what you see?"

He (quickly, without hesitation): "I adore you."

Nour remained silent, words lost on her tongue. Only the sound of her breathing was heard, until he continued:

He (softly but with weight): "But you didn’t answer me… Nour, are you still angry?"

Nour sighed, ran her fingers through her hair, her eyes fixed on the dress. The truth was, she still thought about what happened, still held that bitterness, but this dress, this gift, and the way he spoke... everything mixed her feelings.

She held the phone tightly, brought it close to her lips, and in a voice with a little flirtation and a hint of challenge, she said:

Nour: "Maybe… but the dress lessened the anger a bit."

She heard him laugh, a calm laugh that she knew was exactly the effect he wanted.

He (quietly, but with something mysterious): "Good… because I’m not done yet."

Nour opened her eyes wide, her heart started beating faster:

Nour: "What do you mean?"

He (coldly, but with a tone that made her suspect he was laughing inside): "Be patient, and you’ll see."

Before she could answer, the call cut off...

She stared at the screen in shock, the phone still in her hand, her heart full of more questions than answers.

"Be patient and you’ll see?"

She felt a light shiver down her spine, went to put the phone on the table, then turned back to the dress still spread on the bed.

"Not done yet..."

Her fingers traced the white fabric, feeling its softness, and the golden threads slipping between her fingers. She smiled, but the smile was brief, because suddenly... the door knocked again.

She stood frozen, her eyes fixed on the door. Her heart started beating a bit faster.

"Could it be... him?"

She took slow steps, approached the door, and even while opening it, her hand trembled slightly, as if preparing for a surprise.

But when she opened it, it wasn’t him. It was the same little girl, but this time without a bouquet of flowers. Just standing there, her eyes shining with a childish sparkle.

Nour (puzzled): "What is it?"

The little girl (smiling excitedly): "He told me to tell you to come now... he’s waiting for you."

Nour’s eyes lit up: "Where?"

The little girl (innocently): "Follow me."

Nour held herself back from sighing, but inside, she already knew the answer. She knew the place. She knew why he said, "I’m not done yet."

She grabbed her phone, quickly put on the white dress along with the outfit lightly, closed the door, and headed the way, following the little girl.

Nour stopped in front of him standing there, leaning on his motorbike—a black BMW, gleaming under the streetlight.

He wore a leather jacket, and the wind played with his hair, which had a slightly yellowish tint. But what caught her attention most were his eyes. He wasn’t looking directly at her but his gaze circled her as if examining her from afar.

Nour moved closer slowly, her steps hesitant until she stopped beside him.

He (calmly, eyes stealing another glance at the dress she wore): "Now the dress looks beautiful."

Nour looked at him with a slight shock before laughing—an unexpected laugh even from herself. He smiled, a light smile with something that made her heart skip.

He: "You laughed."

Nour (trying to shake off the tension she felt): "Is that something worth celebrating?"

He (winking): "Maybe."

He paused before nodding towards the motorbike: "Get on."

Nour looked at him as if he said something impossible: "On this?"

He (raising his eyebrows, as if saying yes, exactly on this): "Yeah, what’s wrong?"

Nour rolled her eyes but shrugged, speaking in a semi-serious voice: "I don’t do motorbikes. When I was little, I fell from one and hit my head."

He was silent for a moment, then laughed—a light laugh that made her nerves lose focus.

He (calmly but with a hint of sarcasm): "Well, now I’m not going to let you fall."

Nour (trying to seem confident but a bit hesitant): "Plus the dress, it’s going to catch on."

He moved a little closer, handed her the small helmet on the motorbike, then gestured with his hand: "Get on next to me, and hold on tight."

Nour looked at him, then at the motorbike. She felt a little fear but also that feeling of excitement.

That was exactly what made her take a deep breath, lift the dress slightly so it wouldn’t get caught, and get on beside him.

Her hand reached to her chest, hesitant a little, but when she saw him looking at her with a reassuring gaze, she heard him whisper:

"Hold on tight, Nour."

And here... she no longer had many choices.

She placed her hands on him carefully, but her heart was beating at a speed even the motorbike couldn’t keep up with.

She held him cautiously, her fingers touching the cold leather of his jacket, but the warmth she felt was not from the dress... it came from her heart pounding with every second.

He (in a low voice, but with a tone that made her nervous): "Are you holding on tight?"

Nour exhaled, her fingers moving slowly over his shoulder, said with a bit of stubbornness: "Yes, I’m holding on."

He smiled, a sideways smile that made her heart drop inside, and without saying another word, he started the motorbike.

The sound was powerful, lifting the atmosphere, and the vibration reached her, making her feel like she was entering another world.

He moved the motorbike slowly and took her out of the narrow alley until they reached the main road.

Nour (trying to sound calm, but her voice betrayed her a little): "Where are you taking me?"

He (with a calmness that added tension): "I told you, be patient and you’ll see."

Nour bit her lips, looked ahead, but the faster they went, the more she felt her spirit slowly freeing.

The cold air hit her face, moving her hair, and the night was lit by the city lights. A strange feeling, a mixture of fear, anticipation, and excitement.

Suddenly, he accelerated a bit and let the motorbike glide smoothly through the streets.

Without realizing, Nour grabbed him tightly, her senses sharpening, and her heart started beating faster.

Nour (raising her voice a bit): "Hey, hey... I still have problems with motorbikes, slow down a bit!"

He (laughing softly but not reducing speed): "I told you I won’t let you fall. Do you lose trust in me?"

Nour bit her lips but didn’t respond. The truth was, even though she was scared, she couldn’t feel distrust.

He (calmer but in a strange way that made her feel something indescribable): "Nour, just let me drive, and you enjoy the ride."

At that, Nour was silent.

Slowly, she relaxed, and without realizing, she started enjoying the air, the speed, the feeling of freedom that came with it.

But the only clear thing she couldn’t deny...

was that she felt safe, despite everything.

They arrived at a far place, in the middle of a large rose field. The roses covered the ground beautifully, their color shining under the moonlight as if in a fairy tale. Their scent filled the air and made everything seem magical. The field surrounded them in a circle of roses, as if they were in their own special space, far from everything.

Nour was just turning her eyes around: "I love how beautiful this place is."

Zein: "Like you."

They were having a private conversation with a doctor who was covered in a light and red perfume. He pulled a chair for her like a noble gentleman so she could sit. He then sat in front of her, lifting the cover to reveal the types of dishes on the table.

Nour: "Wow, you cook?"

Zein: "Yes, it’s one of my best qualities, a good husband."

Nour laughed softly and felt something strange fluttering her heart. She tried to stay calm but at the same time, there was a small tension making her feel the strange connection between them.

They remained sitting, he in front of her. Their silence was full of strange and beautiful moments. Each was lost in thought, their eyes saying everything without words. Nour raised her head, looking at the sky and stars above them, feeling a small dream come true.

Since childhood, she always looked up at the sky, imagining herself among the stars, trying to find new meaning each time. Today, she felt something strange. She always wished to reach a moment that would steal her heart, and this might be it.

She felt the chair moving slightly under her, holding it tightly so she wouldn’t fall. Then she saw Zein standing near her feet, bent over from the journey, holding a small black box. He opened it and took out a ring.

Zein: "I feel life completes itself with you, like a flower that blooms in my heart every day. I never knew what love meant until I found you. Every time I see you, it’s like you come from a distant world where there is no place for anyone but you.

Every word you say pierces my heart, and every smile of yours makes me fly. I want to tell you that you are more than just a person to me, you are the pulse that keeps my life meaningful, you are the hope I was looking for.

And every moment I spend with you feels unique, like the entire universe gathers around us. And you, alone, managed to make me live every moment as if it were a dream."

Nour raised her eyes to him, her heart beating fast, feeling a flutter in her chest, as if she had entered a room full of glitter and roses.

Nour: "I never thought I would fall for this, I never believed in love, I used to see it as a beautiful lie people run to escape reality. I used to say that anyone who loves will eventually experience pain, betrayal, and separation. But with you... with you everything changed.

I’m crazy about you