Page 350 of Eternal
She doesn’t reply, so I continue.
“I feelstupid. Like an idiot for being sad about something as dumb as this. Having a father. Having a mother. I don’t know… When I had them, they made me wish I hadn’t. And when I lost them, they made me miss even the pain.”
She starts crying and hugs me. “I’m sorry.”
“Why would you be? You and Vik make those family dinners real.”
“Is that why you never reply when we tell you we love you?”
Is it?Probably. I don’t know.
“It’s strange. I feel like if I say it back, you’ll leave.”
“Azra…”
“I tried to erase it for so long, but I guess it’s buried too deep in my brain if I can’t even tell you and Vik how you saved my life. I lied for so long. And now I have someone. What if I love him too, and he leaves?”
I turn toward her, and we’re close enough for her to see the tears in my eyes, and me, hers.
“What if he sees the ugly parts of me and decides to leave, when all I want is for him to show me what it means for someone to stay?”
“He won’t. There’s nothing ugly in you.”
“There’s only that.”
Before she can reply, the door opens and Vik lies down between us.
“You were listening to our conversation, weren’t you?” she asks him.
He shrugs. “Obviously.”
I smile and rest my head next to his. We’re three grown adults lying on that bed staring at nothing.
“Guys, I’m scared.”
Vik grabs my hand and tightens his hold. “Don’t be,kroshka. We’re here. Nothing’s gonna happen to you.”
Kat’s hand gently lands in my hair. “You’ll never be alone again, remember?”
“You think so?”
Vik brings my hand to his lips and leaves a small kiss on my palm. “Never again. And I love you, even if you can’t say it. I do. Know that. I love you both, entirely. No one will ever hurt either of you as long as I breathe.”
A low hum cuts through the music.
Faint at first, distant, then louder, that familiar rhythm, the kind you feel more than hear.
Kat’s eyes flick to the window, and Vik is already sitting up.
A motorcycle.
We all know it’shim.
Vik doesn’t say anything, he is already heading to the door downstairs, and Kat and I follow without speaking.
Headlights flash once through the front windows before the engine cuts off.
Rain’s still falling lightly.
