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Gabi stroked her hair and kissed her head. Aisha pulled away and looked around. “It’s not your fault,” Gabi said and clasped her hands in her lap.
Aisha shook her head. “I told her I was in love with you, and she collapsed.”
Gabi took a deep breath and released it slowly. Her hands trembled. “What have the doctors said?”
“She’s sedated, and they’re doing tests. She keeps drifting in and out of sleep.” Aisha started crying and shaking her head. “Papa’s with her. They told me to go. They want nothing to do with me.”
Gabi screamed silently, clenched her fists, and gritted her teeth. The cruelty was beyond her understanding. She put her arm around Aisha and drew her close. “I’m so sorry.”
“All I asked for was their blessing, and they couldn’t give it to me.” Aisha tensed in Gabi’s arms but didn’t pull back. “Is that too much to ask for from your parents?”
Her raised voice caused people passing to look at them. Gabi knew Aisha needed to let the anger out, to let go, to be able to move on. She held her tightly as she shouted and sobbed.
“Why, Gabi? Why? I don’t understand. What did I do that was so wrong?”
“You didn’t do anything wrong. You’re just unlucky to be born into a family whose faith and laws have devastating consequences. For them, for you, for everyone. No one wins.”
“That’s not love, is it?”
“No. It’s abuse. Not that they would see it that way. Love comes from the heart, not rules.”
Aisha stared at Gabi. “What we have is love, isn’t it?”
Gabi held Aisha and kissed her head. “Yes. I will love you forever.”
Aisha leaned into Gabi’s shoulder.
Gabi glanced around. “I went to your house. Conchita told me you were here.”
“How was she?”
“Frosty.”
“I’m sorry.”
Gabi shrugged. “I wasn’t expecting anything else.” They sat quietly for a while. “Are you okay?” Gabi asked. It was a dumb question, but what else could she say? She stroked Aisha’s face and stared into her bloodshot eyes and wished more than anything she could take away the pain.
“I will be,” Aisha said.
“Shall we go?”
Aisha nodded and they hired a taxi from the ones waiting in the rank outside the hospital.
“Do you want to pick up your things?” Gabi asked.
Aisha shook her head. “I never want to go back. I don’t want to be reminded of them. I want to forget they exist.”
Gabi appreciated the sentiment, but Aisha wasn’t thinking clearly and once the heat of emotion had subsided, she would be left with regrets. Gabi didn’t want that for Aisha, or for them. “Aisha.”
Aisha stared out of the window.
“Aisha.”
“What?”
“I know you’re angry and hurt, but you won’t always feel that way. You love them, and that’s not going to change.”
Aisha stared at Gabi with a blank expression that Gabi had never seen before. “I don’t care if she dies,” she said.
