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Not letting go of his hand, I said, “You don’t know that. There could be more than one person. They could have a weapon. Nothing I have is worth losing you. If you love me, you’ll lock the door.”
He looked down at me, then nodded, and did as I had asked. I grabbed my phone and dialed the number for the police while Niko put on his pants. He stood between me and the door, still trying to protect me.
I gave the police my address and was about to end the call when there was a knock on the door. Niko grabbed the lamp beside the bed and held it up high ready to bash in whoever tried to enter. I held my breath and then another knock.
“Ovi, are you awake?”
Father?
I looked at Niko and he shook his head. Then I said to the person on the phone, “You can disregard the call. It’s not an intruder. It’s my father.”
Ending the call I said, “One minute.” I quickly got dressed and so did Niko.
There was no point in trying to pretend as though nothing was going on. My hair was all tousled and the only way in or out of my bedroom was that door.
When I opened the door, he looked at me, then Niko. “Oh. I...I guess I should go and wait in the living room.”
Leaving us alone, I asked, “Do you want to leave? I mean, I would understand why. It’s kind of awkward.”
He closed the door again and said, “I’m not leaving until we talk.”
Not another serious conversation. “This might not be the right time. My father is waiting for...”
“And he can wait,” Niko said firmly. “We need to talk.”
He wasn’t going to take no for an answer. “Okay. What is so important that can’t wait?”
“You said something. I need to know why?”
I wracked my brain. I couldn’t remember anything I had said in the moment of panic. “What exactly are you referring to?”Since you can remember it, please tell me.
“You said if I love you, I’d lock that door.”
And you did.
Was this his way of telling me that he loved me? “I...I did. I didn’t want anything to happen to you. Niko you’re...you’re so important to me. I can’t picture my life without you. It was my father, but easily could’ve been an intruder.”
“I don’t care who it was. No one was passing me to hurt you,” he said. “And do you know why?”
“Because you care?” It was the term he used each time he shared his feelings with me. Not a bad word. Just not the four-letter I was hoping to hear from him one day.The word that would keep me in Tabiq.
“Yes. I care. I care so much that the thought of losing you feels like a knife in my heart. I don’t just care about you, I love you.”
I swallowed and repeated his words. “You love me?”
“Yes. I’ve been trying to show you,” he said.
“You have, but I...I needed to hear the words. And Niko, I love you too.” I walked into his embrace and held him tightly. “That’s why I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you either.”
“Nothing did. Nothing will.” We stood there holding each other for a moment. Then he tipped my chin up and asked, “Does this mean you’re not leaving?”
“I can’t promise to stay in Tabiq forever,” I said.
“Why not?” he asked.
“I can live without a lot of things, but not my heart. If you leave, I follow.”
“And if I stay? What then?” he asked.
