AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I’ll ask my aunt if I can leave a few days before the school year is over. Once all my work is done.
The next day after school, I ride with Taimani to the Darabi residence. I head to Naseer’s room once we get inside, and Taimani goes to her room. I promise to stop by her room before leaving.
The nurses see me and smile “Thank goodness you are here, he’s been cranky” one of the nurses says to me in relief. I simply smile, not sure how to respond but I know how he is when he doesn’t get what he wants.
“Prince Naseer,” I say as I step into his room. No way am I going to make that mistake again. I noticed the hospital bed is now gone. He’s on the king bed with the wheelchair and crutches at arm’s length. He looks tired.
“Jade,” he says, smiling.
“How are you today” I ask as I move closer to the bed.
“Good, now that you are here. How was school?”
“Long and more homework” I answered, without any frost in my voice.
“And James?”
“He’s good. Didn’t see much of him today.” He grins like I’d just given him a winning ticket. “You look tired, is therapy too much,” I ask to change the topic from James.
“No, I just didn’t get much sleep. I missed you.” Certainly not the answer I was expecting.
“I had to get souvenirs for my friends yesterday. I keep promising them certain items. Yesterday was the only day I had to get them.” I explain though I don’t know why I need to explain.
“Okay.”
“What did you do all day?”
“Read through some financial documents and did lots of therapy. My movement is better now.”
“That’s good, you will be back to your old self and traveling the world again.” I smile, and a part of me realizes that would mean he’s gone from me, I need to start detaching from wanting to be with him daily and shifting more to James.
“That would be nice. You still owe me a dance, Jade,” he says, and it feels like her imaginary hands just slapped me again.
“It’s still a fresh wound, Prince Naseer. Can we not talk about the dance?”Not talking about ever is what I would prefer. I touch my cheek; I can still feel the tingle of her slap on my face.
“Okay, but we will have that dance someday, and stop calling me Prince Naseer.” I nod, knowing it will take a while for me to get back to that comfort zone.
“What do we have planned to watch?” I ask, changing the course of the stiff air around us.
“You promised to watch my movie with me.” I put in his movie pick and sat back to watch. Not talking or laughing like we used to, our silence is palpable as the friction between us thickens. We both know it. Honestly, I dislike it. But it is a new reality.
My phone rings. It’s James. His name is bold on the screen. I should probably ignore it, but I answered it. Getting up so I don’t disturb the movie, I move towards Naseer’s closet.
“Hi James,” I say, turning my back to Naseer.
“Mariam, I missed you today.”
“Yeah, me too,” I say I can’t say Imiss you toowith Naseer in the room, and the movie is now paused. I’m sure Naseer did that.
“How about we hang out after school tomorrow at Rema Beach?”
“Sure, that sounds good.”
“Alright, I’ll see you in class tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow.”
I turn and smack into Naseer’s chest.How did he crutch silently to me? He’s using one crutch now. His movement seems to be exponential. I’m surprised and quiet, not sure what to say to him. Before I could think of something. His lips are on me. I have no will against him. I kiss him back, passionately, and completely lost in him. He’s beautifully coloring my mind with his tongue.Why can’t I pull away from him? I know I should stop this.?
