Chapter 38

Laila's POV...

" Let go of me" I screamed as someone pinned me to the wall.

"Come on, let's talk". The person whispered to my ear. I remembered these words from the other day. I tried slipping out of his grasp but to no avail.

"I said leave me alone!!!" I screamed as my heart began pounding in my chest. I couldn't let it happen again. I tried breaking free but he just tightened his grip.

He held both my wrists tightly by one hand and used his free hand tograp my throat. I coughed up and tried to scream for help but no sound came out. "You want to escape? You can't escape from me", he said as he laughed loudly, tightening his grip on my throat, restraining the oxygen from reaching my lungs. "Sound familiar?" He said as light began entering through a small space and soon enough, it illuminated the room, giving way for me to see his face.

"Jason..." The word slipped out of my mouth before I could stop it.

"You thought I would let you go so easily?" He said before pushing me down to the ground...

...

I woke in a cold sweat , breathing heavily as I looked around for my phone. As soon as I found it, I turned it on. It was 12:30 am.

I turned on the night lamp and sat at the edge of my bed. I closed my eyes and tightened my grip on my bedsheets, trying to calm my racing heart by continuously repeating, ' it was just dream' over and over in my head. Repeating the words seemed to calm my heart but couldn't stop the thoughts that came rushing in.

I opened my eyes and let out a small sigh, taking a minute to look around my dimly lit room. Why did I have that dream? Why was my mind constantly reminding me of the ugly truth I'm trying so hard to ignore?

I stood up and walked around the room for a minute. I to drink water or maybe make myself some tea and spend some time in the library. I won't be getting any sleep anytime soon anyways.

I made my way out of my room and used the door that leads to the library to go downstairs. I walked slowly out of the library and turned on the lights in the kitchen and quietly walked in. All the dishes were washed, that means Kareem had cleared up everything after I'd fallen asleep, but then, how did I get to my room? Did Kareem take me up there?

I shook those thoughts away and put my attention on making myself a cup of tea.

I poured some water into the kettle and turned on the switch. As I was getting my mug from the counter, I suddenly felt someone's presence behind me. I heard the person's footsteps getting closer before they touched my shoulder. I swiftly turned around but calmed down once I'd noticed it was just Kareem.

"What are you doing here? I'd heard footsteps so I came down to have a look". He looked tired, probably because he just woke up.

"I woke up with a headache so I wanted to have some tea and spend some time in the library". I said as I turned around and reached up to get the mug and teabag from the cabinet. I turned off the switch and was about to pour the hot water into the mug when a thought crossed my mind.

I stopped what I was doing and turned around to face Kareem. "Did you take me up to my room?" I asked him.

"Well yeah, you fell asleep while watching the movie and I didn't want to disturb you so I took you up to your room. I hope nothing's wrong?" He looked at me with concern in his eyes, making it look almost genuine, like he felt the same way about me that I felt about him.

"No, nothing is wrong", I said looking away from him. "You can go back upstairs if you want, I'll be in the library ". I said, still not looking back to see him.

"Okay". He said softly before I heard his footsteps slowly distancing away from me. I didn't look back to see how far he'd gone before I poured the hot water into the mug and added some milk and sugar. I stirred the contents in the mug before I made my way towards the library. I sat down on the armchair and placed the mug on the table.

I threw my head back and closed my eyes. I'd wondered why I got that dream. Was it because I've not yet managed to move on from it? Maybe it's to early to expect to forget so easily.

I opened my eyes and sat straight, reaching out for the mug and taking a small sip of the lukewarm tea. Looking out the window, I got up from the chair and walked closer towards it, watching as the snow slowly made its way down to the pavement.

...

A whole week had passed since the incident yet I hadn't built up the courage to tell him what happend.

He continued being nice to me and it only increased the guilt I felt within.

I was seated in the dining room with a plate of food in front of me, but my attention was elsewhere.

"Laila", I heard Kareem's voice which brought me out of my trance. " You've not touched your food q, are you okay?"

"Yeah. I'm not really hungry". I said before I got up from the seat, but before I was able to take a step forward, I felt someone take hold of my wrist.

"Wait, are you sure there's nothing wrong?"

"I've told you already, I'm fine". I said as I was about to wriggle out of his grip but it only got tighter. He took my plate with his free hand and led me all the way to the couch.

"Even if you're okay, just eat something. You've barely been eating these past few days and since you refused to tell me what happened that night, I don't know how I can help you".

I looked down at the plate on the table, all the contents on it didn't seem appetising to me. I knew he was right, but how can one eat when one's heart is slowly breaking.

I got up from the couch but before I could react or do anything, I felt Kareem grab my wrist and pull me towards him, making me fall on his lap.

I sat up immediately, his green eyes staring back at mine, causing all the feelings I tried so hard to hide, so hard to ignore, to come rushing back . All the tears I tried so hard to blink away under the pretence that I was okay, flooded my eyes, but this time, I didn't stop them.

I hugged him tight, burying my face in his sweater as all the tears came streaming down my face. He didn't react or say anything, he just brushed my hair softly on my back.

After a while I stopped crying and sat up straight, he wiped the tears off my cheek removed the hair strands that were stuck on my face.

"Now will you tell what happened that night?" He said softly looking into my eyes. I saw no doubt or fault in his eyes, now I actually felt like telling him everything, everything I felt in my heart.

"I want to go visit my sister. I'd stay there for a few days". I looked away when saying those words. I could sense the disappointment he felt, but I didn't bother looking back.

"Okay. I'd make arrangements to take you there. You can stay for as long as you want, if it'll make you feel better". I smiled at the thought of seeing Layan . This visit will probably make me feel a lot better.