Chapter Five

- Part Five -

"Two black eyes like a tunnel leading to the end...

I am a flame drenched in rain...

Trying to protect it with my body...

So let it burn... Who cares...

I don't care about a burning skin or the pain of fire crossing my pores... I'll bear the pain... My body will heal... No problem...

But her soul can't survive hardship .. Her gentle soul that doesn't know how to fight... So... I must light the gate, guide her way back... Where she belongs, where I am... And where she'll be by my side."

My body exhausted, I extended my arms to barely knock on the door, feeling as if my bones were a pile ready to scatter on the ground the moment I lowered my defense

... Knock... Knock... Knock...

Leaning against the entrance wall with my fading breath, I waited for the door to open, wondering if she'd see me in this pitiful state!

and If she is the one that opens, how will she react? I hope my bleeding arm and my pale face from today's misery won't scare her too much... I relly do hope I won't scare her too much..."

"Who's there?"

I didn't think my pulse, which had been fast from the start, could quicken even more until I heard her voice... Then I knew I had truly returned home... Returned indeed.

"It's me, lyes, wafa. I'm injured, so please hurry and open the door."

The door opened, revealing that wheat-colored skin, her dark eyes lowering to look at my limp arm beside me, devoid of any remaining strength, bleeding profusely.

She lifted her head to focus on my face, drained of color, contrasting with the night sky behind me.

"Don't be afraid, the injury isn't serious."

she nodded her head, and her lips parted as i awaited the words to come out of her mouth. I didn't care that I stood motionless for a long time, nor did I pay attention to the blood pouring from me... What I cared about was the type of care I'd receive from her...

"Come inside the house."

She turned and left the door open for me to enter the house. I stared at her with disappointment as she went to one of the rooms and called for her father. It took only a second before my little sister angel ran towards me happily. She clung to me as usual, seemingly unaware of the situation I was in.

"angel, my dear, you're hurting your brother. Make room for wafa to dress his wounds."

"No, I want my brother. angel wants to play with lyes."

"Later, angel. I promise later, my sister."

"You promise? A pinky promise?"

"You have my word."

My sister went to sit next to me, her eyes filling with tears at a certain moment when wafa removed the piece of cloth covering my arm to reveal the wound caused by the bullet, like a crater emitting its lava.

"lyes, my son, how was the mission? Do they have weapons in that barracks?"

The question that my father's old friend who i call uncle was what worried us all during this period. I had to explore the situation, but things were murky. However, at least we eliminated some options and managed to get our hands on the answer.

The resistance was lacking in weapons, so if the occupiers are supplied with what we lack, the balance will tilt further against us. The disparity in power distribution will increase, and we might not be able to compensate. We'll be in a suicidal battle. Despite that, we'll engage.

"Everything is still under control."

I replied.

"Thank God for that. Praise be to God for that."

I felt a sting from my wound, so I lowered my gaze to the hand holding a small knife between its fingers, digging to extract the bullet from my arm.

In a small dish, she placed the bullet and went to the kitchen a second time while I applied pressure to the bleeding wound. After a few seconds, she returned with the same knife, having heated it over fire for a while.

she sat down, and she took my arm again and cleaned it. Then she used the knife to close the hole, pressing my teeth to making no sound that might bother her.

"You did well."

She looked at me with eyes devoid of any expression, a faint reflection of me appeared in them, and other than that, nothing. There was nothing in them. I swallowed my thanks, which would have followed my words, as she returned to tend to my wound, silent and in an unfamiliar manner.

( She's herself, but at the same time, why does she seem unfamiliar! )

"lyes, why didn't you treat your wounds earlier?"

"The doctor who was with me fainted as soon as we reached safety, while I didn't feel the seriousness of my injury earlier."

"Very well, the important thing is that you're okay. Now, you need to rest and eat something."

"No need, Uncle."

The calm, silent atmosphere dominated this house, with its inhabitants absorbed in their thoughts. I loved this quietness, and this peace is what made me return to it hurriedly, in addition to another reason... my fiance.

I had the late dinner my aunt prepared for me and then she returned to relax with us in the living room. wafa sat apart, looking out of the window peacefully, as if she had merged into a painting. My sister left for bed early.

"Uncle, about your decision to join the resistance, are you still inclined?"

I took a long time to think before posing the question that wasn't a question in its nature. I watched as everyone turned their heads towards me, and my beloved wasn't an exception.

"Yes, but it's not in my hands. I have daughters; I can't leave them without support."

"Is that your excuse?"

"What else can it be?"

"I'll be the support. I'll marry wafa, and she and my sister will move in with me."

(Since we are destined to be together, why delay? That's what I thought and imagined.)

I heard a question from the concerned party. I looked at her, and although her eyes pierced me, they didn't steal any of my emotions. It seemed like she was looking at me and seeing nothing.

"Is this what you want? Marrying me, is that what you want?"

"What do you mean?"

In truth, I understood what she meant perfectly. I understood it. However, despite that, I asked her the question again, and I didn't know she would be puzzled, putting us all in a greater shock.

"Are you happy? Forced? I can't tell, so you have to tell me."

"What do you mean?, you know we are meant to be together and it's about time to make it happen, am I not right ?"

I asked her, but this time I was truly puzzled and awaited her response, but she didn't answer me. Instead, she repeated the same words like a broken record,

'I can't tell... I can't differentiate'

We were fine; things were still under control until the moment we all felt the situation taking a turn. When she hugged her head with her hands and slid to the floor, sitting on her knees.

She shivered, her shoulders trembled, and her chest rose and fell as if she were having difficulty breathing. My chest tightened along with hers...

Her mother approached her, patting her cheeks. I couldn't comprehend her reaction at that moment, but immediately afterward, the vision became clear to me after she lifted her head.

my heart skipped a beat and I felt the world spinning around me.

Tears streamed from those dark eyes, but her pupils reflected an endless void! No expressions, no anger, no sadness... just emptiness, as if the tears formed from nowhere, and the sobs didn't originate from her throat.

Are our eyes creating an illusion in front of us ? But this is simply unbelievable.

My thoughts were shattered, and I froze in place at her voice that pulled us out of the curse of confusion we were thrown into.

"Mom, I really think I'm not okay."

She spoke while touching the wetness that soaked her cheeks. I looked at her mother, who couldn't stop crying... she cried and cried more, and just when we thought she wouldn't stop, she started laughing hysterically.

"wafa, my daughter, tell your father what's bothering you."

"Don't hurt your mother's heart, my dear. Stop that."

She slowly raised her head and pressed her hand on her eyes, stinging with tears. deep down, wafa wanted to fulfill their request and stop what's happening because the mix of emotions drained all her energy, but she didn't succeed; instead, her condition intensified.

"I told you I'm emotionally numb, but you don't listen."

She said that sentence mechanically, stood up, and headed to her room, still sobbing. We followed her from behind until she closed the door behind her, cutting off our view, and it wasn't long before her voice completely disappeared.

We opened it in panic, and her father went to where she stretched her body on the bed and felt her pulse.

"She's fine, she just fell asleep."

"Oh God, have mercy on my daughter. What's wrong with her ?"

The aunt's question is the same as what occurs to us. The shock drained the blood from my heart and left me exhausted, unable to act... What to do in such a situation?

"My brother..."

"angel ! What are you doing out of bed?"

"I woke up to wafa's voice... my brother!"

"What's going on?"

"My brother, I'm scared..."

I looked at my sister standing in the corridor, clutching her doll between her hands. Warmth seeped into my heart, and I approached her, stroking her hair, giving her a dose of safety, but in reality...

(I am also... I might be scared... scared of what's to come.)