Love Incarnated.

• 3

Abdulhameed.

"Hey I'm Abdulhameed"
She smiles brightly as the sun twinkled in her eyes "Nice to meet you Abdul, I'm Asiya"

I smile remembering the very first day we met. I never believed in love not to mention love at first sight but that day I believed it existed and that I had to live another year pretending I hated her because she hated me. It was probably one of the hardest things I've done my entire life.

I sigh as Abubakar walks over and sits across me.
"What? Did you miss me?" He asks picking up my glass of mojito to drink.

"I saw Asiya today"
He goes rigid half way through his sip. He keeps the glass and looks at me "Where?"

"She came to see me"
His jaw drops.
"Calm down, she came to see a real estate agent but she looked just like you did right now when she saw me" I exhale "It was like seeing a ghost"

"A ghost you might never see again" he says in a warning tone.
I smirk "I've never been afraid of ghosts"

He sits up "She's gone through a lot and she's still in a lot of pain. I'm not sure being back in her life is a good idea"
"If this isn't destiny then what is?"

He huffs "She just lost her husband"
"And I grief for her, I really do. Seeing her in pain hurts me as well but I'm not letting her go, not again. I respected you and your parents when you told me to stay away but unless she pushes me away herself I don't intend to do so"

He just stares at me. Probably contemplating whether he'll back me up or keep me away.
"She wants to sell the house?"

"She's not sure. You know how indecisive she is"
He sighs "No, she's afraid"
Now this got my attention. I sit up, resting both my elbows on my thighs "Afraid of who? His family?"

He shakes his head "She hasn't grieved. Since she heard about the accident, for a while she broke down. Stopped eating, talking to everyone and at some point even hospitalized but she still hasn't shed a tear. It's been 8months and still, she wants to stay strong for Aya. She even quit her job and won't let the girl out of her sight"

"Let me help?"
He looks at me worriedly "How? Everyone has tried"
"Then let me try. Everything else can come afterwards"

He sighs "I hardly think you'll succeed but you can try"
I nod.

::

I exhale.
I immediately lock the door, keep my car keys on the console and made my way down the hall to the living room.

I look at the clock on the wall, it's already 10pm. I didn't realize we talked for that long but hearing about how Asiya has been was both saddening and pleasing. It's heartbreaking that she moved on from me but I was happy she did, I know it's confusing even if it wasn't with me I wanted her to be happy. I know what it's like being married to someone you don't know, you feel trapped and alone and it's not a feeling I'd want anyone to experience.

I sit on the couch in the dark. Light from the dining room illuminating the living room.

"Why are you home so late?"
I say nothing just fiddling with my fingers as I think back on my earlier conversations.

"Abdulhameed? I asked a question?" Halima asks impatiently.
"Is Atika sleeping?" I simply ask her.

"Why are you asking? If you wanted to see your daughter you should have come home earlier. What were you out doing?" She asks.
I ignore her and lean into the couch closing my eyes.

I feel her weight on the couch next to me.
"Babe—why don't you want to make things work between us? I try so hard—all day and yet you don't give me a single emotion"