CAPTAIN AMIR

Eighteen

I have been avoiding Amir for a week now. Ever since my father made the cruel judgment that I must stay in this loveless marriage, I've been unable to bear the sight of my husband.

The thought of spending the rest of my life with someone who doesn't love me is suffocating.

As I sit at my office, my mind wanders back to the painful memory of how Amir had almost choked me to death.

I feel unloved and betrayed by my own father, the person who was supposed to protect and support me is pushing me to my own death.

I don't think he gets how my relationship with Amir now is.

"How could you, Dada?" I whisper to myself, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes.

Just then, the nurse interrupts my thoughts. "
Doctor , the patient in room 304 needs to be checked up on. Can you please attend to them?"

I snap back to reality, wiping away my tears. "Yes, of course."

As I make my way to the patient's room, I can't help but think about how much I hate Amir's guts.

He's the reason for my misery, the reason I feel trapped and alone.

He could have said something back there, we both know that this marriage isn't going to work out and he hated me as much as I am learning to despise him.

I still don't get why he didn't speak up.

I enter the patient's room, forcing a smile onto my face. "Good morning, how are you feeling today?"

The patient looks up at me with a weak smile. "Good morning doctor. I'm feeling a bit better, thanks."

I nod, taking their vitals and making small talk, all the while my mind seething with anger and resentment towards Amir.

How can I be expected to spend the rest of my life with someone who doesn't love me? Someone who only married me for convenience? And selfish reason only held to himself.

The thought sends a wave of nausea through me. I can't do this. I can't keep living this lie.

But for now, I have to keep up the charade. I have to pretend that everything is fine, that I'm happy in my marriage.

But deep down, I know the truth. I'm dying inside, suffocating under the weight of my father's judgment and Amir's indifference.

And I don't know how much longer I can keep this up.

•••

As I stepped out of the hospital, lab coat in hand, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief that my shift was finally over.

I had been looking forward to this moment all day, and I was eager to get home and relax.

My muscles felt too sore and tensed.

I scanned the parking lot, my eyes searching for Lee's familiar smile and waving hand. But instead, I saw him leaning against the car, completely absorbed in his phone.

"Lee!" I called out, walking towards him. But he didn't even flinch.

Suddenly, I felt a hand grab my wrist, and I was spun around before I could even react. My heart raced as I came face to face with Amir, his eyes blazing with a displeasing intensity.

"Safiya," he growled, his voice low and menacing.

I tried to pull away, but his grip only tightened. "Amir, let me go!" I protested, but he didn't listen.

Without another word, he dragged me towards the car, his hand like a vice around my wrist. I stumbled along beside him, my heart racing with fear.

"Amir, stop! Please!" I cried out, but he just kept pulling me along.

Finally, he yanked open the car door and shoved me inside. I landed hard on the seat, my breath knocked out of me.

"Amir, what are you doing?" I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady.

But he just slammed the door shut behind me and got in on the other side. "We're going to have a little chat," he sneered, starting the engine and speeding off into the night.

I sat there, frozen in fear, as Amir's words hung in the air like a threat. What did he want from me? And why was he being so cruel?

"Amir, please," I whispered, trying to reason with him. "Whatever it is, let's talk about it. But don't do this."

Already feeling my panic attacks clogging in.

We soon got home.

As I stepped out of the car, my heart raced with fear. Amir's grip on my wrist still lingered, a painful burn of his earlier rough handling. I hesitated, unsure of what he had in-store for me.

He led me into the house, his silence deafening. I followed him, my eyes fixed on his back, my mind racing with thoughts of escape.

I am frightened by every glance of Amir.

We entered the living room, and Amir gestured for me to sit. I rubbed my bruised wrist, the pain throbbing in time with my racing heart.

"Please, Amir," I pleaded, my voice shaking. "You've hurt me enough. I understand that you don't want to be with me, that you're only doing this out of obligation. Just let me go, please. I don't want to be part of this anymore, I quit."

But Amir's expression remained unyielding, his eyes cold and hard. "Sit down, Safiya," he repeated, his voice firm.

My legs felt like lead, my body trembling with fear. I tried to step back, but my legs gave way beneath me. I fell to my knees, my vision blurring.

Amir's face was the last thing I saw before everything went black.

____

Faixatuu.