TULIPS
As she awoke, Samarra’s gaze was drawn to the ample space of the bed. There was no sign of anyone sleeping beside her, as there had been the night before. She couldn’t help but cry; they hadn’t seen or spoken to Zachary in four days, but she felt like years had passed. She clenched her teeth and bit her lower lip.
She awoke alone as a substitute because she didn’t want to appear unhappy in front of Zachary. She recalls fighting with Zachary that day.
When she turned away, Samarra couldn’t stop the tears from falling from her eyes. Zachary and his girlfriend Claudel, she believes, are always together with something that pierces her heart. She didn’t want to say that to Zachary, but she couldn’t stop.
She assumed Zachary would tell her he wanted to be with Claudel. Her heart is broken. She didn’t want to appear depressed. She didn’t become Samarra Miel O’ Harra to be mocked and pitied by others.
Samarra felt like a burning candle as soon as she closed the door. Her knees had weakened. She sat down and hugged her knees. She wanted to go down and apologize to Zachary, but she couldn’t because of all the what-ifs running through her head.
She stood up numb to her feet, not knowing how many minutes or hours she had been sitting behind the door. She made the bed and lay down, allowing herself to cry.
No one cried in her situation because she and Zachary were married and had all the rights, but she couldn’t bear the thought of locking him up with her if he didn’t want to.
Samarra sobbed herself to sleep. She had no idea where Zachary was because their room was still closed when she awoke, indicating that he had not dared to enter.
She took a deep breath before getting out of bed. She needed to be able to think clearly. Perhaps she needed to speak with Zachary about his plans for them. Even though she is in pain, she will agree if Zachary asks them to separate.
She stood up as she walked to the bathroom to take a bath and relax. She closed her eyes and soaked in the bathtub. She also washed for 30 minutes before showering. She left the bathroom as soon as she felt comfortable and went to her walk-in closet to get some underwear.
She had just finished getting dressed and was walking straight into bed when the door unexpectedly opened, so she turned her gaze to the door. Samarra could see Zachary’s serious face as he stared at her for a moment before heading straight into the bathroom, so she waited for him to come out.NôvelDrama.Org owns © this.
“Cadden,” she said as Zachary emerged from the restroom.
Zachary walks straight to the walk-in closet, his gaze avoiding her. As if she were visible to him.
Samarra felt a pang in her chest. She followed him to apologize for what she had said earlier.
“What?” Zachary asked irritably.
Samarra froze when she heard Zachary’s cold voice. Her courage had vanished. She did not apologize.
“Are you leaving?”
“Is it still necessary for me to inform you? So, where am I going?”
Samarra swallowed and shook. She didn’t know how to approach Zachary.
“No, what time are you-”
“Bullshit! Why Ara? Do you care? Do you still care about me?”
Samarra bit her lower lip to keep the tears from welling up in the corner of her eye.
Yes! She wanted to say. She fears that Claudel remains heavier in Zachary’s heart despite her confession. What was her match with Claudel? Zachary’s girlfriend for three years was Claudel.
Her? How long had her marriage to Zachary lasted? Is she allowed to stop him?
Her eyes welled up with tears as Zachary exited the room.
Samarra, you’re crying again. He’s also going home. She convinced herself.
She took a deep breath and decided to stand up. She was also absent from school a few days ago when she and Zachary went home. She hasn’t left the house. She must devise a strategy for what she will do if she and Zachary divorce.
She went outside and cleared the garden to get some fresh air. She was standing with tulips in her hands.
“I remember giving you a tulip when you first woke up in the hospital after your long sleep.”
Samarra smiled while holding the tulip. She didn’t look back at the person speaking to her because she knew only one person had done that to her. And the man who didn’t leave her seemed to build a wall between them gradually.
“I remember your face, how happy you were to see me, and how happy you were when you saw my hand holding a flower.”
Samarra bit her lower lip so hard that her eyes became wet.
“I remember you were saying that it was your first time receiving a flower, and I am very special to you. I just wanted to say how happy I am that you are happy with my brother. I love you as… as a younger sister. Never forget that I am always here for you.”
The words Ezekiel spoke caused Samarra’s tears to fall. Something was pressing against her heart. She couldn’t even look behind her because she knew he was crying.
“It hurts me to see you in pain. If I could, I’d take all of your sufferings. Miel, I’m just dropping by to see how you’re doing.”
Samarra turned around and hugged Ezekiel on the spot. All she could do was cry.
“OK, just cry until you feel better,” Ezekiel advised.
It took a few minutes for Samarra to stop sobbing and be embarrassed enough to back away from Ezekiel a little.
“Do you have a better feeling now? Could you please share your thoughts?”
She nodded to Ezekiel and moved away while holding his hand. Ezekiel led her into the house. He set up the dining room with the food in microwavable storage.
“You ought to eat something.”
She followed Ezekiel’s gaze as he took a plate and glasses from the table. He placed the food in front of her as well.
“Are you not going to eat?” She inquired when she noticed Ezekiel wasn’t eating and was staring at her.
He laughed. “I’m already finished.”
She nodded and resumed her meal. Although she was disgusted by Ezekiel’s serious stare, she ignored him.