Holding On

ᴛᴡᴇʟᴠᴇ

Kevin studied the woman sitting across from him in Granny's Cafe, studying her facial features and all the emotions that were running through her expression. Her normally full face was now a mask of misery.

It looked gaunt and haggard with bags under the eyes, suggesting that she hadn't been sleeping well for a couple of days if at all.

He had a very good reason why that was so.

“You must know something, Kevin.” She said desperately, lines of frustration and weariness crinkling around her eyes. “You must know why Zain is doing this. Why he's pushing me away. Why he won't be with me even when I know he wants to.”

Kevin remained silent and stared at her, his mind racing with conflict. On one hand, he did know the true motives behind Zain's actions, inasmuch as he didn't agree with them. On the other hand, he still had his loyalty to Zain to consider.

“Did it ever occur to you that perhaps he really doesn't feel anything for you anymore?”

“That's bullshit. Zain feels as much for me as I feel for him. You and I both know that.” She spoke with her jaw set firmly. “I know I hurt him once, Kevin. Is that it? Is that why he wants nothing to do with me. I know that's the most logical explanation but sometimes it just feels like there's so much more he's not telling me. And because of that, I can't reach him. Please help me, Kevin.”

Leaning forward, Kevin placed his elbows on the table, nodding his head. If he'd had any doubts that Emma was in love with Zain, then all that doubt was gone now. This type of concern was genuine and didn't just disappear when times got tough. At least he hoped so.

“Look, Emma. Zain's my best friend and trusts me to keep his secrets safe. I can't tell you much. All I can say is that he needs you. You need to prove to him that you're real, that you won't hurt him again. That you're here to stay no matter what the future brings.”

Her forehead creased in a frown. “What could happen that would be so bad?”

“Like I said, don't give up on him. let him know you love him. And be there for him.” He reclined in his seat. “I have a meeting coming up in some minutes. I need to go.”

Emma nodded dazedly as Kevin stood up. He left the cafe, hoping, praying that his best friend got the happily ever after he deserved. No matter how short it might be.

***

Zain picked up the shot of stiff scotch that the bartender had pushed his way and downed it in one gulp. The liquid burned as it slid home, yet it did nothing to cremate the misery he was feeling.

It'd been four days. Four fucking days since the last time he'd spoken to Emma. Zain had known pushing her away was going to be hard, but it was so much harder when she was all he thought about all the damn time.

From the moment he woke up to the moment he slept, she was all he thought about. Yesterday, at a shoot, he'd had to beg off and ask for a reschedule because the sheer number of retakes he'd had to do due to lack of focus had been exhausting.

The first two days, Emma had tried several means to contact him but he'd made sure to thwart them all. The last two days of her silence had been so much harder.

More than once he found himself wondering about the wisdom of his decision, whether he was making the right choice. That alone was alarming.

He could only hope that it would get better with time. Two years ago, losing Emma had left him broken and miserable but with time the ache had dulled and he'd stopped thinking about her somewhat. He hoped he could write the same story this time too.