HER

27

Goodbyes were the worst part of life, sometime so sudden, so heartbreaking that you would feel like you can't breath anymore. Numbness would spread throughout your whole being and for days it would feel like life has stopped moving for you. You still would find yourself stuck somewhere back in the past, lost in memories of someone who is never going to come back again. Sometimes you would find yourself staring at space blankly and then a mountain like burden would fall on you so soddenly and a realization would struck you hard. 

The person had left and the life is still going on, even without them.

Tragic.

But tragedies ware a big part of Laila life. Her best friend had said his final goodbye even without facing her for the last time and was never going to come back. That was the only thought clouding her mind as she sat on the floor staring at the letter in her hand.

He too left.

But he went through something much worse then her. The thought of it broke her heart. Something so terrible had traumatized him made her heart clench. His nightmares could be much dark and horrendous made her want to scream. 

This world was much more frightful then she thought.

It taints such innocent mind like a plague. Wicked minds and cruel hearts of people made this world a horrible place to live for even a child.

A child like Azlan.

'Stars are beautiful.' Her own voice resonated in her ears.

'So is my little Laila.' The new voice pierced her heart.

A sound was heard yet Laila sat there. Someone said her name but her mind was too numb to process it. Footsteps neared but she could not look away from that letter. Maybe someone sat in front of her.

'Don't let this world ruin you, Little Laila.'

"Laila."

'I am best friends with my own nightmares.'

"Laila, look at me."

'Demons don't haunt me, I have made enemy out of them.'

"Hey, listen to me."

'Goodbye little-'

Someone shook her hard. The little world in her mind finally broke and she looked at the person. A crazed look in her eyes and lips quivering.

"I don't know what should I even cry for." The words whispered were so low then even winds wouldn't have heard her. So soft, so ruptured. Like the hope the shined just now had broke badly.

Like a fall of Icarus.

Faris stared at his wife, tears welling up in his eyes looking at her state. "Shh."

Faris had received the letters few days before marriage, one for himself and one for Laila. So did all of his other friends. He didn't want to give this letter to her now. The girl already had too pain resting inside her, the burden of her past had already crushed her enough. He didn't have heart to add more to it. Not now, not ever. Not when they just got married.

He had received his own letter and he had an idea about Laila's too. The idea of seeing tears again in her eyes stopped him from giving that letter to her. Now she had read it.

The pain meant for her had reached her not matter what he did.

Their friend had left. The pain of him leaving lingered in his heart every single moment he spend. Now seeing the last words on letter in Laila's hand made him realize how much worse Laila's pain could be.

'Why Allah? Why it always have to be my wife?'

Faris tried to stop the tears welling up in his eyes. Yet a rogue tear slid down his cheek. His wife was in pain and then pain prickled Faris.

He pulled her to him self, resting her head against his chest. "Laila, my love." 

"He was the only one who understood." Winds cried along her. "He left Faris. He left just like that."

The sun looked down at the crying couple sadly.

Only Allah knows how much more pain was written in their fates. How much more this world could shatter them. The one who gave solace and the one who thrived for solace.

"Pray for him to be happy Laila. That's the least we can do for him." He murmured kissing her temple gently. 

"He didn't deserved that."

"No one deserves any of that."

They sat their. Cried for hours and found comfort in each other's embrace. Time passed yet none seemed to realized. Their pain numbed every other thing.

"We have to move on." 

"How? H-how can we w-when we know about what he had to g-go through all this t-time?" She hiccupped, words getting stuck in her throat. "H-he left that m--mor-ning-"

"Laila."

"j-just for p-peace-"

"Laila, listen to me first."

"of my m-mind."

Faris cupped her face making he look up at him "This was better for both of you. He did it for his own peace of mind too."

"It hurts Faris."

"I know Love I know." He again rested her head on his shoulder. "It will be alright."

Both of them sat there for hours. Cried for their lost friend, grieved for their haunting past, cursed the demons who stole their innocence. Begged Allah for guidance and asked for help. That's they could do and that's all they did as Faris pulled his wife up. Made he pray to Allah.

For who could help them more then Allah himself and indeed Allah is the only helper.