Bookworms | ✔

thirty-five

"Mother's Day is coming up and usually my parents force me to spend it with them, especially my... my mom," he whispered the word, averting his gaze to the carpeted floors. "I... I can't do it. I can't survive a minute longer with them. I can't."

"Can I ask why?" she asked softly like she was speaking to a scared child.

He sighed, threading his fingers into locks of blonde hair. "Dina," he stressed, lifting his gaze to bore into hers, "they sent me to a mental institution."

A barely audible gasp was heard, empathy coating the clear glaze of her eyes, lips shaking as Dina tried to fathom the world in which Nicholas was raised. The evident pain that lurked in her eyes mirrored his, shocked and speechless at the naked truth. He felt vulnerable.

"One night in high school, my friends and I got in a very bad car accident. The accident left me broken and bruised, but it left my best friends with... with torn limbs, bloodied bodies, and a stagnant heart," he breathed, a sharp pain throbbed against his skull, eyes remembering the crimson liquid that stained his clothes. He squeezed his eyes shut when the memory became unbearable.

Gentle fingers stroked the edge of his cheeks, wiping at damp spots. Opening his eyes, he saw Dina working her magic with only her presence and her silent support. From their seated positions, she cradled his cheeks, brushing the stray tears away with only the tips of her fingers, with only her love.

"Did they send you there because of the accident?" she whispered.

He nodded, more tears falling like deserted rivers polluted with despair. "I-I don't want to go back," he cried, arms holding her close. "I can't. T-They left me when I n-needed them the m-most. I don't want to go back."

"Shh," she murmured, "it's all okay, Nick. Everything is going to be alright."

"I-It hurt to know that t-they hated me."

"Hey, I'm sure they don't hate you. They're your parents, Nick. No matter what, there is a part of them that will always love you, that will always care for you, that will always mourn for you. They don't hate you," she tried to reason.

He pulled back from her embrace. "Then why have they never said it? Why did they send me there for a year? Why would they leave their son like that?" questioned Nicholas, anger coating his every word as defeat hovered over his head like a target ready to be hit. "I just want to know why."

"I'm sorry but I can't answer that question, Nicholas. Only your parents can."

He slumped his shoulders in defeat.

"But I can go with you if it makes you feel better. My brothers and Elijah could go too if you want," she offered with an optimistic smile. "You're not alone anymore, Nick. We'll find the answers together. After all the trauma you experienced, it's time to get some closure."

He knew that she was right, but he also knew that Dina's religious beliefs prohibited her from going anywhere alone with him, especially meeting his parents. Nicholas had been reading a little about Islam everyday in hopes to understand Dina's complexity and to seek answers that he chased after. He wanted to find a way for them to be together with no criticism or fear of the forbidden.

But he knew that he couldn't go through another meeting with his parents alone.

"Will you help me?" he asked, legs shaking as he awaited her refusal.

She grinned. "I'll go assemble the crew."

Confusion swirled his mind like a tornado setting havoc to his mentality. Once again, Dina surprised him with her unexpected take on life, a bubbly personality that ran after those in need. He found himself falling deeper in love with the Muslim girl who managed to melt his heart of ice.

"Why are you doing this?"

The question caught her off guard, causing Dina to drink in the meaning behind his question. Biting her bottom lip, she became uncertain in her answer and almost fearful of Nicholas's reaction. He simply gazed at her with fondness, wondering how such a beautiful creature was ever created.

As if giving herself a burst of confidence, Dina smiled. "Because I love you."

And that was exactly what Nicholas needed. 

----

A lot of you guys have been asking to update my three ongoing books, but believe me when I say that I am really trying to. It's AP exam season and studying, debating, tutoring, and even driving lessons are really taking up my free time. 

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT I WON'T UPDATE. 

I still will, but the week of all my AP exams, which happens to be the first week of Ramadan, will have either one or no updates that week. I'll still try no worries. Just cut me some slack these next three weeks. 

What do you think Dina will do to help Nick?

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