Page 183 of She will Always be Mine

“Don’t leave me, Riaan,” I whisper brokenly. “Please.”

His fingers tighten around me while I fist his shirt as I feel him slipping away. Softening his features, he leans down until our lips touch. Kissing me softly, he whispers, “I love you, baby.”

“I love you too.”

A lone tear slips free and he kisses it away. “Sleep, Nyra. I’ll be right here when you wake up.”

I fight not to but my eyelids feel heavy as he continues caressing me, and soon I fall into a dreamless state. His proximity keeps my nightmares at bay as always.

But when I wake up the next morning, he’s gone.

Chapter Fifty-Nine

NYRA

My uncle is dead.

Apparently, he was killed at the prison he was being held at. It’s only been three days after the assault. The police told us he had a fight with one of the other prisoners and that they murdered him.

The first time I heard the news, I felt bone-deep relief. Not shock or sadness butrelief. Afterward, I felt like a horrible person for feeling that emotion. He was a terrible man but no one deserved to die so brutally.

My mother, on the other hand, took it hard.

I can’t even imagine the pain my aunt Vandana, who’s out on bail, and Zain must be feeling. She tried reaching out to me and Mom after realizing her awful mistake but the wounds are still too fresh for either of us to deal with her.

Zain had come to see me in the hospital the next day and apologized, telling me how deeply sorry he was for everything. We talked and decided to put the past behind us.

It’s been a week since I was discharged from the hospital. My parents are still in Pune while my sister left after vising me for a few days.

They have been by my side as I adjust and heal from the trauma. That day still haunts me but I did not let it consume me. There are times when I feel low, scared, and alone but with each day, they’ve become few and far between.

I immediately began therapy upon Mom’s insistence. She understands more than anyone what I’m going through and has been the source of my strength. If it’s possible, it’s brought us even closer.

Yes, I wish this wasn’t the circumstances which brought us together, but destiny is never in our hands.

There are just some things we just can’t control.

Tragedy. Future. Love.

All we can do is choose to move forward, be stronger, and love harder.

The black cloud that stalked me has completely evaporated as days go by. I’m surrounded by the people I love, except for one missing piece.

Riaan.

It’s been ten whole agonizing days since he left without a word and I haven’t heard from him since. My calls go to voicemail, my texts unanswered, and I feel abandoned. He’s ghosted me and the longer I go without hearing his voice, the wider the hole in my heart becomes.

The first few nights he was gone, I was hurt and sad. And despite wanting to crumble, I woke up each morning. I spent my days sitting on the couch waiting for him to return home or staring at my phone to hear from him.

My sadness slowly turned into anger but now I’m just missing him desperately.

I want my shadow back.

I want my man back.

I want his passionate touch, his intensity that peered down to my soul, and his deep voice calling me his.

So if he isn’t going to come to me, then I’ll bring him back.

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