Share
18.
Related chapters
An Unroyal Alliance 19.
Standing by the window in her darkened room, Ayesha washed the rain wash over the clear glass. It was only the second time since she arrived that she was witnessing a storm. Ayesha wished for a lighter rain, so she could walk under it without fear of being drenched from skin to bone. She wanted to dance under the showers and feel the pellets of water kiss her face.She rested her head on the glass, her phone in her hand. Joseph had long gone to bed, but she couldn't do the same.The nightmares had grown the past few weeks and robbed her of all joy. They had stopped in the past, but anxiety and worry were always the triggers to revive them.Wistful, she pushed the window open an inch. Big enough to allow fresh air in and a few wisps of rain. Her eyes lowered to her phone screen, and she stared at the contacts on her phone.Dimitri's, to be exact.It was nine in the evening, and she had no business calling him at such a late hour. She had nothing of his, no jacket to return or a bag to
An Unroyal Alliance 20.
"Your mother is glad to have you home." Dimitri looked up and accepted the glass his father handed over to him. With a weak smile, he allowed his eyes to follow the ripples that formed at the top."I have missed being home.""What's the saying? There's no place like home?""There isn't."Dimitri tried to spend as much time with his family as he could. So he was there more nights than not. His mother came over to his place. She left a few of her personal touches here and there. He welcomed it. Since he was a kid, she had poured all of her love into him.Of course, as he grew, she had to fall back and allow him space to grow, but he allowed her to fuss over him occasionally. He knew what it meant for her to have him around, which was why he had been hesitant and was still reluctant to tell her he was diagnosed with the same disease that took his father."How have things been going with Sofia?"Dimitri's brow lifted in surprise. "Why would you ask me that.""Your mother seems to think th
An Unroyal Alliance 21.
The leather surface of the steering wheel bit into her palms as she squeezed her hands over it. Pretending to be on the road, she turned the wheel left and right, imagining the sleek, red coup driving through the streets. She had never owned a car before. She had her license but never had a reason to buy one.They had been in the store for over an hour, going through cars to find one that didn't only fit their budget but also looked impeccable and in good shape. There were three Ayesha had her eyes on, and she couldn't choose, so she pushed the decision to Joseph, who decided to buy the red sedan."How is it." Joseph peeked in, resting his forearms on the window frame. "The imaginary ride you are on right now.""In a few minutes, it wouldn't be imaginary anymore. Have you paid?""Yeah." He held some papers by his head. "Everything is set. I even have the keys."She squealed with excitement, and Joseph laughed, jumping into the passenger seat and tossing the keys to her. The engine rev
An Unroyal Alliance 22.
Prepared to start his day early, Dimitri got into his car after ending a short call with Sofia. The previous day, she confirmed that the earring he found was hers, and he decided to hand it over to her on his way to work. It wasn't a long drive, and he preferred to do it himself, so he set off early, taking the fastest route to the apartment complex.After his conversation with his father and remembering all his sister said to him, he believed it would be better to create a bit of distance between Sofia and himself. No matter how he wished to change the past, she would forever be someone he loved. Someone he dated, and there would always be that memory between them.Friendship wasn't possible because it would be easy to confuse the feelings again. Easy to fall into the same rabbit hole that ate away at them day by day. Sofia assured him they were mature enough to handle seeing each other, and he agreed, but he also understood that there needed to be a limit. They had danced to the sam
An Unroyal Alliance 23.
"And you are looking extra pretty because?"Ayesha smiled at Joseph through the mirror as she struggled to get the hoop of her earrings through her ear."I can say the same to you, already in a suit.""Sports jacket." He corrected, straightening the lapels of the jacket and adjusting the arms. "I have a date to get to, and I am guessing that is the same thing with you?""Not a date.""Here we go with this nonsense again." Joseph walked over and perched himself on the dressing table, watching her while she applied her lipstick. "You have met him more than five times now, and you still refer to these meetings as "not dates". Do I look like an idiot.""Joseph," She heaved with exasperation. "Look, you are right. I like him. I do. But he doesn't see me like that. At least, I don't think he does. It's not a date. We enjoy each other's company, that's all.""If you like him, why don't you go for him.""What?""Are you waiting for him to make a move? You've been interested in other guys in t
An Unroyal Alliance 24.
“Unbelievable.” Ayesha looked at him and then back at the slow-moving traffic. Cars moved at an excruciating pace, and his car was far behind. All he could see were headlights. They had been sitting in the car for the past twenty minutes, contemplating what was causing the hold-up. Ayesha felt partly to blame since Dimitri had stopped by a convenience store to buy her a cold bottle of yoghurt to drink. He assured her it was nothing to worry about. They were still miles away from her apartment, and things weren't looking good for them. “What happened, do you think?” He stretched a bit, wiggling his fingers to get blood flowing through. “No clue. Something might have gone wrong up ahead. Maybe a car took a wrong turn or something.” “Hmm.” She sighed, clutching the yoghurt bottle in her hands. “Pray it’s not an accident. I can’t see too well. Maybe I’d come down and check it out.” “Are you in a rush?” “No. But I’ll like to know wh
An Unroyal Alliance 25.
"Today is the tenth year since your passing, and I am sitting in front of the river Gade in Watford. I moved towns again, but I think this is permanent. I bought an apartment with Joseph. I have a job and a skills class I take three times a week. I own a car and got an e-bike to take me from place to place. You should see them. They aren't anything fancy, but they sure are beautiful. I don't know if you have ever been here before. I think you would have liked it."I had another nightmare this morning. It isn't as bad as it was before, thank God. I don't wake up screaming and trashing around with Joseph struggling to hold me down. I wish they'd stop altogether, but I think I am still healing even after all this time. When I can't sleep, I sit by the window and lavish in the stars until the sun rises."Ayesha turned, looking behind her at a few joggers that scurried past, taking the trail down the river. She woke up early to set out on the road, cycling to the river. She brought along t
An Unroyal Alliance 26.
"Sorry for using you as a soundboard this morning.""Don't think about it. It's the least I deserve for intruding on a private moment." Her smile made him hopeful that her mood was lifting. "I am happy I could be useful."They walked along the bank, and Ayesha towed her bike beside her. It wasn't exactly how he saw his morning going when he drove to the river to begin his hike. He had walked for some time before he decided to break into a run, coming to a shocking stop when he spotted Ayesha by the river.He noticed her crying and immediately believed that she had gotten hurt. When she confirmed she wasn't hurt, he thought her roommate was ill again. It was a shock to learn that she was celebrating the anniversary of her brother's death. They never spoke about their family, but as he listened to her talk about hers, he could hear the sadness in her voice regarding the entire topic."How often do you hike through here?""A few times a month. There are a lot of great spots around, and I
Latest chapter
