(Skyla)
Arata was finally coming ho and my heart refused to ease. There was sothing they were hiding from , I could almost sense it.
I had hoped that Arata would have an easier life than . She would find love and settle down. That the shadows of our past won’t co to haunt her.
But all my fears and all my nightmares returned and hurt my daughter. Chopping away pieces of her dignity.
Such incidents leave scars, not only physically but emotionally, too. Deep deep scars that never heal.
Although I had been blessed with the most caring man on this planet, who helped escape this darkness. And yet, I had nightmares at tis, especially when he was away from .
Huria’s voice brought back to the present world.
"Sky! You have to act normal in front of her. No matter what the news they will give you, just be strong for her." Huria placed her hand on my shoulder and pressed. "I know you got this but she needs you in more ways than you can count."
"I will be there for her but I feel like I failed as a mother. She used to share everything with us and now she even hid her pregnancy."
Arata didn’t tell about it and was too overwheld on the phone. But Zyair did and asked not to ntion it to her until she was ready to share.
"Sky, rember the kind of relationship I had with my family? I never used to share anything with them." Huria reminded before continuing. "Even though you guys have a close relationship, Arata is a grown-up now. She will make her own choices and she will definitely not share everything with you guys. No matter how close you are to your parents, there is always a gap."
I understood her. Dad was alive when I had a one-night stand with Zyair and there was no way I could ever tell him.
"I know but I am more worried about Zyair. He will not let Arata ever have the kind of freedom she wants. He has always been frightened of soone doing the worst to our kids, and that’s exactly what happened," I lanted, leaning on Huria’s shoulder.
She patted my cheek. "Who would have thought that a plastic shop could get pregnant with Doran’s baby? Are we even sure he is Doran’s son and not so random kid she picked up from so orphanage?" She referred to Karen.
I sighed. "He seems to be. The resemblance is uncanny." Grabbing my phone, I took out the picture of Ranold, Zy had sent and showed it to Huria.
She squinted her eyes. "Yup, he is an exact copy of that devil. When we thought he was gone for good."
Sighing, Huria returned my phone and we sat in silence for a while.
The horn of the car sounded outside and we knew they were here.
Quickly, getting up we rushed outside. Mom ena was taking a nap, so hopefully, I could have a conversation with Arata before we had to act normal in front of her.
The car had been parked on the car patio and everyone was stepping out.
I saw my Arata and rushed towards her. She seed so fragile, all that exuberance and flair she carried seed to have been diminished. That devil had stolen my child’s thunder and I was blatantly reminded of my ti when Doran had abducted .
"Arata!" I choked out, reaching with my hands and taking her shoulders.
"Mom!" She whispered back, trying to be a brave girl and not cry. I just hugged her to my chest and she broke down in my arms, sobbing quietly.
"We got you. It’s over," I gently rubbed her back and found Zyair’s presence behind . His hand rested on my shoulder, providing us with his assurance.
Our protector, our one-winged angel.
He hugged us both, holding us close to his chest. His scent cald us down.
She finally quieted and we led her inside. Huria hugged her, too, speaking comforting words, and she slowly smiled at her aunt.
"I will freshen up and et you guys," Arata said and I knew she was going to go and cry in the bathroom.
"I will help you. anwhile, why don’t you guys have so tea and later we will have dinner together." I turned to others and they all gave reassuring nods.
Zy seed utterly tired. There were deep circles around his eyes. The very tension radiated from him. "Go lay down for a while. I will co to fetch you." I patted his chest and he grimly nodded at .
Soon I followed Arata to her room and found her just sitting on her bed, staring at her hands.
She had taken off the gloves and now I could see the scars littered against her soft skin.
The scars were very similar to the ones I carried.
The scars which I would carry to my grave.
The scars I had never imagined my daughter would have to carry and live with too.
Quietly I lowered myself beside her and slowly took her hand in mine. I placed my other hand side by side with hers.
"The scars show how resilient we are, Arata. You know who had scars?" I asked quietly, and my daughter didn’t disappoint.
She resiliently answered. "Warriors!"
I smiled with pride. "Exactly, we are warriors. We didn’t succumb to our torntors and oppressors. We fought back and stood triumph while they were forgotten."
Arata moved her free hand and rubbed the cigarette burn under my finger. She quietly asked. "Did Doran do this?"
Doran, how I prayed that I would forget that na. That he would stop haunting but his remnants were now haunting and hurting my daughter.
"Yes, he used to burn with his cigarette sotis. Your Baba has them too. People had done the sa to him."
When we thought the cycle would end with us it sohow spread to our kids.
"Why do people carry so much hate?" Arata leaned on my shoulder and I wrapped my arms around her, keeping her close.
"Their hearts know nothing but hate and revenge. That’s why. But we are not like those people." I rubbed her arm.
"We are not. I believe you guys but I would like to know more about Doran. The reality of what happened to him."
My heart took a dive at her words. I had always known that a day would co when she would want to know about him and that day was here.
Reviews
All reviews (0)