The Esther Paradigm by Sarah Monzon

Author:Sarah Monzon [Monzon, Sarah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781944638047
Publisher: Radiant Publications
Published: 2017-11-01T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Karim

Tension crackled on the air more than the fire in front of us. Samlil regaled the group with another tale, this time a folklore passed down from generation to generation. The others sat in rapt attention as he wound the story through its intricate details. My ears were closed to the telling, tuned only to Hannah beside me. I’d asked again for a story from her about America, her time there, if she wished, or the land of her birth in general. It had become a special time between us these last evenings. Though I knew her well, a lot could happen to change a person in six years. Through her stories, I felt she was opening up those missing pages of her life where I’d been missing.

But that book was shut to me now. She hadn’t denied my request for a story, but what she’d shared, the simple descriptions of the rolling hills of Tennessee, were impersonal and lacked the depth and openness of our previous times around the fire.

I’d apologized earlier for my thoughtless words, and I’d do it a thousand times more if it would build a bridge across this rift I’d created between us.

I picked up her hand and studied her unresponsive fingers. She didn’t flinch at my touch, of which I should be grateful, yet neither did she lean into it as she’d begun to do. My heart squeezed at the loss. My loss, yes, but more so hers.

I had shattered her trust. Broken her in some way that all that remained in my hand was an empty shell.

My Hannah had a voice that spoke against injustice. And surely I had not been just with my words. She should be yelling at me, putting me in my place.

I gazed around the group gathered. Perhaps in private she would feel secure enough to speak from her heart, and we could find a way together to make this right.

As I’d done every night, I stood and offered my hand to her, wishing those around the fire a good night. She slipped her palm against mine, her gaze cast to the ground as I led her away from listening ears and prying eyes.

Earlier I’d arranged our bedding close enough to the others for protection, far enough away for privacy. I led her to the pallet and pulled her down beside me.

Without a word, she unwound the hijab from her head and finger-combed her long, silky tresses. Taking up a brush, I scooted on my knees behind her and gathered her mane in one hand, running the teeth of the brush from the crown of her head to the tips of her hair that rested near her waist.

“I’m sorry again for what I said. I take my words back.”

She didn’t move to look at me, but her shoulders slumped a little. I didn’t want them to slump. I wanted them to snap like a whip ready for a fight.

“Words of truth should never be unspoken.”

“And words of anger should never be spoken at all.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.