Don't be afraid... I'm here

|Eshan|

I felt lost as those eyes stared at me in utter confusion. Confusion in them not had me feel uncomfortable. She was ought to be confused seeing me there.

What caused my breath to struck in my throat was the fright, I witnessed in those soulful eyes of my wife as she laid there on that hospital bed.

She did not like the injection. It was obvious when she tried to divert topic in our journey towards the clinic or the way she conversed with the doctor in his cabin. However, I did not expect, what I assumed dislike... was actually the fear. Fear that I was now seeing in her those beautiful eyes.

She laid stiff on her left side, her face scrunched up in distaste. Fingers of her right hand were balled into a fist near her chest so tightly that I could see they have turned white and her toes were curled inwards.

Watching her so vulnerable, I felt protective. I wanted to pick her up and run away, hiding her in my arms away from every misery, pain.

Despite the protests of my heart to take her away, I found myself seating beside her with my back towards her stomach and leaving a very little distance between us.

"Have you eaten anything in college?" I asked Innaya, moving my palm from her shoulder to her clenched fist, taking it in my own, rubbing it lightly.

I strongly wanted to hold her. However, I knew she would not appreciate me doing that, at least not in front of the Nurse present in the room. I was already taking too many liberties with her.

Another reason of refraining was I know she did not want the sympathy. Maybe she thought either I would pity her or would make fun of her, so she did not confide her fears with me. I wanted her to be comfortable with me and importantly on her own.

She just blinked her eyes twice trying to be strong yet I could see her internal struggle. Her eyes were like a mirror of her emotions. It amazed me how easily I could read her through them.

Slowly opening her fist, I entwined my fingers with her, feeling relieved that she did not pull back. The low whimper from her lips, sudden tightening of her grip on my palm and slight jerk of her body told me that the nurse present in the room had done her work.

"It's done. Wait for 15 minutes and then leave."

I nodded, thanking Nurse for her assistance as she informed us. The fading click of metal against the floor told me that Nurse had left giving us privacy.

"You okay?" I asked, helping her to sit.

My hands itched to wrap them around her, to have her closer, to ensure that she was safe. Innaya just hummed in response. She had her eyes closed, not allowing me to know how she felt. It hurt watching her being so closed up.

Acting against my own judgment, I inched closer to her and wrapped my hands around her, pulling her soft body gently in my arms. I knew she would not reciprocate the hug like last time where I had held her in the kitchen. However, after a few moments later I was pleasantly surprised when she put her hands around me, resting her head against my chest.

'Her eyes are the mirror of her emotions,

Showcasing the hidden secrets,

Words fail sometimes,

Unable to convey the message,

Instead a simple gesture of hers,

Is enough to realize,

The acceptance of her heart,

The foundation of trust we are building!'