ZAHRA
“I know it sounds bad, Zahra, but it’s the only way. I need to do this to protect you. I can’t watch you die. I won’t.” For a moment, I swear I saw a hint of emotion flash in his eyes, but just as he blinked, it was gone. “I’ll give my life to save yours, as I promised.”
I don’t know what got into me, but as fear mixed with disbelief, I burst out laughing. A nervous, terrified laugh. “You’re not serious. You can’t be!” I accused, but when his face remained stoic, my heart raced with dread. “You swore you’d always be by my side. You can’t run away now! Not after-” I ran out of words as I remembered everything we went through. In the end, I shook my head, lifting my hands to hold his face in them. “It’s not the only way. We can still fight, like we always have! We always win, togethe
