Zuria
The cool evening breeze swept across my face, soothing my flushed skin. I stopped running and bent over, hands braced on my knees, struggling to catch my breath. My lungs burned, protesting the exertion as I wheezed, trying to suck in air. A deep, unrelenting cough wracked my body, shaking me to the core.
"Damn it, Zuria," Danny's voice cut through the haze, and I looked up, still trying to catch my breath. He stood a few feet away, his chest rising and falling just as fast as mine, eyes wide with confusion.
"What… What was that?" His voice, though laced with exhaustion, was laced with disbelief. "Why would you… run so fast?"
I couldn't help it. I couldn't even explain it to myself. The rush of adrenaline was all-consuming, something about pushing my body to its limit made me feel alive in a way that no amount of misery or hurt had ever made me feel before.
I straightened up and moved toward the nearest bench, sinking onto it, trying to calm the beating of my heart. Danny approached, still breathing heavily, and stood over me, hands planted firmly on his hips.
"Seriously, Zuria? What the hell was that?" His brow furrowed as he stared down at me.
I couldn't help but laugh—a short, breathless chuckle. "What? You're mad now?"
"I'm not mad," Danny replied, though his tone suggested otherwise. "I just… what's going on with you?"
I turned my gaze toward the street, the faint lights of distant cars barely visible in the darkening sky. "I don't know," I murmured. "It just felt good, you know? For once, I just wanted to feel free."
He shook his head, an exasperated sigh slipping past his lips. "Do you remember that you're pregnant, Zuria?" The question hit me like a cold splash of water, dragging me back into the harsh reality I was desperately trying to outrun.
My heart stopped. The exhilaration I felt moments ago fizzled out. I was pregnant. The babies. Arien's betrayal. The storm of emotions surged back like a tidal wave. Without realizing it, the tears began to fall.
I hadn't meant to cry. I wasn't ready for this. But there I was, sitting on that bench in the dark, helplessly weeping.
Danny's expression shifted from confusion to something softer, more understanding. He knelt beside me, his presence a comforting weight. "Hey, what's going on? Why are you crying all of a sudden?"
I couldn't speak. I tried, but my throat tightened with the sobs I couldn't stop. Every thought, every painful memory crashed against me. The endless disappointment, the rejection, the feeling of being alone in a world that never seemed to care.
Danny's hand rested on my shoulder, a gentle touch, one that somehow grounded me. "Zuria, I didn't mean to upset you."
I wiped my eyes furiously, trying to compose myself. "It's not you," I whispered, my voice hoarse. "I'm just so tired, Danny. I'm so… tired."
He sat down next to me, a protective presence that I hadn't asked for but desperately needed. "I know, I know. But hey, this is not your fault, alright? None of this is your fault."
The weight of his words barely registered as my chest ached. "But it keeps happening, Danny. Over and over again, wherever I go, it's the same. People look at me and they hate me. They… they make my life miserable."
Danny sighed, frustration seeping into his voice. "Zuria, no. You're not the problem. Some people are just cold-hearted, cruel for no reason. You don't deserve that."
I shook my head, my tears coming faster now. "But… what if it's me, Danny? What if I'm the one who's broken? What if I'm the one who makes everyone else turn on me? What if I deserve it?"
He moved closer, his arm wrapping around me, pulling me against him. "No, no, Zuria," he said softly, his voice steady. "You're not broken. You're one of the strongest people I know. But the world… it's not fair. You can't control how others treat you, okay? You've done nothing wrong."
I let his words sink in, even though I wasn't sure if I fully believed them. "I don't know anymore," I muttered. "I'm just… so tired. Of pretending everything is okay when it's not. And now, I've got these babies. And I don't even know if I want them. I'm not sure I'm ready for this."
Danny was quiet for a moment, letting my words hang in the air. Then, he spoke, his tone gentle but firm. "Zuria, I get it. I do. But you're stronger than you think. You can't let the past keep dragging you down, especially not now. These babies… they're innocent. They didn't do anything wrong. You can't take your anger out on them."
I stood up abruptly, the words stinging more than I expected. "You don't understand," I snapped. "I can't look at them without thinking of him. Arien. His face, his lies, his betrayal. If I carry these babies, it'll be a constant reminder of what he did to me. I can't go through that."
Danny stood too, his hands outstretched, his voice calm but firm. "Zuria, I know you're angry. Hell, I'm angry too. But you can't keep running away from this. You need to face it, deal with it. You're not alone, not anymore."
I took a step back, the emotions bubbling up again. "I don't need anyone's advice right now, Danny. I don't need you to tell me what I should do. I just need… to be alone. For once. To figure this out on my own."
Danny's face softened, but he didn't push. Instead, he just gave me a long look, one full of understanding, before nodding. "I get it. You need space. But don't forget, I'm here. Whenever you need me, you just call. No questions asked."
I didn't answer immediately. I just looked at him, this person who had so unexpectedly entered my life and, in such a short time, had become one of the few people I could trust.
"I don't understand why you're doing this for me," I said quietly, my voice trembling. "Why are you helping me? You don't owe me anything."
Danny laughed, but there was no humor in it. "Do I need a reason?" he asked, shrugging. "I saw you. Really saw you. And yeah, maybe that sounds like a cliché, but it's true. You've been through hell, and I thought, maybe I could help. If no one else will, why can't I be the one who steps up?"
I swallowed, unsure of how to process his words. He didn't have an ulterior motive. He wasn't expecting anything in return. He just wanted to help.
"I don't know what to say," I whispered.
"You don't need to say anything," Danny replied with a small smile. "Just know that I'm here. And I'm not going anywhere."
I nodded, wiping away the last of my tears. I wanted to believe him. I wanted to believe that I wasn't completely alone.
But then, just as I was starting to collect myself, Danny's voice broke the silence again. "What about the babies, Zuria? What are you going to do with them? You're not seeing a doctor, you're not getting any advice..."
I stiffened, the question hitting me harder than I expected. I turned away, unable to look at him.
"I don't care about the pregnancy," I said flatly, my voice cold. "I don't care if I lose them. I don't care if I give birth or if I don't. This wasn't planned. This wasn't something I wanted. And no one is going to change my mind."
Danny took a step forward, concern lining his features. "Zuria, listen to yourself. You can't just shut everything down. I get it, you're angry. But those babies didn't ask for any of this. And you can't let your bitterness destroy them before they even have a chance."
I turned to face him, my chest tightening. "I can't look at them and see him, Danny. I can't."
There was a long pause as Danny seemed to process my words. Finally, he spoke, his voice lower now, more serious. "Alright. It's your choice. But you need to take care of yourself, alright? That's the most important thing."
I nodded, though the weight of his words settled uneasily in my chest. "Thanks," I muttered.
"Anytime," Danny said softly, smiling again. "Now, are we getting out of here or what?"
I took a deep breath, brushing away the remnants of my tears. "Yeah. Let's go."
We walked back in silence, heading toward familiar streets. The darkness of the night seemed a little less heavy now, though my heart still felt burdened. But Danny was right there beside me, and for once, I wasn't alone.
And that, I realized, was enough for now.