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Valeria
“And you’re done!” Zara beamed, stepping back. “Khalid is going to pray as soon as he sees you.”
I smiled at her. The light makeup she had applied made me feel better. It had been a couple of days since the baby shower. Khalid was making sure I ate regularly and bathed me, always being gentle when he touched me as if I would break.
He was right. I might break if someone grabbed me out of the blue.
“Do you want me to take you to his room?” Zara asked in a soft voice, keeping away the products.
I had talked to her about her studies when she had knocked on my door just as the sun set. She was studying photography and traveling the world all on her own. Even though she was a Princess of one of the richest countries in the world, she earned her own money and lived by herself. I was glad that Zain and Khalid had done a good job spoiling their little sister with love and not materialistic things.
I shook my head, “I can manage, thank you, Zara.”
“You can call me anytime you need someone to talk to, Valeria, okay?” Her dainty hand held mine as she squeezed it. “I promise to listen to you and scold my brother if he ever hurts you.”
I let out a chuckle, hugging her petite frame, noticing that she was as tall as me. “I promise, Zara. I am here if you need to talk.” I pulled back, wishing I could sense her scent.
Khalid
“Did you enjoy the dessert?” I asked, noticing she had eaten more of it than the main course.
Night air flew around us as the balcony of my room glowed with the lantern lights. I had set up a date night because we both needed it. I had asked Zara to spend some time with Valeria, and she was more than willing to do it.
“It’s tasty,” Valeria replied, leaning back on the low sitting.
Her hair was in a braid, few wisps framing her dainty face as she gazed up at the night sky, closing her eyes.
When I tried to caress her hand, she visibly froze. My hand hovered over hers. Clenching my jaw, I pulled away, but she closed her hand around my arm, entwining our fingers together and keeping it in her lap.
I didn’t know how I could help her. I didn’t know how I could make her happy.
“Are you okay, my sweet?” I asked, forcing myself to stay seated and not pull her onto my lap. I had avoided touching her in a way that may lead to more intimacy.
She lifted our entwined hands to her face, pressing her cheek on the back of my palm. “I am trying to be okay, Khalid,” she whispered.
I cupped her face, a light flush on her cheeks. “Tell me how to make things right.”
Valeria pulled away, looking from me. “I don’t know. I am mad that I lost my sight. My sense of smell. I would do anything to have it back, but I can’t and it makes me feel weak.”
“You are anything but weak, Valeria.”
She glared at me, tears gleaming in her eyes. “How would you know?” She shook her head, wiping away her tears. “I don’t want to talk about it right now.”
Valeria didn’t give me time to reply and continued, “Tell me about the painting. Is it finished?”
I took a deep breath and answered, “Yes, almost done. I need to apply retouches.” I didn’t tell her that I needed to draw her eyes, and I was making excuses not to draw and paint them. I didn’t know why I felt scared to do them.
She hummed, hugging her knees to her chest. “Did you think of a name?”
“I was thinking along the lines of roses. I am not sure.”
Valeria faced me. I leaned back on the sitting when she willingly climbed onto my lap, her fingers feathering my hair. “How aboutRose Colored Sorrow?”
“Maybe.”
She pressed her lips against mine, cupping my jaw in her hands, slowly moving her kisses down my neck, unbuttoning my shirt.
“Valeria,” I said, stopping her. “What are you doing?”