“They threatened me… said they’d come after you if I didn’t pay everything back.”
Silence filled the room.
“So I left.”
Her eyes widened.
“I disappeared… to protect you.”
Fatima stepped back slowly.
“No… no… you’re lying…”
“I wish I was.”
He pushed another paper toward her.
“Look at the dates.”
She looked.
Hospital records.
Payment receipts.
His name.
Her name.
Everything matched.
Her legs almost gave up.
“For 10 years… I worked nonstop… just to pay that debt.”
His voice was shaking.
“I couldn’t come back… not until it was over.”
Fatima covered her mouth.
Tears finally fell.
“So… all this time…”
“I wasn’t running away from you…” he said softly.
“I was saving you.”
Silence.
