Love Affair

A Story by Musa Danyal

it was my first night in the military hospital after a near-fatal injury to my lower left calf; by gunshot. i was grieving myself to sleep when a short, plump nurse entered, informing me about a mystery visitor.

"Ma'am, you have a visitor."

A tall, broad man entered my private room with a bouquet of red roses and a gift wrapped with gold, shiny paper and a white bow as a finishing touch.

It was my step-brother, he appraised. He'd come to the hospital to brief me about the death of my father. Upon hearing this news, my heart slowly began to die. tears flow down the edges of my cheeks, jaw bones too. He noticed my pain; approached me and offered his care.

"Hearing about Dad's death made my heart wilt too, but somehow I got over it and faced the consequences."

I wasn't completely fond of this idea as the family problems from the past played a vit role in our relationship; but I decided to let him so.

Over the past six months, his actions and words were all thoughtful, and surprisingly lovely. Every morning, I'd wake up to breakfast-in-bed. That too made by him. He'd risk his work time to take care of my emergency moments. He'd replace the unsanitary gauze around my wound with new ones. Buy me flowers every afternoon; cateleyas and lilies mainly. He'd play and sing me tunes on his guitar. Read me stories too. I'm not gonna lie, he's seen my naked body a lot while he changes me too.

These past 6 months changed the way i saw his soul. It was pure, and frankly positively reacting to mine.

He took me in with open arms, and i healed. My rehabilitation was complete, I could finally walk. They hospital staff let me off home. That same night, i dressed up. Black Lace, from chest to shins. I didn't wear make-up. he preferred it that way; all natural.

I knocked on his door, He opened.

"Hi, uhm. it's only been a couple of hours since i last saw you, i already miss you. But the main reason i came over is to confess you this; these past few months my impression of you changed. I used to think you were a dick, ever since the problems arised. But your actions and words changed my mindset, changed me. From all these, the only words relevant to you are, I love you."