“Um…” I rub the back of my head. “I’m feeling confused, tired, angry, sad, frustrated.” Horny—I don’t say the last one.
She nods and gives me an encouraging smile as if I should say more.
But what should I say? I don’t know what answer she’s looking for or why this turned into a therapy session.
“I’m feeling hopeless, lonely, lost, heartbroken, miserable.”
“Liesel hurt you.”
I nod; she has no idea how much.
“Do you want to divorce her?” she asks.
“No,” I say automatically. I want the opposite of a divorce. I want Liesel to be bound to me forever.
She doesn’t react to my answer. I don’t know if I gave the correct answer or the wrong one.
“Do you hate her?”
“Yes, but—” I cut myself off; I can’t finish that sentence out loud.
She nods as if she understands.
“Do you forgive her?”
I blink at her, realization hitting me like a bus all at once. Liesel didn’t do something to get a clue in Peru. She had to do something in order to earn this one. She had to hurt me, be unfaithful to me, break me, and she did.
“Yes.” I forgive her. I already did before I even knew why she did it. That’s why I was so frustrated with her—as much as I keep trying to hate her, I can’t.
Ramla gives me a slow smile, before reaching into her pocket and sliding an envelope toward me on the table.
I put my hand on the envelope and slide it toward me.
“Be careful. There is a lot more darkness and danger coming your way. More tests to prove that your love can endure anything. Don’t lose sight of what’s important on the way to riches,” she says.
“Thank you,” I say as I tuck the envelope into my pocket before standing to return to Liesel.
She’s still sitting in the same chair where I left her, sipping her tea like it’s the only thing keeping her alive, which is probably true. I don’t see any signs that she vomited again, so hopefully, she’s starting to feel better.
She looks up at me with giant, expressive eyes screaming of her shame and fear.
Oh, my huntress, you have no idea how much I’m still yours. How I’ll always be yours.
I reach down, and she flinches.
I deserve that after how I’ve treated her. She doesn’t even realize that all I want to do is hold her hand.
I try again, this time making my intentions more clear as I take her hand.
“Did you get what we need?” she asks, looking behind me for Ramla.
“Yes,” I say, and then I lead her out back to the car parked on the side of the street. I put her in the passenger seat next to me before hopping into the driver’s seat and driving us away. I don’t know where I’m heading, just that I need a safe place where we can talk.
Thankfully, Liesel doesn’t talk, and she no longer seems sick—the pink has returned to her cheeks, and her eyes no longer look hollow as I drive.
I don’t know how long I’ve been driving or why I stop, but it feels like the right place. There are no cars around, no people, just what looks to be some Egyptian ruins. Nothing big or grand like some of the more well-known places, but a few stones and an archway.
I climb out of the car and take Liesel’s hand once again and lead her into the ruins.