She accepts the apple and traces the skin with the tip of her nail. “You didn’t even see a reason to ask me to move?”
“I don’t see your point.”
Concern leaks into her expression when she looks at my left hand. “Liya, you’re not wearing your wedding ring.”
I shrug. “It was too tight.”
“Liar.”
I hold my breath while clinging to the apple. I don’t even want to eat it. I just want something in my hands. My left ring finger feels so…cold.
My heart pounds in my throat while I run my fingers over the smooth red skin of the apple. When I hold it to my lips, I whisper, “I gave it back to him.”
She nods. “And why did you do that?”
“He’s going down a dark road.” My gaze flickers to the kitchen door. “And I don’t want to follow him there.”
Thunder roars in my ears. It takes me a second to realize it’s my heartbeat and not a sign of rain—though it’s likely we’ll have another storm. And I welcome the noise.
It’s better than hearing my thoughts.
Karina looks pensive. She’s playing with the apple and studying the red skin. I take a bite out of mine, feeling the need to do something while she gathers her words. I know she’s going to defend her brother.
She’s always done it. She’ll always do it. She’ll tell me how I’m supposed to be a good wife to the pakhan, how my duty is to support him even if it seems like he’s wrong. I’m carrying his child, after all. I’m obligated to follow him.
The apple struggles to make its way down my throat even though I’ve chewed it thoroughly. The lump returns. My eyes burn.
I’m still waiting for her to respond when a tear escapes my eye.
Then Karina speaks, and she surprises me with just two words.
“I understand.”
I blink rapidly. “What?”
“My brother is a stubborn mule,” she says. “He’s always been thick in the head and set in his ways. I told him one day it would come back to bite him.”
The lump recedes. My heartbeat slows. “Yeah?”
“I wouldn’t want to watch him make any big mistakes either.”
“I’m relieved to hear you say that.”
The skin between her brows dimples. “Have you told anyone else?”
“It happened in the car on the way here. I haven’t really had time to process it.”
She takes my hand. “I’m sorry to hear that, Liya.”
“I didn’t think…” I choke. “I wasn’t prepared to…”
She squeezes my hand. “You don’t have to carry it all by yourself, you know.”
“I’m trying not to, but there’s just…so much…”
Tears bathe my face, relentlessly soaking every square inch of my cheeks. I’m shivering with quiet sobs as Karina wraps me in a loving hug. It takes a while for me to calm down. When I do, I lean back and close my eyes. They’re puffy from crying.
I take a shaky breath. “What do I do, Karina?”