Chapter 31

OVER AGAIN Aliyah felt like she had been dragged through mud for miles, slowly she opened her eyes to the sudden rays of the sun. Flinching, she turned her head sharply gazing at the familiar surroundings of her room. What happened? She thought she had died? Struggling to sit up, the last person she expected to see walked in, Elijah. He held her gaze, she could not tell if he was relieved or disappointed to see her alive. Who was she to expect much? She was done hoping for anything. He looked into her eyes intensely, surprised at how beautiful she was even after being unconscious for a week, no eye bags, no dark circles, nothing. The weight of his stare made her look away uncomfortably. Aliyah heard him step forward, suddenly engulfing her in a bone-crushing hug, a hug which she could not return as he was left wondering why he was being affectionate. Pulling away slowly, he lifted the tiny strands of hair covering her face, red hair cascaded down her shoulders like flames in the mor