Azora turned her face away from him and looked around. She froze when she saw the couple sitting across from her.
“Hello, Azora. I am Hana and this is my husband, Eman,” the female doctor introduced herself. “You are here at Living Hope House in Santander. How are you feeling?”
Instead of answering her question, Azora turned to him. “Have we arrived?”
He nodded and placed his hand on her shoulder. He noticed her body tense up upon seeing the two strangers in front of her. He felt her body relax slightly under his touch. He cleared his throat. “They are your doctors, and they will treat you in no time,” he said.
After a few seconds, Azora slowly nodded. Hana suddenly stood up, and Lamech was surprised when Azora grabbed the hand he had on her arm. He looked at her. It was the first time Azora had initiated holding his hand. He smiled secretly and pulled her closer to him.
Hana smiled. “You don’t need to be afraid, Azora. This is a safe place for you. My husband and I will leave you and Mr. Lamech here for a while. I’ll prepare some drinks.”
Lamech watched the figures of the doctor couple retreat. He then looked at Azora, who was frowning as she took in her surroundings. He could sense her heightened alertness, and he sighed. What had happened to her in the past few months that had broken the woman he had once admired for her courage?
“Azora,” he whispered. She looked at him, and he smiled. “Do you want to tour this place?”
Azora bit her lip and shook her head. “I don’t know this place.”
“That’s why I’ll show you around.” He stood up and extended his hand to her. “Come, I’ll show you around.”
At first, Azora hesitated, but eventually, she took his hand. He held her hand firmly and helped her up. She gasped, and he steadied her by holding her shoulders. When she regained her balance, she glared at him, and he responded with a sweet smile.
He guided her around the fairly large house. He had already researched the institution before their long journey, so he knew his way around. The house had many rooms where some of the couple’s patients lived.
Unlike a typical mental institution, the patients here weren’t insane; they had anger issues, anxiety attacks, depression, and PTSD. The couple only accepted select patients. Most patients didn’t leave their rooms, so they encountered only a few in the hallway, who mostly ignored them.
As they toured the house, Azora’s grip on his hand tightened. He held her shoulder and pulled her closer.
“Are you afraid?” he asked.
“I’m just wary. The last time I went into a house with many rooms, I almost didn’t escape from danger.”
Lamech’s lips formed a thin line. He didn’t ask further, sensing that his questions only increased her tension.
When they stepped onto the large balcony, Azora gasped. Before them lay a vast, glistening ocean under the sun. She ran towards the railing, seemingly ready to lean over, but he quickly wrapped his arms around her waist to prevent her from falling.
“Careful,” he warned, standing behind Azora with his arms around her waist.
He felt her freeze. After a moment, she leaned back against him. He was taken aback but took a deep breath.
They quietly watched the sparkling ocean. The sun was high, but a large canopy on the balcony shielded them from the heat. A strong breeze brushed their faces, but they stood comfortably, unaware of the few patients watching them from the corner of the balcony.
“Azora,” he called softly.
“What?”
“I promised myself to marry you after you recover.”
The woman was silent for a few minutes before speaking. “What if I don’t agree?”
“You’ll agree eventually.”
He heard Azora’s soft laughter. “You’re overconfident, Mr. Lepanto.”
He smiled and kissed the side of Azora’s forehead. “I’ll protect and cherish you, and only you, for the rest of our lives, my wife.”
Azora’s lips twitched, and she laughed again. “I bet you can’t do it. Don’t make such promises.”
“I bet I can. What if I can? Will you marry me?”
A tricky question. Azora quickly turned to face him. Lamech had a smile ready as Azora’s gaze landed on his face. Her eyes narrowed as she stared at him.
“Marry someone else,” Azora said seriously.
The smile disappeared from his lips. “Azora,” he whispered.
Azora looked away. “I loved someone else. Besides, I will become a burden to you… with this condition, no one can tolerate me. No one will take care of me.”
“Azora.” He held her shoulders. “Listen to me…” He gently turned her to face him until he succeeded. He looked intently at her face. “I will take care of you. You are not a burden to me or anyone else. Do you understand?”
“Stop making me feel well, Adam. I understand that it will take time before I totally recover what was once lost to me, and you can’t wait for that long. You’re old enough to get a wife. So go, find someone else. Don’t wait for me.”
Azora looked away. Lamech gritted his teeth and pulled Azora into a hug. His expression darkened as he stared at the glistening ocean in the distance.
“Whatever it takes, whatever it costs me… I will wait for you. I will only marry you, Azora. Remember that you’ll be my wife, and I will be your husband. I promise you that.”