Blood Passage

“I will never forgive you if you let her die, Malek.”

“When have you ever forgiven me for anything?” he asked softly

But Malek could never bear to see her back turned to him

Help her,” she said.

“Not in the mood anymore. Offer’s off the table.”

Nalia grabbed the cigarette and ground it under her foot. “Well, get in the mood.”

“You’ve cast me as your villain, Nalia. I’m merely playing my role.” He raised his dark eyebrows. “Perhaps I should add an evil laugh to make it more believable?”

You cannot have the moon without the night. Its light needs the darkness to kiss. Who else can hold it but the shadows? What else can make it shine?

—The Sadranishta

She’d known him for two weeks. Two weeks. And yet what they had felt ancient, like it could shatter the world if it wanted to.

For once, he was the safe harbor, not the storm