Chapter 16%
Samira turned around with a frown and the moment she saw who it was, her eyes widened just a bit
Jean stood there, breathing heavily, his eyes bloodshot and his grip on her wrist way too tight, like he was afraid she would disappear he let go.
He had only just gotten into town that day. And right as he was walking in, he spotted someone by the ridge who looked all too familiar. As he got closer, his heart stopped, it was her. After all the dead ends, all the searching, she was night there.
This was the third time he had come looking for her and finally, finally, he found her alive. His chest tightened and for a second, he thought he might cry.
But Samira had no idea what was going through his head. She tugged her hand back, annoyed. “What are you doing here?” she asked sharply
Her tone wasn’t surprised, it was irritated, like he had just interrupted her day. Jean’s heart sank, but he didn’t let go. His grip only tightened.
d you. Please, come back with “Samira,” he said, his voice hoarse, “do you have any idea how long I’ve been looking for you? I finally found you.
He grabbed her shoulders, eyes locked on hers, his whole body shaking with emotion. It was too much, too intense Samira had never seen him like this before. She tried to pull away, raising her voice. “Jean, stop! What are you doing? Let me go!” The dog beside her started barking, picking up on her distress. Yosef, who had been working nearby, looked up at the sound and saw the scene unfolding. He dropped his tools and ran over, pushing Jean away with one strong shove.
“Hey! What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Yosef demanded.
Jean stumbled back a step, startled, but then recognition flashed across his face. Yosef. He remembered him from the wedding
And he knew exactly who the Harlow family was. Their only son, showing up in this tiny rural town… and hanging around Samira? Jean didn’t like what that suggested His gaze darkened.
Without missing a beat, he stepped forward again and pulled Samira toward him. “Can we talk?” he asked, tense. “Just us”
Yosef looked ready to step in again, but Samira raised a hand, stopping him. “It’s fine.” she said quietly, her eyes steady. “I’ll talk to him. You go ahead, I’ll be back later.”2
Samira figured there was no point running. If Jean had managed to track her all the way here, then clearly he wasn’t going to give up that easily. Might as well have the conversation now and be done with it!
Jean, on the other hand, looked almost relieved the moment she said yes. In his head, this was already going well.
If he could just say the right words, show her he meant it, maybe she would come back with him. He was already planning how to make it up to her.
He even noticed how happy she looked playing with that dog earlier and thought, ‘Okay, I’ll get her a dog when we’re back.
By the time they had walked just a few steps, he’d already built a little daydream of their future.!!
They stopped once they reached a quiet spot away from the fields. Samira turned toward him and crossed her arms.
“What do you want from me, Jean?” she asked, her voice flat. “You want to drag me back so I can sit around feeling guilty again? Or are you just here to tell me to go say sorry to Luna?“)
That was what made the most sense, given their history. She couldn’t imagine any other reason he would come all the way out here.
Jean’s face stiffened like someone had just slapped him. That wasn’t the reaction he was expecting. He forced a weak smile, trying to steer things back to whatever hopeful plan he had going in his head.
“Samira I know you got a second shot at life,” he said quietly. Tve been through it too, more than once. But every time, I was just too late to save you. This time… I finally got it right”
For a moment, she looked surprised. But it passed quickly. got her was the way he said it, like he was her savior.
- y. The idea that others could go through it too wasn’t shocking anymore. What
She met his eyes and said firmly, “No, Jean. You didn’t save me.“8 She let the silence settle for a beat before adding, “I saved myself.
הר
