Chapter Four: A Name She Couldn't Forget

By the following week, Maryam had settled back into her usual routine.

Classes.

Books.

Home.

Prayer.

And, somehow, the library.

She told herself she went there because it was peaceful.

Not because Adam sometimes studied there.

Definitely not because she had started noticing the empty chair across from her.

That afternoon, Maryam entered the library and looked toward her usual corner.

The chair was empty.

She felt strangely disappointed.

She immediately frowned at herself.

Why should I care?

She sat down, opened her book, and tried to concentrate.

A few minutes later, someone placed a book gently on the table.

Maryam looked up.

Adam.

“I think you left this yesterday,” he said.

She stared at the book.

Her book.

She hadn't even realized it was missing.

“Oh. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

He turned to leave.

“Adam?”

He stopped.

It was the first time she had said his name.

He turned around.

“Yes?”

Maryam hesitated.

“Thank you. Again.”

A small smile appeared on his face.

“You're welcome, Maryam.”

She watched him walk away.

He knew her name.

For some reason, that simple realization stayed with her.

That evening, Maryam sat beside her bedroom window, watching the sky slowly change colors.

Hafsa entered the room.

“You're quiet.”

“I’m always quiet.”

“Not like this.”

Maryam smiled.

“There’s nothing wrong.”

Hafsa sat beside her.

“Then why do you look like you're thinking about something?”

Maryam looked outside.

“I met someone.”

Hafsa's eyes widened.

“Someone?”

Maryam immediately shook her head.

“Not like that.”

“I didn't say anything!”

“You were about to.”

Hafsa laughed.

Maryam laughed too.

But when the laughter faded, she became thoughtful again.

There was something about Adam she couldn't explain.

Perhaps it was the way he spoke respectfully.

Perhaps it was his calmness.

Or perhaps it was simply curiosity.

Whatever it was, Maryam knew one thing.

She needed to be careful.

Her heart was not something she wanted to give away carelessly.

She had always believed that if something was meant for her, Allah would bring it to her at the right time.

So she made a quiet decision.

She would not chase answers.

She would let time reveal them.

What Maryam didn't know was that Adam had made a decision of his own.

And his decision would soon bring a secret from his past into her life.

A secret that could change everything.

With love,

Aysha ❤️