Chapter 492 - Ali : Finding Peace (1/2)

Ali sprang backwards, putting his hands in the air and started walking in circles to calm himself down.

He turned to face Sophia, who was still sitting down, her head downcast. She wasn't crying anymore, but she wasn't saying a word.

”I'm so sorry, Sophia,” Ali said, bending down and taking her hands in his, ”I … I don't know what came over me. I'm sorry for losing control like that.”

Sophia looked at him and smiled gently, stroking his cheek.

”I don't blame you, Ali,” Sophia said softly, ”I wanted the kiss, too.”

Ali hung his head down in shame.

After all he had been teaching her about his Faith, he was the first to go against it. He was supposed to be an example but he was just too weak.

He looked up at her and she said, ”I love you Ali.”

He smiled, saying back, ”I love you too.”

”But I am breaking up with you,” Sophia continued, her lips quivering.

”No!” Ali said reaching out to grab her hands. She avoided them and hugged herself as she looked at him pleadingly.

”Ali, please,” she said, her voice quivering, ”Don't make this harder than it already is.”

”But … but why?” Ali asked.

”You know why,” she replied, looking at him in the eyes.

Ali felt the tears sting at his eyes and he breathed out through his mouth, as he looked up. He did not want to cry in front of Sophia and he definitely did not want to lose it in front of her either.

The tears were stinging his eyes so much right now and he kept gulping, as if it helped in stopping those tears from falling.

”Fine,” Ali said eventually, after getting some control over his emotions, ”I can't force you. I guess … we're just not meant to be.”

He gave a sad smile, not coming closer as it took all of him not to take her into his arms and never let go.

”I wish you all the best, Sophia,” Ali said as he turned on his heels and walked away.

Once he had turned his back, the tears came falling down hard. He did not break stride, however, as he continued walking away. He wanted to run more than anything. He wanted to shout out in anger but he did not.

The least he could do right now, was give her some peace of mind.

He had promised her that he would accept whatever decision she made and he had broken that promise once. He had kissed her in his desperate move to stop her from leaving.

A stupid move, indeed.

He touched his lips and he closed his eyes as he remembered how it had been.

It was so bittersweet.

Once he was out of sight, he ran.

Sophia watched Ali walk off steadily, her heart being ripped apart.

For each step that he took away from her, she felt like a piece of her heart broke and fell to the ground.