Chapter 26 – Thirteen Days
Thirteen days until the trial.
The fight about Nadia's photo was behind us, but I could still feel the echo of it in the apartment.
Adrian was polite, gentle, loving — but a little distant.
He still said "I love you" every night, still kissed my forehead, still held me when we went to bed.
But I noticed the pauses.
The way he'd look at the living room shelf where our photo of the three of us sat, then look away.
The way he'd go to his office after dinner and stay there longer than usual.
I didn't push.
I knew he needed time.
On Sunday morning, we woke up together.
We had coffee and breakfast together.
At 7 a.m. he left for work after kissing me goodbye.
I spent the morning cleaning.
At 1 p.m. my phone buzzed.
It was a text from an unknown number.
*Hello Lila, this is Samira. I wanted to check on you before the trial.*
I smiled and replied.
*Hello Samira. Thank you for checking on me. How are you feeling?*
*I'm nervous. But I want justice for Nadia.*
*I understand. We all want justice for Nadia.*
*Can I ask you something personal?*
*Yes, of course.*
*How did you and Adrian fall in love?*
I hesitated.
I thought about the contract, the 100 days, the first kiss, the night he said "I love you."
*It happened slowly. We started as strangers, then we became friends, then we became family.*
*That's beautiful.*
*Thank you.*
*Will I see you at the trial?*
*Yes. I'll be there with Adrian.*
*Good. See you then.*
The chat ended.
I put my phone down and sat on the couch.
Samira was nervous. I was nervous.
The whole house felt nervous.
At 8 p.m. Adrian came home.
He hugged me.
"How was your day?" I asked.
"Good."
"How was work?"
"Good."
I served dinner.
We ate.
After dinner, we sat on the couch.
"Lila," he said.
"Yes?"
"Samira texted me. She said she texted you too."
"Yes, she did."
"What did you talk about?"
"She asked how we fell in love."
"What did you tell her?"
"I told her it happened slowly. Strangers, then friends, then family."
He smiled faintly.
"That's true."
"It is."
He was quiet for a moment.
"Lila," he said.
"Yes?"
"Are you scared about the trial?"
"Yes."
"Me too."
He took my hand.
"We'll get through it together."
"I know."
He kissed my forehead.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
We sat on the couch until 10 p.m.
He went to his office.
I went to my room.
That night I opened the notebook.
*Day 118 – Thirteen days until the trial.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. She's my wife.*
Monday morning we woke up together.
We had coffee and breakfast together.
At 7 a.m. Adrian left for work.
At 8 p.m. he came home.
He looked tired.
"How was your day?" I asked.
"Long."
"How was work?"
"The lawyers went over Samira's statement again."
"Is it strong?"
"Yes. It's strong."
"Good."
I served dinner.
We ate.
After dinner, we sat on the couch.
"Lila," he said.
"Yes?"
"Twelve days until the trial."
"I know."
"Are you scared?"
"Yes."
"Me too."
He pulled me close.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
We sat on the couch until 10 p.m.
He went to his office.
I went to my room.
That night I opened the notebook.
*Day 119 – Twelve days until the trial.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. She's my wife.*
Tuesday morning we woke up together.
We had coffee and breakfast together.
At 7 a.m. Adrian left for work.
At 4 p.m. Mrs. Cole texted: *Layla is asking for you.*
I replied: *I'll see her tomorrow.*
*Mrs. Cole: She's been asking why Baba looks sad.*
My heart ached.
I replied: *I'll talk to her tomorrow.*
At 8 p.m. Adrian came home.
He hugged me.
"How was your day?" I asked.
"Good."
"How was work?"
"Good."
I served dinner.
We ate.
After dinner, we sat on the couch.
"Lila," he said.
"Yes?"
"Eleven days until the trial."
"I know."
"Are you scared?"
"Yes."
"Me too."
He kissed my forehead.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
We sat on the couch until 10 p.m.
He went to his office.
I went to my room.
That night I opened the notebook.
*Day 120 – Eleven days until the trial.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. She's my wife.*
Wednesday morning we woke up together.
We had coffee and breakfast together.
At 7 a.m. Adrian left for work.
At 4 p.m. I was at Mrs. Cole's apartment.
Layla ran to me.
"Mama Lila!"
I hugged her.
"Hi, habibti."
We played with her blocks.
We read *The Little Star*.
Then she looked at me seriously.
"Mama Lila, why is Baba sad?"
My heart clenched.
"Because Baba is worried about the trial, habibti."
"What's the trial?"
"It's when the judge decides if the man who hurt Mama Nadia will go to prison."
Layla's eyes widened.
"Will the bad man go to prison?"
"I hope so, habibti."
She nodded.
"I hope so too."
She hugged me.
"I love you, Mama Lila."
"I love you too, habibti."
When the hour was over, she said, "See you next week, Mama Lila."
"I'll see you next week, habibti."
I kissed her forehead and left.
When I got home at 5:15 p.m., Adrian was there.
"You went to see Layla," he said.
"Yes."
"What did she say?"
"She asked why you look sad."
"What did you tell her?"
"I told her you're worried about the trial."
He nodded.
"Ten days until the trial."
"I know."
"Are you scared?"
"Yes."
"Me too."
He hugged me.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
We had dinner.
After dinner, we sat on the couch.
"Lila," he said.
"Yes?"
"Thank you for talking to Layla."
"You're welcome."
He kissed my forehead.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
We sat on the couch until 10 p.m.
He went to his office.
I went to my room.
That night I opened the notebook.
*Day 121 – Ten days until the trial.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. She's my wife.*
I closed the notebook.
Thirteen days ago the trial felt far away.
Now it was ten days away.
Adrian was nervous.
Layla was worried.
I was scared.
But we were facing it together.
I was no longer the woman in the contract.
I was Lila.
Adrian's wife.
Layla's mama.
And I was standing beside Adrian, ready for whatever the trial would bring.