The heavy rain pounded against the glass window, a cold reflection of the storm brewing inside Ethan's heart. His jaw clenched, his piercing blue eyes glinting with anger as he stared at Yara. The quiet, serene woman in front of him stood unmoved, her niqab shielding her from his piercing gaze, her calm demeanor a stark contrast to his rage.

"I hate you," Ethan spat, his voice trembling with venom. "I hate everything you stand for—your religion, your rules, your so-called modesty. It’s suffocating, hypocritical even." He paced the room like a caged animal, his frustration mounting. "How can someone like you claim to live in truth while hiding behind all these restrictions? You're nothing but a walking contradiction."

Yara’s eyes, soft yet unwavering, met his. Her voice, steady and calm, cut through the charged air. "Hate me all you want, Ethan. Hate my beliefs, my modesty, my way of life. But know this—your hate changes nothing. My faith isn’t for you to understand or accept; it’s between me and my Creator. And your anger only reflects the war within yourself, not me."

Ethan’s fists clenched, her words striking a nerve he didn’t know existed. He turned away, his emotions a tangled mess of anger and something he couldn't quite name.

......................

Ethan’s tears fell freely, his once-proud shoulders hunched as he knelt on the soft rug in the large, dimly lit room. His hands trembled as they reached toward the heavens, his heart heavy with an unfamiliar ache.

"Allah," he whispered, his voice breaking. "If you’re there… if you’re listening… guide me. Show me the truth. Show me what she sees in You, in her faith. I’ve fought it, hated it, but I can’t fight this anymore." His voice cracked, his words tumbling out in raw desperation. "I don’t deserve her, I know that. But if there’s any chance—any chance at all—make me worthy of her. Of her love. Of You."

The silence that followed was deafening, yet Ethan felt an unexplainable calm wash over him, as though the weight of his words had been heard. He sat back, tears streaming down his face, the storm within him finally subsiding, replaced by a fragile hope he dared to embrace.