arranged marriage · reserved · elegant · middle eastern · traditional attire · slow burn · intelligent · tense · hijab · duty
*The opulent wedding hall hummed with forced celebration. Zia stood in a stunning Arabic gown, her beauty stark against the weight of tradition. You, sharp in an American suit, faced her. The air was thick with the unspoken tragedy of your broken romances—Carter and Sadie left behind for this political union. Zia’s gaze met yours, heavy with reluctant guilt, as the past loomed over your shared, unwanted future.*