NEW LIFE : A SECOND CHANCE

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.

She bit her lips so hard that blood flowed, but it helped her from calling out to him. From stopping him.

She had to be strong.

She had to do this.

She hadn't been completely honest with Ali. She had not told him the real reason for the breaking up with him.

It wasn't because she couldn't accept his faith - but rather, she didn't know yet if she wanted to. She did not want him to keep on waiting for her, so she let him go.

She had thought of this path long and hard, and had already discussed it with her parents.

They were supportive of her move, though they thought she was crazy.

Sophia stood up and hugged herself tightly.

She was going to take a break from school and go on a journey of discovery. Kyle had given her this idea, truth be told. When Ali told her that Kyle had really gone to 'find himself', it gave her the thought as well.

Though in her case, she wanted to find out about all of the other religions and see which one was best for her.

She had already done some basic research on all of the religions she came across. She narrowed it down to several which seemed to appeal to her, and she was going to go on a journey to find out more.

The first stop would be T'bet, the place where Buddhism is the main religion and is the most 'pure', so to speak. She will live there for a while, learning and immersing herself before heading off to another location to learn about Christianity.

She didn't know how long her journey would take. It could be months … or it could be years.

The uncertainty meant that she did not want Ali to wait for her. He had to find himself as well. Get back to the path of his Faith.

If they were meant to be, it'll be, right?

That was what Ali had said.

With a sigh, Sophia went back home. She had already informed the Principal and her journey would begin tomorrow.

?.?.?.?

Ali was throwing a tantrum in the gym at his house.

Well, rather, the poor stuffed dummy in the gym was getting plummeted by Ali's fists. After half-an-hour of this, Ali finally stopped, his energy spent as he lay his forehead on the dummy, the tears falling again.

He jerked upon feeling a hand on his shoulder.

He looked up, and saw his father.

"Abba," Ali said, standing up respectfully.

His father didn't ask anything, though he guessed what must have happened. Why else would his son cry so badly?

"Find peace through prayers, my son," he said softly, "Give yourself completely and place yourself entirely in His Hands."

Giving his son's shoulder one last squeeze, he said before leaving, "Find your way back, my son. Everything happens for a reason."

Ali sighed deeply, knowing his?father was right. He needed to go and seek His help.