Living with my uncles and grandmother I picked up on some Portuguese phrases. Especially since my grandmother forgets she's not speaking in English some of the time. She insisted I should call her Avó which mean grandmother in Portuguese and she calls me neta which means granddaughter. Not to mention living with cousins.

When I finally able to meet my cousins face to face in real life it brought tears to my eyes. Considering how many hours we spent video chatting I felt like I've known them for years.

Gabriela really likes the outdoors she she's more of a free adventure Sprite type of person so the day after she came she literally dragged me and Aline outside with her for window shopping something about getting her creative vibe on, but we didn't really do much window shopping because Aline ended up playing a song at a café after meeting some of his internet fans it somehow ended up turning into a meet and greet.

"Aziza?" Someone behind me called out while Gabriela and I were listening to Aline I turned around to see Daniel's mother and Aunt sitting together.

"Umm hi, how are you." I greeted her standing up. Gabriela looked back and forth between me and them.

"We are good how have you been? Who is this young lady she looks very familiar." His aunt asked

"Gabriela Vivian you two must be Azi's in laws." Gabby answered

"Oh you are Leonardo's niece! I thought you were still in Brazil. Come sit with us. Is that your brother over there playing?" His aunt ushered us closer so we ended up sitting with them at their table.

"Yes and thank you." Gabby smiled at her looking over at Daniels mom to catch a reaction.

"He's good he has a wonderful voice. So tell me how do you two know each other. Did Leonardo introduce you guys. Are you staying together?"

"What yeah I guess he did introduced us. We're all staying together at his villa at the moment."

"Wow you guys are?" I wasn't sure If I misread her tone but she seemed to be suggesting something

"Anna can you and Gabriela excuse us for a moment.

"So what did you want to talk about

"It really nice to see that your doing fine now."

"How is Daniel doing?"

"He's pulling through, Still recovering. I heard that the ... The stalker... The person who hit Daniel hasn't been caught yet."

"Not yet the police are still trying to find her?"

"I need you to stay away from Daniel

"I am staying away from him at the moment until they catch him her."

"No what I mean is really stay away from him. He's emotionally unstable now."

"Is it because someone told him I died in a tragic accident?"

"No. No. No. No one told him that... He just assumed that on his own."

"Assumed that on his own? You've got to be kidding me."

"Daniel went through too many traumatic events he's in a fragile state. He's not safe when you are around him. You love Daniel don't you?"

"Yes..."

"Then please let him go if not for anyone else do it for him. Daniel is in a really fragile state. With you reappearing in his life and a psychotic person still stalking you is too much of an emotional."

"I love Daniel..."

"I know you do dear but sometimes we have to make sacrifices for the ones we love so they can live a better life."

"You're right..." I told them after a moment of silence and thinking it through even though it hurt my heart I needed to let Daniel go. Guilt was eating into my heart "I need to think."

"Okay but call me when you've made a decision. So I can prepare..."

"Azi tio Alex is waiting for us in the parking lot let's go." Aline called out from the front of the door

*~*~*~*~

"So what did you too talk about?" Gabby asked once we were alone later that night in my room.

"Nothing really we just about how Daniel was doing."

"Why is it that I'm getting a weird unsettling vibe from those two."

"It's just the tension about the thing that happened to Daniel. Nothing more now sleep Gabby we can talk tomorrow." I dismissed turning off most of the lights but I couldn't sleep that night. The sick feeling in my stomach and the sharp pain in my chest wouldn't go away as I reminisced about the last time I saw him. I slightly cried knowing it was all my fault that he was hurt that badly. It's not something I could ever forgive myself for. That night was the night I decided to vowed to stay away from Daniel.

"The Morton's are throwing a masquerade ball! Neta this is perfect" Avó came into our room with a letter looking excited way too early in the morning

"Avó you can go but I'm not going."

"You especially are going Neta."

"Avó..."

" I'm sick and tired of seeing you mop around. Hearing you cry every night breaks my heart. You my dear are also a Vivian, and we are going to that ball no matter what and that is final. Now get up we got so much to prepare for."

"Avó please no I can't do it. I wouldn't do it." I started to argue but them Gabriel turned on me.

"Why can't you it's a masquerade ball. No one will know it's you plus you can see Daniel again." She said making a very convincing point I'm in incognito  I would to see Daniel one last time from afar so I can finally let go. It was tempting.

"I'm not going." Trying to make it sound final but all My grandmother and Gabby did was smile a knowing smile at each other.

Little dos I know that my grandmother never takes no for an answer Before I knew it I was taking ballroom dance lessons and being fitted for a dress that was to be designed by my cousin.

~*~*~*~*~*

Today was the day and here I was was wearing a beautiful blue dress with silver linings designed by Gabby. My face was half covered with a silver mask with blue gems and my hair was In a very complex single braid pinned with a few accessories and bluish silverfish flowery scarf was  loosely pinned over my hair. I wore my moms locket for a piece of jewelry

"You look beautiful." Avó was the first say

"Like a Persian princesa." Leo said next

"Like Royalty" Gabby added

"Que lindeza." Emilio exclaimed once he looked at me.

"Voce é muito bonita." Alex added as well

"Morton wouldn't know what hit him once you walk in there." Aline commented

One moment they were asking pics Th next we were all in a limo on our way to the ball. My heart was beating off the roof and b the time we record the entrance all I wanted to do was run back to the comfort of my bed.

I can't believe I was here against my better judgement waiting, looking round, just so I could spot him, just for a moment. I don't know why I was doing this when I knew this would be the last time I saw him. If they never caught Olivia. All I knew was that If I didn't get a chance to see him I might not ever move on. As I scanned the ballroom crowed my eyes were drawn to the eyes the fact that hunted me for week. I don't remember moving It felt like I was being pulled towards him by an invisible force. I lost my objective for coming here tonight. I wasn't thinking straight My plan was to just see him from afar for a moment and leave. but all I could think about was embracing him and being near him.

"There is your man neta go boa sorte!" Avo whispered in my ear as she pushed me towards his direction

"Hey there." He spoke first as I stood in front of him loosing my ability to speak for a moment.

"Ya Rab." I breathed I couldn't believe I was actually hearing his voice again. I thought I would never hear it again.

"You're Muslim?" He asked sounding genuinely excited after catching what it

"Yes I am but shhh okay."

"Don't worry my lips are sealed." He smiled a brilliant smile. "But do me a favor please."

"Okay shoot."

"Be my buffer."

"Buffer?"

"As long as my mom sees me talking to someone she'll leave me be he pleaded so I agreed and there we talked and laughed about nothing I really in particular. Just being near him was enough.

"So tell me why is a guy like you so afraid of being matched up with someone. There are a lot of beautiful women here." I suddenly asked without thinking. Not knowing why I brought up the topic

"My heart is already taken. She'll forever have my heart even if she's not here anymore."

"She must be a very lucky lady."

"That she was." He responded as a shadow of grieve crossed his brilliant eyes "my wife was one of a kind. And I'll forever love her. The only woman other than my mom I would give anything up just to see."

"Wow...Sorry I didn't want to be a put off and make you unhappy."

"It's okay. I kinda need someone to talk to her about. And you seem like an easy person to talk to....Your voice reminds me of her... Sorry I need to to get out of here... Sorry." He mumbled as he turned to leave

"Daniel it's me." I finally told him as I took ahold of his arm. He looked at me confused not knowing what I meant my that and looked at my hand holding on to his arm

"It's me Aziza."

"Ziza?..." There was a defining moment of silence before he spoke again and asked looking confused tenderly placing his hand on the side of my face. Ad though trying to convince himself that I wasn't a figment of his imagination "Ziza is it really you?" His voice cracked thick with emotion as his eye scanned my half veiled face.
"Haan mera pyar."

"Ziza I missed you so much where have you been?" Looking at me with brilliant eye full of so many emotions.

"Shhh for now just dance with me." I whispered taking his hand and leading him to the dance floor.

This caused such a commotion I could feel multiple pairs of eyes on us but I couldn't look away from him. Our eyes stayed locked as a new song played he wrapped his arm around my waist and we danced together. I didn't dare think about any of the reasons why I should stay away from him.

"Please tell me this is not a dream." He asked

"Meri Muhabbat its not a dream."

"Ya Allah, you're more beautiful then I ever imagined." Staring at me half veiled face as though he was imprinting it into his memories.

"You've always been a charmer." I teased smiling up at him.

"Ziza. My Ziza, I can't believe you're here with me in my arms."

"I've missed you."

"Ziza God only know how much I missed you." He whispered as he touched his forehead with mine.

We danced the whole night to our own melody. It was just me and him it was as though the whole world faded out of existence. All that was left and all that matter at that moment was just the both of us. It was beautiful but all beautiful things must come to an end. I came to a realization that I had to leave soon. I don't know why I was holding on. I knew this moment would not last, this was the last time I would see him again and I would  treasure the moment I had with him forever. Tonight I would while being c so close I was staring at him Memorized I realized this was harder than I thought. I was leaving my heart. I didn't want to leave but I had to for him. Oh how I wished time would slow down but I had to go.

"Goodbye Daniel." I whispered in his ear and lingered a kiss on his cheek. In the moment I left his embrace a rush of girls crowded him and I let myself go outside. Trying to block his voice as he called for me. I was terrified because I saw her. I saw Olivia from the corner of my eye scanning the Crowd. I ran like I never ran before in my life with no direction I just ran. And in my hast I didn't realize I lost my mothers locket.