Chapter 17

I could hear Najma and Khalifa discussing as I walked into the kitchen.

"See who's fina..." he trailed off staring at me. Najma glanced at me before turning to me and her eyes widened as she took me in.

"Did you sleep at all?" He asked as I sat opposite them.

"A bit" I lied tugging at my shirt. "Well you need to eat" he said pushing a plate of food to my front.

"I don't have an appetite" I whispered. "You have to eat Abba." My head snapped up hearing Najma talk to me for the first time in days.

"I'm sorry but I.. I'm not hungry"

"How about cereals?" She asked.

I shook my head and poured a cup of water before taking a sip.

"I'm okay with water" I forced a smile praying my stomach accepts the water. The last thing I needed was to throw up in front of them.

"Okay." Khalifa muttered, his reply laced with irritation.

You should just leave before you fuck this up too since that's all you are good at.

"I..I should be heading home. Thanks for letting me stay the night." I said standing up.

"You don't have to go" he said. "I... I have a lot to do at home" I replied weakly. He sighed nodding before getting up.

"I'll drive you home"

"You don't..." I tried arguing but he shut me up with a glare. I walked back to the room and got my backpack. Najma was seated in the living room, she looked up at me before approaching me.

"I'm so angry at you Abba, I want to hurt you so bad but please Abba, you... have you even looked at the mirror recently?!" She asked, worry coating her words.

"I'll be fine Najma" I assured her smiling. She was about to reply when Khalifa walked in.

"Ready?" He asked. I nodded and he led me out of the house. I looked at the window of his car and almost winced at my reflection. I could pass off as a zombie. The purple under my eyes were pronounced and my complexion had a pale tone to it. Even my eyes looked dead.

"Are you just going to stand there or are you getting in?" He asked. I shook my head and got into the car, setting my bag on my lap.

"So what do you have to do at home that has you leaving so early." He inquired.

"Stuffs" I murmured.

"Stuffs, yeah that sounds very important" he snarked before taking a left.

"That's not the way to my house." I pointed out. He ignored me, tightening his grip on the steering wheel.

"This better stay between us, I am not about to get on Hajiya's shit list" he hissed tossing me a glance before concentrating on the road.

My mind swirled in confusion when it dawned on me.

"You... you're taking me to see her?!" I whispered in shock, eyes wide as I gaped at him.

"No shit sherlock. Like I said this stays between us. I can't stand seeing you look like shit" he replied taking a left and coming to a stop in front of cream coloured bungalow with a black gate.

He got out and I followed his lead, my palms were sweaty and I could feel the lump stuck in my throat. I suddenly felt nauseous.

What if she doesn't remember me? What if she hates me? Oh God. This was a bad idea.

My internal turmoil made me stop in my tracks and Khalifa who was already at the gate turned to me.

"Well? What are you waiting for? Let's go" he prompted.

"I... what if she doesn't want to see me? You should listen to Hajiya. We shouldn't be here" I rambled.

"Hajiya isn't going to know because I sure as hell know I am not going to tell her and neither are you? So what the hell are you afraid of?" He snapped.

I sighed kicking a stone away before turning to him.

"What if she hates me? Or maybe she doesn't even remember me? Oh God Khalifa what if she doesn't remember me? What the hell am I going to do?" I cried out my voice tinted with hysteria.

"Look Abba, everything will be fine. We are going in there and she'll see you and probably hug you. Just be calm." He assured me.

I nodded trying to control my breathing as we walked into the compound. The door was opened and we headed into the house.

The foyer was sparsely furnished with a table serving as the front desk. There were some potted plants and a couch which served as the waiting area with a tv.

"Good afternoon sir, it's nice to see you here again, how can I help you?" A woman approached us.

"I want to check up on the girl I brought here, Yasmin." He answered.

"Okay sir, this way please." We followed her through another door, past a hall way to an open space filled with artificial grass and a playground. Some kids were seated at a table colouring.

I felt my heart beat faster as the woman approached the table.

"Yasmin someone is here to see you." She said.

Calm down Abba, passing out won't do any good right now. Just breath in and out.

She looked at her before turning to us, a frown on her face before recognition replaced it and she came running towards us.

"Abba!!!" She cried out.

My heart stopped beating for a moment at the sound of her voice.

This was the first time she called my name.

I immediately snapped out of it and rushed to pick her into my arms.

"It's okay Yasmin. I'm here. I'm so sorry" I whispered into her ears bouncing her in my arms, her tiny arms clutching my shirt. I closed my eyes, pressing my face to her hair.

"I'm so sorry Yasmin. This is all my fault. I am so sorry" I sobbed not bothering to hide my tears. She frowned at me before wiping my tears with her hands.

"Don't cry" she ordered, I laughed nodding, wiping the tears away. She pulled me towards the table, showing me her colouring book.

"That's really good Yasmin" I said looking through. We stayed for a while, Yasmin by my side.

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I watched as she played with the puzzle piece, my eyes taking in all her features. From her rosy cheeks to the way she furrowed her brows in concentration. I handed her another piece just as Khalifa approached us.

"We have to go" Khalifa said interrupting the puzzle we were working on.

"C...can we just stay for a few more minutes, please?" I asked.

"Sorry but Najma is expecting me back home" he replied. I sighed turning to Yasmin, who was still trying to figure out one of the pieces.

I stood and she immediately looked up before standing too.

"Yasmin, I... I need to go." I whispered. She frowned at my words.

"Home?" She asked, light filling her eyes.

"Yes but.. but you're sta... you're staying here." I explained hating the way the light died in her eyes. Khalifa gestured for the woman who came to get Yasmin. She whimpered hiding behind me.

"Yasmin you have to go with her" I whispered. She let out a cry digging her fingers into my trousers.

"Come on Yasmin, it's circle time" she cheered.

"I don't want to!!! I wanna go home with my Abba" she cried out breaking what was left of my heart. I felt my headache coming back, my entire body shaking as I tried to fight the dizziness I was feeling.

Please no. Not now

"Abba?" Khalifa voice echoed, I shook my head to focus but that just made my headache worse, coupled with Yasmin's cries. I felt something sticky on my lip and raised my finger to my nose. My breath hitching at the sight of blood.

"Abba!!!" Khalifa cried out, I turned but my limbs felt sluggish. My knees hit the floor with a crack and my vision went black, the last thing I heard was Yasmin's scream.

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Poor Abba, his body couldn't handle it all 🥺.

Sorry for the short chapter.. At least Khalifa did something good 😂

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