The Search For Home

Chapter One: Coffee Shop

Wales, Cardiff
18th May, 2014.

"Sid, wake up, please!" A disturbed voice shook Siddiqa in her sleep. She mumbled with a deep sigh that took her deeper into her slumber. She was amidst her dreamland, exploring the globe with no one to stop her. At that moment, she was in the eastern part of the world, in a local noisy market, savoring the specialty, chechil cheese, from a food stand. The Armenian are known for their amazing cheese, and Siddiqa was relishing the experience. The stand owner grinned at her, displaying excellent customer service, while Siddiqa navigated the language she was just beginning to learn during her month-long stay.

As she moved away from the stand, she spotted a man surrounded by children, trailing his wheel, with multiple toy fans attached to it. He was selling the region's traditional candies in different shapes and colors. The children crowded him, adding to the excitement. At the same time, a breeze blew off Siddiqa's scarf, drifting from her head and falling on her shoulders. She quickly returned it to its place.

"You must be new here?" The candy seller said in his native dialect. Siddiqa smiled, not exactly understanding him, but she nodded anyway. The language was tricky, not something one could pick up in a day; it would take proper study for an outsider to learn it.

"Try this." The man offered her one of his delicacies. "It's originated from bananas," he added, looking excited as Siddiqa examined the art in one piece of candy. It was molded in a ball shape and multicolored, resembling the earth with its vibrant hues. Siddiqa thought it looked fascinating and contemplated buying some for her mom before leaving the country in a few days.

"Leah Siddiqa!" Reality shouted in her ear just as she was about to take a picture of the delicacy with her camera. She woke up disheveled from her deep slumber, running her fingers over her eyes multiple times for a clear vision.

Siddiqa groaned upon seeing her sister. She looked troubled, waking her at this hour. Siddiqa checked her phone on the bedside cabinet, and it was 2:36 am.

"What's it, Noreen? Make it at least sound important," Siddiqa warned, yawning. Her sister knew better than to wake her from her sleep; everyone at home knew how much she valued her night sleep.

"I saw blood!" Noreen's tiny voice said.

"How did you cut yourself at this hour, Oren? I bet you were doing one of those alien things of yours. Wash it off and sleep; good night!" Noreen didn't move an inch. The frightening look on Siddiqa's eleven-year-old sister deepened. Leah, though, was too indulged and annoyed to realize that.

"C'mon, say something, Oren. We don't have all night," she complained in her thick Welsh accent. "I was about to taste a foreign candy in my dream, but you woke me up. I didn't even get to know what part of the country it was."

Always traveling in your dream, who's the alien now, the younger sister thought.

"What's it, Oren?" She asked irritated.

"I saw blood," Noreen said in a low voice, as if it's the nation's top secret. Leah heard her but yawned again, not giving it much importance.

"Maama always told you to stay away from sharp objects. But you don't listen, Noreen. I will send you packing to your room." She goes on blabbering, while Noreen is getting sick of her sister's habit of talking like a spoiled public tap.

"Leah, I saw blood in my panties, so stop talking and tell me what to do!!!" Noreen said in one breath, already mad at her sister. She sighed, and Leah bore her dark brown eyes into hers.

"WHAT!" She finally registered her sister's dilemma. "But I'm not your mom; why are you telling me that?" Noreen rolled her eyes at her. Yeah, her sister's lack of responsibility annoys her sometimes. The child in her is still very much alive, just like their mother loves to put it.