THE KHALIL RESIDENCE,
ASOKORO.
DECEMBER 2020.
Silence.
Jamilah had barely uttered that name when the cold arms of silence descended upon the table, gripping everyone in place for a full second.
The women didn't particularly know what to feel, so they just stood there, shocked.
Ayman was quick on the uptake, his surprise slowly morphing into pure, unmistakable elation.
His smile was beautiful, white and gleaming, pure joy reflected off him, the sides of his eyes crinkling the slightest bit.
Jamilah remembered who he was!
In his bout of joy, he let his confidence at being remembered overrule his common sense, taking more steps towards the girl.
Jamilah wasn't prepared for what was coming, and soon the throbbing in her head intensified, making her flinch away from Jamil.
Hardly had she taken a step back from him when she felt her self hit the floor hard, losing consciousness instantly.
For a while, the room just stared at her confused until an agitated voice proclaimed, "Take her upstairs for God's sake!".
Jamil lost all rationality when he'd seen the girl fall, further irritated by everyone surrounding her cluelessly like some scene straight out of a soap opera.
Ayman made to lift the girl up, placing one arm below her head and the under just under her back when his brother stopped him.
The edge that had been present in his voice earlier was lost, replaced again by his usual coldness, "Move".
It wasn't like he wanted to, but Ayman found himself letting go of Jamilah, lowering her back onto the ground gently.
His brother walked towards them, his hands loosening the cuffs of his jalabiyyah, rolling his sleeves upwards just as he got to them.
Everyone present cleared out of his path, dumbfounded.
His mother had a look of surprise on her face, watching her son lower himself onto his knees beside the girl.
He placed a finger beneath her nose, pausing for a second to check her breathing. Next, he adjusted her so she was lying on her back properly, his expression unchanging the entire time.
He lingered for a second, just staring at her before he got back up, taking a step back.
"She'll be fine", he said, softly.
Turning to two of the maids, who had been peeking behind the pillar, interested in the sudden development of things, he motioned for them to come forward.
"Please, take her upstairs, get rid of any clothing that might be constricting and let her rest. No disturbance", he added the last part pointedly, knowing how much they loved to chatter.
After he'd instructed them, Jamil left for his room, ignoring his father's gaze.
His old man never let anything escape him.
He climbed the stairs one at a time, forcing his body to keep moving even if he felt like he would fall to the ground.
A weakness had taken over him, crippling him physically as much as it had mentally.
The second he was in the comfort of his room, doors locked shut, he fell onto the ground in a heap.
He was hyperventilating, his hands trembling.
YOU ARE READING
𝓜𝔂 𝓫𝓪𝓫𝔂, 𝓶𝔂 𝔀𝓲𝓯𝓮
RomanceWhen news of Jamilah Abubakr's death reached the world, it shook. How couldn't it? It'd lost one of the gems it had left....A young, cultured philanthropist with as much beauty within, as she had without. The Khalil household was one of the most af...
