I cry for help, do you hear me?

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

The sun had completed its tour for the day, and had now been replaced by myriad stars, which dotted the inky canopy. A low, waning gibbous moon hovered tenuously in the twilight firmament, bestowing a very dim light upon the land. It was a cool, windy night; the swaying of trees and rustling of leaves could be heard but not seen, as the encompassing darkness had blotted out all but the faintest light. Briefly, a dark, wispy cloud eclipsed the crescent moon. 

 

Everyone one of us were fast asleep, but for some reason I was woken up from my sleep with moaning, weeping noises as if someone was crying or was in pain. I woke up from the sounds of someone crying, and wondered what time it was. I blinked, shut my eyes, and blinked again. I yawned, but this time I managed to fully open both eyes. I see a figure in the darkness, crouching down on the mattress, with their hands on their head and as I lean forward to this person, my heart races and races. I touched their broken, fractured shoulder gently and the person turned his head around to me, with tears coming down their face and as the person turned their whole face to me, that’s when I realized it was Ammu Hamza, which is meant for Uncle. I quickly wiped his tears off of his face “Why are you upset Ammu?” I asked heartbroken but Uncle did not reply but I still sat with him closely. It had been hours now, and Ammu still hadn’t spoken until I asked “Are you crying because Jasmine reminded you of your daughter”, the minute I asked that I regretted it but he replied with a soft, calm tone “Yes, son Jasmine did remind me of my daughter, you know son when I used to come home late from work Maryam would always be awake and hug me, give me kisses when I walked through that door” he said tapping me on the back “Your father raised a good boy and your just like your father” I smiled back “Ammu, you need to go sleep and get some rest” I said thoughtfully.

 

I waited for Ammu to go back to sleep and me holding my beautiful little sisters soft, soothing and gentle hands tightly, glared into the sky looking at the moon which was fully round up in the sky; it was like throwing a silvery pearl from my mothers' necklace high up into the sky.  I lay there on the worn out, broken and burnt mattress day dreaming of my life when it was not destroyed. I lay still, like a dead body with blue, salty tears coming down my face. I let my tear go down my face but I wiped off the tear because I had to think about Jasmine, mother and now Ammu Hamza who had just been reunited with us.

 

I sighed “Who am I kidding, I can’t look after this family, and I haven’t done a good job since dad died, have I?” I asked myself, disappointed. I was just about to turn to my right until I hear an innocent, quite voice saying “You always do good job” coming from behind me, I turn around and see Jasmine with her hazel eyes wide opened looking straight at me, blinking.  I reach my hand out to her “Come here princess” I said gently and Jasmine dragged her body next to me, with her hand on top of my hands “I love you, too much and you did beautiful job to look after me and mama” she said lovingly whilst pulling my ear “No say that again, mo” and I replied back whilst laughing “I won’t say it again jo” she giggles “We made up random names” she giggled loudly.  I looked at her beautiful face which was glowing in the dark “Shush, princess mama is sleeping” I said quietly whilst laughing too, and she put her chubby finger on my lips “Shush, mama is sleeping but you laughing too” she said calmly, and chuckled. I and Jasmine lay on the mattress, and drift off to sleep, with both our mouths wide open, snoring loudly, just like father and holding our hands tightly.

 

As the night passed, the sun glowing bright up in the sky shown in my face, I got up rubbing my eyes and yawning loudly. I look to my left and see mother by the kitchen sink washing her face and as I look to my right I see Jasmine still asleep and still holding on to my hand. I leaned in to kiss Jasmine on the forehead “My princess it still asleep” I said to mother and she giggled “Yes, she is indeed with her mouth wide open eh?” I looked down to Jasmine smiling at her “Just like father mother, just like father” I said memorably, and mother looked up to me “You do the same silly” mother said cheerfully, we both started laughing. I went up to the sink, to wash my face, and as I’m washing my face I notice Ammu Hamza isn’t there, so I turn to mother “Mother, where is uncle?” I asked in confusion and mother turns to me “He was here a minute ago, I think he may be outside” mother said confused herself.   I walked away from the sink and walked on the broken tiles towards the door, to go outside and as I step outside I see Ammu sitting on a rock and looking in the distance, as if he was waiting for someone or looking for someone.  I marched towards Ammu and settled next to him on the rock and I asked in bewilderment “Uncle, what are you doing outside” and he looked me right in the eye “Nothing son, I just like sitting outside and looking at the sky” he said calmly. I decided to sit with him and explore the sky.