Accepting You

Chapter Twenty Six

"Oh my gosh," Olivia exhaled. 

"There's no way." The spoon of lamb Olivia was about to push into Asiya's mouth hovered at the entrance of Asiya's lips as Olivia twisted her head towards the direction of the hall door.

"Is that–"

"Sarah!" Hannah shouted.

Most of the guests were sitting in puddles on cushions against the hall walls chatting, and eating, but the ones that weren't parted like the Red Sea did for Musa (AS) as Sarah walked in, giving Asiya a clear view of her.

"Sarah! Sweetie! Over here!" Hannah called, waving her over.

Sarah jerked her head to the side and bounced over to Hannah. Her thick curls swished behind her back as she moved.

"Did you invite her?" Olivia whispered as she placed the full spoon on the plate.

Asiya shook her head.

Asiya hadn't spoken to Sarah in forever. Their last interaction had been years ago and was shallow. A digital red heart at the bottom of a social media post publicising a milestone. Sarah hadn't posted anything since then.

Asiya's heartbeat picked up speed as she watched Hannah circle her arms around Sarah.

She wasn't the only one watching. 

Most of the women sprinkled around the hall had abandoned their conversations and plates of food to see who Hannah had excitedly called over.

Asiya swept her eyes over aunt Hina's face. All her teeth were on show as she watched Sarah and Hannah interact like they were old friends and not a junior speaking to someone senior.

Hannah pointed at Asiya, and Sarah turned to look at her. Her eyes dragged her heart up her throat as they moved up Asiya's body, assessing her.

Hannah waved at Asiya, but Asiya couldn't wave back. Her hands were trapped underneath the tips of small moving cones. Asiya was sitting at the top of the hall, in front of a vivid curtain background and Marigold garlands getting her henna done.

Hannah kissed Sarah's cheek and waved Sarah off as she walked towards Asiya.

If Asiya judged Sarah solely by her looks, it seemed like very little about her had changed.

Sarah was still beautiful. She still captured the attention of everyone in the room as her hips swayed through it underneath her close to sheer suit.

Time hadn't diluted her beauty.

In fact, it was as though it was wielding it. Carving out more of Sarah's beauty like it was a Roman artist, and Sarah's face was made from marble stone.

Mercilessly letting Asiya and everyone else know that her beauty was permanent—a piece of her. It was not a fluke, something that would quickly fade. Sarah's beauty was here to stay. Beauty wasn't something Sarah would outgrow

Time was taunting Asiya.

Sarah lowered herself in front of Asiya. "Who would've thought? Asiya and Yusuf," she sang, as she stole a hug from Asiya.

Asiya tried her best not to squirm in Sarah's arms.

"Congratulations, girlie."

Asiya rolled her shoulders backwards as Sarah pulled away. "Thank you."

"Do I not get a hello, Liv?" Sarah asked with her arms open.

"Oh my gosh, obviously!" Olivia grinned as she leaned over. "Sorry, my mind was still on bridesmaid duties."