FATIMA (YOU series #2)

Chapter 27

        I think I like you best when you're with me and no one else.

-Cigarettes after sex.

Ibrahim

I texted Fatima again, asking when she would be back. It was getting to eight, and I was getting worried. Everyone had left except Akram, who stayed to discuss the marriage Ammi had proposed to him. 

"Bro, are you listening?" he asks. 

"Mhm."

"I keep telling her I'm not ready for commitment, but she keeps saying it will work out. Acting like she knows the future and all," he says. 

My gaze remains fixed on my phone, "Guy, what is wrong with you?"

"Sorry. I'm just worried about Fatima. She should be back by now, and she's not responding to my texts," I reply.

He checks his watch, "It's getting late. Should we go check?"

I was about to respond when my phone chimed; It was a text from Fatima. 

"Hello Ibrahim, this is Juwairiyyah. Could you please come to get Fatima? I'm sending our location right now." 

I face-palm myself. Why was she with her? Where did she go? 

"Did she text back?" Akram asked. 

"No. Her friend did," I reply, anger filling my voice. 

"Is she okay?" he asks, concerned.

I shake my head, "I don't know. She asked me to pick her up, so I doubt it."

He gets up, "I'll come with you."

We get in our cars, and I lead us to the location. Finally, we arrive and alight the vehicles. Akram curses as he looks at the building. It was a restaurant hidden in Maitama Hills. 

"I hope she's not with who I think she is," he says. 

"Who?" I ask.

"Simna and Rabi frequent this place," he responds. 

My face sours, and I ball my fists. I told her to come straight home, but she went off with the girls I specifically told her not to hang around. We walk into the darkly lit restaurant, and Akram leads us to a private room. 

I pause as we walk into the room. The pungent smell of weed engulfed the room. I spotted her in the corner, sprawled on the floor, her friend beside her. 

"What's the meaning of this, Simna?" Akram bellows. 

She stares at him, clearly shocked to see him, "Akram?"

He approaches her, and she cowers in fear, "You've destroyed one life already. Isn't that enough for you?" 

"Akram, I swear it wasn't me. Rabi offered it to her, and I tried to stop her, but she wouldn't listen," she replies, her eyes growing wide. 

"If you weren't a girl, I would have bashed your head into the wall," he yells, and she flinches so hard she nearly falls off the chair. 

"Don't ever speak to her again. Do not come within three feet of her. Never again should you even acknowledge her existence. Do you understand?" he asks. 

She only nods, unable to speak. 

I walk over and bend in front of Fatima, "Are you okay?" 

Her face was stained with tears, and her nose was cherry red. I cupped her face making her look me in the eye. 

"Are you mad?" she slurs, and I glare at her.

I wordlessly pick her up bridal style and exit back to the car. I put her into the back seat, and Akram hands me her bag and scarf. 

"Go take care of her. I'll head home," he says. 

"Alright, thanks. We'll talk soon," I reply, referring to our previous conversation. 

When things settle, I must ask him if he's okay. Ammi had proposed marriage to him, and now he had seen Simna. The last thing Ammi would want is for old wounds to reopen. 

I get in the car and drive back home. I took Fatima to her room, helped her brush her teeth, changed her into a baggy shirt, and then put her to bed. 

I was about to leave when she spoke, "Ibrahim, aren't you staying with me?"

"I just need to change," I reply. 

"No. Please stay with me," she begs. 

Once again, I pick her up bridal style and head to my room. I put her on the bed and head into the bathroom as she calls for me to return. I quickly change and brush my teeth, then get into bed next to her. 

I pull her into my chest, and she rests her head on my arm. 

"I saw my brother today," she whispers. 

"Is that what triggered you?" I ask, and she nods. 

She sobs quietly into my arm, "he abandoned me, and my mom knew. She let him go but kept me there. I always thought my Father was the only evil one, but now I know she's far worse."

I felt anger rise within me. There was a lot I wanted to say about her mother, but I needed to remain rational.

"Don't say that. She must have her reasons. Speak to her about it before you make judgements," I respond. 

I was being a hypocrite. I had already made judgements. Nothing she could say would justify allowing Fatima to continue living in agony.

"I don't care what her reasons were. She made me keep living with that monster when I could have been away and free. Imam looked great. He didn't look malnourished or poorly, so wherever she had sent him was good. I could have gone with him. We both could have gone," she choked out, sobbing even louder. 

I hushed her, pulling her closer and whispering comforting words into her ear. 

"You won't abandon me, right?" she asked.

"Never. " I replied, kissing her forehead, "not in any version of reality". 

"Promise?"

"I promise,"

She hums, "I believe you."

She yawns and snuggles more into me. I hold her tighter, gently patting her back till I hear her breaths steady. 

I was beyond angry, but I had mastered the art of keeping a level head. I was pissed at her for breaking her promise and endangering her life, and I was pissed at her mother. None of this made sense. What was her reasoning?

Could her age have been the hindering factor? Or did she not want to continue living alone with the monster? Unfortunately, I didn't have the answers, and neither did Fatima. To an extent, I didn't want her to have them. I didn't want anything else to trigger her, which the truth most likely would. 

And then her fucking friends! I was so close to ripping each one of them to shreds. Why didn't they text me the moment they sensed something was wrong? Or drive her back home. She didn't even know the type of people she was hanging out with. There was no way she knew about Jannah. She would never hang out with them if she did. 

 Right now, all that mattered was giving Fatima a good night's sleep. She would need strength for tomorrow.  

(3/3)