I Am Mariam

•°Chapter 2°•

•3 weeks later•

Music bounced off the walls, content that it had many visitors dancing in the ballroom. Mariam sat shyly in the midst of all the chaos, playing with her fingers. 

Or rather her dress.

The masterpiece was the most beautiful thing she had ever laid eyes on. The lavender silk dress was adorned with creamy peals and luminescent jewels. Mariam was the main attraction of the party.

Especially to one boy.

10-year-old Khaled couldn't keep his eyes of Mariam. The way her turquoise iris's reflected the colour of the jewels. The way her posture wasn't too mechanical or forced. Ever thing about her was just.... mesmerising.

When Khaled's heart finally started to calm down, he stood up and walked towards her. 

Until some unknown middle-aged women made it to her first. And it appeared that they were animatedly gossiping about her mother.

"I can't believe they held this big of a party just because the operation was successful."

"I know right! Even my own wedding wasn't this fancy (💀)"

Mariam's mother was reclined in her chair, her bones and limbs weak from the chemo treatment. The sight of her mother looking so frail made Mariam just stare.

Stare at the mess her mother had become.

Stare at the monster that ate away at her skin.

Stare at the women who really, wasn't even her mother anymore.

Tears welling in her eyes, Mariam excused herself from the party and ran outside. 

Mariam walked through the empty streets of the tripoli, the sounds of her footsteps echoing in the hollow silence. The sky was gray and dull, with no trace of the warm sun that used to bring her so much joy. The air was heavy and stale, as if it was suffocating her with its emptiness. She looked around and saw no one, no bustling crowds or friendly faces. The buildings were bleak and gloomy, like her own soul.

She breathed in the scent of pollution and decay, wishing for the sweet fragrance of flowers or freshly baked bread. The taste in her mouth was bland and unappetizing, like a tasteless meal. She longed for the rich flavors of her mother's cooking, the warmth of her embrace and the sound of her voice.

She had no energy to move, no desire to do anything. The ache in her chest weighed her down like a heavy burden, making her feel hopeless and alone. She wanted to cry, to scream, to feel anything other than this crushing emptiness.

Mariam felt like a shell of a person, her senses dulled by her depression, unable to enjoy any of the pleasures of life.

Mariam's interanl beating was interrupted with the sound of approaching footsteps. Feeling her heart face, she whipped around only to see a young boy, about her age, staring at her. 

The boy had a tanned complexion and a slim, delicate nose. The boy was quite short for his age, with a slight, lean build that makes him seem almost fragile. His eyes were the most noticeable feature on his face, with deep, dark brown irises that still seemed to sparkle in the dull sunlight.  

Wait why am I thinking about his eyes?! 

Mariam blushed and turned her back to him, ready to run away from embarrassment. But then, rough hands pulled her wrist back. 

"Don't go!" he eagerly yelled, his brown eyes glittering with tears.

Her ten year old heart was too weak for his adorableness, so she stayed. 

"What do you want?" she earnestly questioned, wanting to run away from her beating heart as fast as possible.

"Here, I got this for you," he handed her a brown beaded necklace, surrounding turquoise gem in the centre.

"What? Why would you give this to me? I don't even know you?" Mariam stood back, her face beet red.

"Well, I'm going to leave Lebanon soon and... I wanted to at least make one friend before I leave," he paused, playing with his fingers, "can you be that friend?"

Mariam's heart was practically bursting out of her chest, too fast for her frail body to contain.

"O-ok."

"Pinky promise?" he turned his face away, ashamed of making such a serious request.

"Pinky promise." Mariam hooked her finger with his, the corners of her mouth slightly lifting upwards.

If scientists saw how bright Khaled's face was glowing, they'd use him as the main light to power Lebanon. His toothy grin was extended to the tip of his ears, his eyes basically glowing at this point. 

"I-" Khaled's sentence was interrupted with his mother's voice, calling him to come back.

"Well I guess I have to go now?"

"See you later?" Mariam fidgeted.

"See you later." Khaled smiled.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, was only the start of their journey.