Accepting You

Chapter Forty Four

Cold threads of anxiety circled Asiya's feet as they loudly crunched against the gravel of aunt Hina's walkway.

It was Friday, and Yusuf's former suggestion had become a plan. They had arrived home that afternoon and would spend the evening with Yusuf's mum and Saturday with Asiya's family.

"Why is she here again?" The back of Asiya's hand brushed against Yusuf's. "I know she's her sister, but is it normal for your mum to always be round here?"

Yusuf paused his steps, tipped his head to the side slightly and bit a corner of his lip as he thought. "I guess so," he finally answered.

"We used to go over every weekend growing up...I think us getting married means I'm sort of permanently gone from home now," Yusuf shrugged. "She might be feeling lonely. If she stays home, in the flat, she won't have anyone to talk to."

A comment itched its way up Asiya's throat before she swallowed it down.

Silence was empty, and it hated that. It hated staying hollow. It had to be filled with something, and in the absence of sound, it lured out one's thoughts like a witch shaking candy and gave repressed whispers the platform to become shouts and echo off the walls.

Going off what Asiya knew about Yusuf's childhood, she was sure Hannah didn't what any of that to happen, and Hina's chatter could probably bully away any chances of that. It wasn't her place to tell Yusuf that, though.

"Alright," Asiya said quietly.

"Hey." Yusuf knitted his fingers through Asiya's. "You're okay right?"

No. Asiya's feet squirmed as the cold continued to hula-hoop around them, and when it bit into her skin, all her thoughts shivered onto her tongue. I'm not okay, Yusuf. I don't want to be here. I don't want to stay here. We said we would visit your mother, not your racist aunt too. I'm not assuming the worse by wanting to protect myself. Please, let's go home, Yusuf. I can't take anything more.

But Asiya curled her tongue, keeping the words tucked inside her mouth, and squeezed a silent prayer out of Yusuf's hand.

She avoided his gaze, and kept it fixed on the stained-glass door, scared that one look in her husband's mesh of green, brown and hope-filled eyes, would cause her mask to crack and disintegrate at her feet.

"Yup." Asiya smacked her lips together, hoping the popping sound would snip through Yusuf's suspicion.

It did. Yusuf fisted his free hand and knocked loudly on the door. He hadn't even returned his arm to his side before loud clicks of locks moving sounded from the other side of the door.

Get it together, Asiya, her mind ordered as a splatted version of Hannah moved behind the stained glass. We're only here for a few hours. You're fine, Asiya. It's only a couple of hours. Nothing will go wrong.

A perky-looking Hannah pulled the door open. She had thrown a scarf over her head and was wearing a long top, black leggings and a smile so large it left no room for insincerity.

"Asiya! Yusuf! I've been waiting for you! Come in!" With sweeping hands, Hannah ushered the couple over the threshold.

Asiya watched Yusuf move into the house with comfortable strides. He shook off his coat and hung it on a free peg like it had been reserved for him before sitting on a small stool to untie his laces.

Hannah shut the door and quickly stole a hug from Asiya by pressing their bodies together and restraining her with her arms.

Asiya lost control of her body, which stiffened, and she sent Yusuf a startled look over Hannah's shoulder before rearranging her face as the woman pulled away.