Divine Timing - A Muslimahs Story

Chapter 1

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Leyla has always been known for her beauty.

People would stare at her, compliment her appearance, talk about her.

Older women would hate on her and some men would even get nervous around her.

It would be wrong of her to say she enjoyed it, but she couldn't lie to herself.

She enjoyed the attention she received.

It was just simply the privilege of being young and beautiful that she enjoyed.

But she wasn't always like this,

Chapter 1 - Her past

"Leyla, get ready for school." - Berat, her father called out after she had pretended to be fake sick for the past week.

The winter weather made it dark and gloomy out - although it was 7am.

14 year old Leyla was anxious because she didn't want to face them.

Not today, not ever. She just wanted to be left alone.

"You look like a man"
"Fix your eyebrows"
"You're so weird."
"Why are you so hairy?"
"You're flat."
"You get no boys."
"You're rude and ugly. Lol"

As she got up, she looked at her reflection, analysing her features.

Her puffy eyes, big bushy brows, pimpled forehead, dry lips, a bloated stomach and her messy hair - a little above shoulder length - which she bleached herself and turned it a bright orange, and she would get bullied for.

Girls would pull her hair. Boys would call it a wig. They would take photos of her and spread it on social media.

When Leyla left primary school, everything had changed for her.

She never got bullied for her appearance, until now.

She never felt alone, until now.

She was never gloomy, anxious, or mean, until now.

Ever since last June, her family had split apart, her mother living in her car, her father struggling with depression, everything had been difficult for her.

Her house was dirty. Everyday. And there would be nothing to eat, except the junk her dad would order because he was too depressed to cook, clean, or do anything really.

And although she would try her best to help, to clean, Berat would get angrier and tell her she's doing it wrong, and it would get messy again.

Leyla lives with her father and had 3 brothers. Her youngest died. Now she is left with 2.

She always wanted a sister - or even just a bond with her mother, and although she was full turkish, she hardly spoke it - and basically forgot. Which made it difficult for her to speak to her own mother because of the language barrier.

"We're going to be late!" He shouted again, louder this time.

8:27am

"Safeguarding will be seeing you today." Berat spoke as he stopped the car to drop her little brother off first.

Police are involved, they said."

Lucky, this morning  he wasn't angry  - which was unusual.

Unluckily, she will have to go through safe guarding again, which was because of what happened last June.

It gives her nightmares til this day.

She just prayed that today would be a good day. Just for once.