Window Seat

8

Later that afternoon, Fatima and Zac linked up to finally cash in the lottery tickets. They had to fill out a bunch of paperwork. They ended up leaving a few minutes later.

"Thank you" Fatima said

"For what?" Zac asked

"The tickets."

"You're actually the one that encouraged me to play it. You're my lucky charm."

"You did that yourself. Give yourself credit"

"You deserve credit too. You want to have this conversation now?"

"What conversation?"

"The sex conversation"

"No, I don't need to know."

"You wanted to know earlier, though"

"That was because of the way that you were talking about sex opening things up. That isn't my business though. I don't want to know, and I definitely overstepped with the question."

"I'm going to be real. I don't think that you overstepped. You just wanted to know because you tried it yesterday."

"Tried what?"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about Fatima. We're just going to pretend like you didn't put your ass all over me yesterday?"

"I recall you being all over me."

"That was all you. You're sick, but you know what you be doing"

*1 week later*

Christmas has passed. Ayla is now in school, and she loves it. Although Ayla had to give a testimony in court a few days ago, she still seems to be happy. Ayla hated to see Mona in court though. It frightened her.

For the first court appearance, Fatima was nervous. She was able to use the recording that Madam took in court. However, Mona made a statement saying that Madam held her against her will. The judge ended up saying that the evidence was inadmissible. Mona's lawyer presented footage of Madam leaving her residence aggressively.

That didn't stop Fatima from using the doctor that Ayla went to see the day that she came with Fatima. She made a statement confirming that she examined her, and Ayla had bruises and welts on her body. Also, she stated that Ayla had a digestive issue. She said that Mona was behind on Ayla's shots as well.

Court ended with Ayla on the stand and telling what happened. During her statement, she started to get emotional. To stop herself from crying, she started doing exercises that Zac taught her.

On the way to the airport, Ayla started coloring in the backseat.

"You're quiet. Are you okay?" Fatima asked

"I don't like her. She looked at me mean"

"Who?"

"Mommy. She put her finger up, the bad one. I don't like going there."

"I'm sorry. I don't think that you'll have to go up there anymore. You can just sit with me from now on."

"Can I stay with brother?"

"I'm sorry, but you can't. You still have to come here." Ayla started coloring harder because that upset her. "Are you mad at me?"

"Yes, not fair"

"I'm sorry. you have to understand that this is serious. I promise that I'm trying to get you away from mommy forever."

"I just want my doggy"

"Are you going to name the dog?"

"No, just doggy"

Fatima could tell that she was mad at her, but she's doing her best. They arrived to the airport and boarded the plane. The plane ride was only 20 minutes, so it wasn't very long.