Walk Of Shame (On hold)

22

Zayn

"I wish I had never met you Zayn. I hate, I hate you, I hate you so much!" Layla's words cut into my heart.

"I'm sorry my love" I said reaching for her. She smacked my hand away violently before glaring daggers at me.
"Don't you dare touch me!"
I retrieved my hand quickly. What the heck?

It's been 32 weeks since I found out Layla was pregnant on the inn floor and she was currently fighting for her life to birth the baby so I can forgive the colorful words. They still hurt even though I know she doesn't mean them. She doesn't mean them right?

"GET AWAY FROM ME ZAYN ABDURRAHEEM!!!" I flinched. Damn she really hates me. I looked to the nurses questioningly and they laughed. I wonder what the hell is funny.

"It's okay sir, she's still your wife and she still loves you... just not right at this moment"

"Nope, I definitely do not love him" Layla says panting and moaning in pain. What the hell man? She's breaking my heart!
The nurses laughs again at my confusion as they wheel Layla into the labor room.

"Your wife will be back in about ten minutes when the epidural fully kicks in don't worry, this is all just pain talking. You can follow nurse Habiba over here. She have you suited and brought into the labor room" I nodded mindlessly.
Minutes later, acouple of nurses put a theater gown on me and I followed them to Layla in the labor room.

My heart was near beating out of my chest. My head was spinning and I was sweating profusely. Fear, didn't begin to describe what I was feeling at this moment. I think I'm going to pass out. I think I'm having a cardiac event.
And seeing my ever calm and peaceful wife spewing profanities like a pirate didn't make it better.

Layla's screaming reduced to a minimal. she was now just taking very deep breaths.

"the epidural has fully kicked in" the nurse announced.

"Can I hold her hand now?" I asked with a voice that sounded nothing like me. They all laughed, including the perpetrator of my newly found fear.

They moved swiftly picking up, dropping, poking and prodding and Layla pushing on command. In what felt like hours, a shrill cry pierced the cold air of the room.

"its a girl"

***

14 May, 2004

"I broke up with Bintu" Habib said gaining Zayn's attention. They were studying for their 'WAEC' exams, sprawled on the floor of their dorm room with books and papers all around them. Zayn didn't know how to respond. A large part of him was disappointed, sad even that he no longer had a reason to see Bintu everyday even though her attention was always on Habib. But a tiny part, the irrational part, was happy, hopeful. Maybe now she'd see him. It made him feel like a terrible friend.

"What? Why?"

Habib shrugged. "She's crazy"

Zayn didn't know what else to say. What else was there to say? What do you mean she's crazy? He wondered internally.

"Sorry man" Zayn said. In his heart, he was apologizing for being happy that they broke up.

Habib shrugged again.
"You win some, you lose some"

For the rest of the night, Zayn couldn't concentrate. His mind kept reeling with questions. 'When will it be an okay time for him to ask bintu out?' 'What will she say?' 'What will Habib do?' 'What will happen to their friendship?'

The first day of the exam was when he say Bintu again, a whole month later. They were all seated in the school's multi purpose hall, according to surnames and in alphabetical order. Abdulaziz Fatima Bintu, next to Abdurraheem Zayn.