Dear Laura 2

Chapter 16

I was told to sleep with Lira, so I made my way to her room at the end of the hall and knocked. The house was huge. Abdul did make his own money, but he also came from money.

"Come in." Lira told me.

"Hey, what's wrong? What did my annoying brother do?" With concern, she rushed to me as soon as I walked through the door. I immediately felt so safe that I broke down in front of her. I carelessly threw my body on her bed and I just... sobbed.

"I'm sorry for how dinner went and that my brother did not make it better nor defend you. Being a prospect wife or even husband in this family can be tricky. It is not for the faint hearted. But you really do not deserve the judgment." She drew soothing circles on my back as she spoke.

"For what it's worth, I actually like you." She winked at me, and I smiled.

"Thanks Lira. You might just be the only one."

"Tia likes you. Mom does too. I know its hard to believe but she does. She's just being a mom. And to some extent, mom doesn't think Abdul is ready to marry. But I think I also know why she wants to push you away." She cooed when she got to the last sentence.

"Why? What did I do to make her hate me so much."

"I just said she likes you. It's not you Mia, it's..." She paused and stared at the side of my face with saddened eyes.

"Well then why is she trying to push me away?" She pointed to the side of my face and shame immediately engulfed me.

"How long has that been happening?" She asked in a soft whisper. I could see the sympathy in her eyes but all it did was pull me deeper and deeper into an abyss of shame. I felt like it was my fault somehow. I sighed deeply, not wanting to answer her question.

"Your mom wants to push me away because she thinks Abdul hits me?" I squinted my eyes in confusion.

"Not exactly. You're young. He is nine years older than you Mia. Mom just thinks that kind of age gap gives Abdul power over you, like the dynamic isn't fair. Which is why he thinks it's okay to slap you. You're a damsel in distress and standing next to Abdul, you seem small. She, she pities you and just wishes youd find someone in your league. Basically."

"Abdul doesn't treat me like he is in power, we're equals. We're--."

"He never slapped Hope, Mia." My chest tightened even more, and I struggled to get air to my lungs. The room started spinning and my head started to hurt.

"I'm sorry but my brother is not good for you Mia. Not right now at least. No matter how much you believe that he loves you too. My advice, run. While you still can." Tears were prickling her eyelids, and I was a sobbing mess.

"I love him but if he laid a hand on you, that's not respect. It's not fair on you. You are not his daughter that he can discipline."

"I love him."

"I know. I think he loves you too but like I said, you are too young to earn respect from him. Clearly. I hope you and I can still be friends though." She held my hands.

"Definitely."

Her and I stayed all night speaking about her college life, her secret boyfriend, the hot professor she almost cheated with and a bunch of other stuff. We slept at around one in the morning.

I woke up at five to shower and pack my stuff so that I could leave. I wanted to leave before they woke up. Lira was unlocking the door for me when Abdul caught us.

"You were going to sneak out? Really? Why are you helping her Lira?"

"I did not have to sneak out. I already told you that I am done with you and this relationship."

"Please don't leave me Mia."

"Lira, open this door please."

"Lira, stop." Abdul strongly commanded and Lira just froze.

"Please baby. There are other ways to fix this please. I told you; my world is empty without you."

"Lira!" I gritted through my teeth and by this time the whole family was up and watching us. It felt stupid to act that way in front of them.

"Tell me what I can do to make you stay. What I can say, so you won't leave. I need to know how I can fix this, please. I love you Mia." I won't lie, it felt so good to hear him say those words. I wanted to stay so bad, but I couldn't. Lira was right; he would never respect me.

"I love you too, but you really hurt me last night, and clearly your family will never accept me as your bride so why should I waste my time?"

"I'll come with you then. I cannot just let you go."

"You mean that?" I furrowed my eyebrows.

"Yes baby. Can you guys give us some privacy?" He asked the spectators around us.

"Just take her to your room." Mrs Karim said. Abdul pulled me in the direction of his room and locked us in there. I left my bag downstairs.

When I turned around from closing the door, I found him on his knee with a ring in his hand.

"Uh, what is that?" I pointed to the ring and widened my eyes.

"Will you marry me? Make me the happiest man alive and marry me, Mia Johnson." His eyes twinkled. He was optimistic. It looked so genuine.

"Is this your fix?" I crossed my arms in front of me.

"No, this is my revolution." He smirked.

"Despite--."

"Yes, despite their disapproval Mia, I will marry you. This is me standing up for you." I placed my palm on my mouth in disbelief.

"Are you serious? Am I getting punked?"

"No, my love."

"Yes, yes, I will marry you. A thousand times yes." He got up to hug me. He even had tears of joy streaming down his face. He was being sincere, and he was crossing his family for me. It meant so much to me.

"I love you Abdul."

"I love you so much more."

Was I stupid? Yes. Was I naïve? Definitely. But I did not know that there were greener pastures when it came to love. I thought that was it. I thought that loving someone meant sticking through the thorns and battling them together. That was love as I knew it, I had never been exposed to better. I genuinely believed that love was not a walk in the park so I would not give up on him. I loved him that much.

"Look Abdul, I am not happy with this treatment but, if you are willing to make it work, I am too. I will put in as much effort as you do."

"Okay baby. I will do better, I promise." He placed a peck on my lips.

He packed his stuff, and we were out of there within a matter of minutes. I had to hide the ring from his family though, but I was okay with the secret. We were good at the forbidden love stuff.