CAPTAIN AMIR

Twenty One.

I woke up with a start, my gaze falling on my mother's worried face. She was sitting beside me, her eyes filled with concern.

I felt a surge of hatred and anger, my heart still burning with resentment.

"Safiyya, are you okay?" she asked softly, her hand reaching out to touch my forehead.

But I turned away, giving her the silent treatment. I didn't want to talk to her, didn't want to hear her voice or see her face.

I despised her, despised the fact that she was still trying to pretend like everything was okay.

She tried asking me about my health, about how I was feeling, but I ignored her. I didn't want to talk about it, didn't want to think about it. I just wanted her to leave me alone.

But she wouldn't give up. She kept talking, kept trying to get me to respond. But I remained silent, my hatred and anger burning brighter with every passing moment.

I couldn't believe she had the nerve to show up here, to act like she cared about me. She didn't care about me, she only cared about herself. She only cared about saving face, about making sure that everyone thought she was a good mother.

But I knew the truth. I knew that she was a terrible mother, a terrible person. And I hated her for it. I hated her with every fiber of my being.

Finally, she got up and left, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I was glad to see her go, glad to be rid of her fake concern and her pretend love.

I didn't need her, didn't want her. I just wanted to be left alone, to wallow in my own misery.

Just then, khadija walked in as my mother left, a concerned look on her face. "Safiyya, how are you feeling?" she asked softly.

I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "Better, I guess."

Khadija nodded, her eyes scanning my face. "Where am i?" I asked her, my voice barely above a whisper.

"In your mother's house," she replied, her brow furrowed in concern.

I sat up straight, my heart racing. "I want to leave," I said, my voice firm. "I want nothing to do with her, and I won't spend a moment here."

Khadija tried to reason with me. "Safiyya, please listen -"

But I cut her off, my anger boiling over. "No, Khadija, I won't listen. I won't stay here and pretend like everything is okay. It's not okay. My mother is a terrible person, and I hate her."

Khadija sighed, her eyes filled with empathy. "Safiyya, I don't understand-"

But I wasn't having it. I shook my head, my jaw clenched in
Annoyance. "No, Khadija. I'm leaving, and--."

Amir burst into the room, his face red with anger. "Khadija, excuse us," he growled.

Khadija quickly got up and left, closing the door behind her. Amir turned to me, his eyes blazing with irritation.

"You're so stupid, Safiya," he spat. "You like having attention, don't you? You like being the center of attention, the poor, pitiful wife who's been wronged."

I remained silent, my eyes fixed on him.

"You're so selfish," he continued. "You only think about yourself, your own feelings"

I still said nothing, my expression unreadable.

Amir sneered at me. "I got married and I'm subjected to two more if I intended to."

I raised an eyebrow, my silence clearly infuriating him.

"Answer me!" he shouted. "Speak to me!"

Finally, I opened my mouth. "I have nothing to say to you, Amir," I said calmly. "You're free to add another wife, it's okay. But if you'd just leave me out of this, that would be great."