Closer To You

𝟏𝟐. 𝐙𝐚𝐡𝐫𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬

TRIGGER WARNING ‼️

Afifa is calling.

I wipe my cheeks with my hands as I pick up the call.

"Hello?"

Silence greets me from her end.

"Afifa?" I question, my voice hoarse.

"How was the drive?" Her voice comes through as a whisper.

"Afifa! It's you. Why were you so quiet?" I say in surprise, reaching for a tissue for my sniffles.

"I should be asking you that, Zahra." She says slowly.

My brows furrow. "What are you talking about, Afifa?"

"Why are you so quiet?" She questions.

"I—I don't understand, Afifa." My tone is laced with surprise at her slightly hardened voice.

"You don't understand a lot of things, Zahra. You don't see what's going on around you. You need to open your eyes."

"Afifa", I gape.

"What have I said wrong?"

"Where is this coming from, Afifa? What's happened?" The questions shoot out of my mouth. I don't understand what's up with her.

"Zahra, do you seriously not see it!" Her voice goes loud from the other end, and I unintentionally flinch. "Why are you so oblivious? Huh?"

I feel my anger spike. "Well, if you keep on talking in riddles like that, I'm bound to be confused, aren't I? If you had any substance to your words, I would understand. But no, you're talking and going on and on as if I'm meant to know what you're on about!"

"You're getting angry," she says more like a statement.

"Of course I am, Afifa! You're belittling me for not understanding when you've not even said anything that gives me an indication of what you're talking about!"

"So you understand. If someone says something you don't understand, you should question them on the matter rather than accept their words.." Her voice trails softly

"Of course I do! Forget that. What were you saying just now? Tell me!" I question tensely. It was a surprise to see her call me. I was under the impression that she was mad at me after everything that happened at school today. I should have called her, but I felt, I don't know, nervous to take that step.

I've been thinking...we need to talk. I need to share some things with her.

But she seems fed up with me right now. And I would never want her to feel that way towards me.

"Your dad." She says.

My breath hitches. My dad?

Before I can question her, she adds, "Why didn't you question him today when he asked you to go home with Hassan?"

So that's what this is about.

"I—I did!" I sputter.

"No. You didn't." She says, "What you did was offer an alternative by saying you were fine going on the bus. That's not questioning him. You went along with what he was saying even though you didn't want to."

I sigh a resigned breath. "A—Afifa...you know how he is. H—how could I have said more?"

"You could have Zahra, but you didn't. So tell me. This is why I called. Tell me. How do you feel now?"

I wet my dry lips as I shuffle to try and make my position on the floor smaller.

"How do you feel? Oh, wait. I can explain how you feel better. You seem to be accustomed to staying quiet, so it's ok, let me say."