𝐙𝐀𝐈𝐃 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘𝐀𝐌 ~ 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐑 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 ♡

23 - Hike 03

--- MARYAM SHEIKH  ---

"Are you sure you're okay, Maryam?"

Zaid's concerned tone rang through my ears as we walked. The sandals were becoming too unbearable and I could see little scratches trying to tear through my ankles.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I lied.

He said nothing and continued walking. Our destination was still an hour away and I internally groaned, just thinking about it. I realized I was losing my breath half along the way, and I just couldn't take it anymore so I sat down on the nearest rock. The group was a bit far away from me but I was so tired I couldn't bring myself to shout for Aziz.

Everything started to feel blurry.

------------------------

"Man, she's really not waking up."

"Just pour more water."

"Its no use."

"Use the walkie-talkie, we should alert the others."

"I thought you had one so I didn't take it myself!"

"What? Are you stupid? You know I never take those damn things. I hate them!"

Things started to clear as I opened my eyes. Amr was holding a water bottle to my face and Zaid was glaring at him, running his hands through his hair.

As soon as they saw I was awake, they both gave a huge relieved sigh.

"Alhamdulilah," said Amr,smiling. "You fainted onto this rock. We only realized you were missing half n hour later."

I got up but fell down again. "Ouch!"

"What's wrong?" Zaid asked. I pointed at my sandals. "They were the only ones I had,other than the party ones I brought."

"In my defense," I said again, since I  saw not one of them was replying. "I didn't know there was a hike."

"Its okay," Amr said, after a short pause. "You can wear my shoes. I like walking barefoot anyway."

"No, you don't have to-,"

"But before that," this time Zaid interrupted. "We need to tie the wound."

Then to the immense shock of me and Amr, Zaid knelt down and tied a handkerchief onto my ankle. I felt as the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I shot an alarming look to Amr who was looking equally alarmed as well.

"There," muttered Zaid as he got up, brushing off his hands lightly. "We'll have to get there before the others realize we're missing. "

"Wait, what are you doing now?" Amr asked as they saw Zaid taking off his Nike black shoes.

"Guess you're not the only one walking barefoot," he smirked.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

As they basically hiked this mountain almost every year since they were fifteen years old, Zaid and Amr basically had memorized the whole pathway. We had to walk a bit through a woody area and we drank some water out of a little stream that flowed by. It was refreshing to be in this state of nature, having lived in the city my whole life.

Along the trip, surprisingly, Zaid and I got along pretty well. He picked up some branches and made some sparks for me, since I wanted to see if it was true or not. When we reached a quieter area, he motioned us to be silent as he pointed at a small woodpecker's nest. And when Amr picked up some juicy berries he saw on a bush, Zaid immediately shoved them off his hands, saying they were poisonous.

When we almost reached the waterfall, our destination, Amr turned around to face me. "For this, you have to close your eyes."

I did as he told me, feeling excitement building up. They told me to walk a bit further and slowly open my eyes. When I did, it was a sight to behold!