Eternity

Chapter 42

As-salamu alaikum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuhu

---

Ayzal’s eyes were steely as she sat on the edge of the hospital bed, her posture rigid and her expression cold. The room was heavy with the aftermath of Zayan’s outburst, and her mother, still clutching her throat and visibly shaken, stood near the wall, looking utterly defeated. Ayzal’s voice cut through the tense silence like a knife.

“Mom,” Ayzal began, her voice steady despite the turmoil within her, “you need to fix this mess. You have made an awful mess of everything, and it is time to clean it up.”

Her mother looked at her with wide, tear-filled eyes. “What… what do you mean?” she asked, her voice trembling.

"You have to go and tell everyone the truth,” Ayzal said sharply, her tone leaving no room for argument.

“The truth about what?”

“About everything,” Ayzal said firmly. “About Murad’s death, about the lies you told. You need to explain everything to Zayan’s family—his parents and his sister, especially. They deserve to know what really happened.”

Her mother’s eyes widened in fear, her hands still covering the marks on her throat. “Ayzal, I—”

“No excuses,” Ayzal interrupted, her voice unwavering. “You have to go and tell everyone the truth. Everyone has been kept in the dark, and they deserve to know what really happened. And you need to apologize to Zayan properly. He has suffered because of your actions.”

“But… but what about your father and brother?” Her mother’s voice was barely above a whisper. “They don’t know anything about this. I have kept everything from them. How can I face them?” her mother stammered, her voice trembling. “They will be so hurt… and angry.”

“They have every right to be,” Ayzal snapped. “You have been lying to everyone, and it is about time you faced the consequences. You need to explain everything to Zayan’s parents—his mother, his father. They have been living with this lie, and you owe them an explanation. And don’t think you are off the hook with Dad and Hiyam. They have been kept in the dark about all of this. They need to know the truth, and they too need an apology.”

Her mother’s face was a mask of anguish, tears streaming down her cheeks as she tried to process her daughter’s demands. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I just wanted to protect you.”

Ayzal’s voice was a mix of disbelief and anger. “By ruining lives? That is not protection, that is selfishness. And now you have to face up to what you have done. You need to apologize to everyone. To Zayan, to his family. Everyone who has been affected by your lies.”

Her mother looked at her, her eyes filled with both fear and regret. “I don’t know if I can handle this… I don’t know if I can face them after everything.”

“You don’t have a choice,” Ayzal said sharply. “You have caused too much damage. The least you can do is face the people you have hurt. You need to make it right. You have brought this upon yourself and you have to take responsibility for your actions.”

Her mother’s sobs grew louder, and she clutched her hands together as if trying to steady herself. “But how will I ever live with the shame of it all? How can I ever make this right?”

“By doing what is necessary,” Ayzal replied, her tone hard and unyielding. “You start by telling the truth. You tell Zayan and his family everything. You owe them that much. And then you apologize. Apologize to them. They deserve to hear the truth from you, not from rumors or second-hand information.”

Her mother’s shoulders shook with silent sobs, and she looked at Ayzal with a broken expression. “I will do it,” she finally whispered, her voice barely audible. “I will tell them the truth and apologize. I just… I don’t know how to face them.”

“You will have to figure it out,” Ayzal said firmly. “I am not going to coddle you. No more hiding, no more excuses. It is time to face the consequences of your actions.”

Her mother nodded, her face pale and her expression a mix of resignation and fear. “I will do it,” she repeated, her voice trembling. “I will go and talk to them. I will apologize.”

Ayzal watched her mother walk toward the door, her steps slow and uncertain. The weight of the task ahead was evident in her posture, but Ayzal was unrelenting. She knew that her mother’s actions had far-reaching consequences, and the least she could do was ensure that the truth came out and that apologies were made.

As the door closed behind her mother, Ayzal let out a long, ragged breath. The tension in the room was palpable, and the road ahead was still fraught with uncertainty. But at least now there was a path forward. Her mother would face the truth and make amends, and maybe, just maybe, that would be the first step toward repairing the damage that had been done.

Ayzal lay back on the bed, feeling a mixture of exhaustion and grim determination. The future was still uncertain, and the wounds were deep, but at least now there was a chance for healing. She allowed herself a moment of weary relief, knowing that while the journey ahead would be difficult, it was a journey that had to be taken. The truth was out there now, and that was the beginning of something—something that could, hopefully, lead to healing and reconciliation.