The Promise

1) Omer

        “If you didn’t come with me, I’ll kill you in front of your sons right now!” 
   “No! mom!”
My younger brother Ali, yelled with tears running down his face.
“You can’t separate me from my son!” my mom cried out holding me in her embrace.
“Believe me I can” My father seethed.
“Mom, stop. Go with him…please” I say quietly looking down.
“No!” she cried again when he pulled her arm harshly as she thrashes reaching for me.
“Are you coming or do you want me to remind you of the taste of my fist!” he yelled losing control raising his hand.
   “No!” I scream-
I startled awake sweating; my hair sticking to my forehead and neck, the beeping of my alarm clock starts next to me like every day; I assessed my surroundings carefully ...my room in my apartment not my old home.
Another nightmare or should I say another flashback as one of the therapists said before. I raise from my bed removing the covers and head to the bathroom, cold water cascades down the length of my body and down my face waking me up to get ready for another day in the company.
My company, the only thing I care for.
   I make my way towards the company’s front door, people greeting in the way and everyone goes back to their work, some look, some stare; but at the end every person goes back to work.
I enter my private office that overlooks the city from above, the glass walls giving the perfect view of the streets and the cars and traffic passing by and the people heading to their destinies.
As I take off my suit jacket and make my way to my desk the door knocks and Dionne, my secretary and the head of the photography group peeks her head in “Morning boss!” she chirps.
“You have a moment here?” she asks closing the door behind her.
“what’s the point of asking if you’re going to enter anyways?” I ask.
“Well, yes there’s no point, I have interesting news!”
“Do you have to be so loud in the morning, Dionne” I drawl
“Do you have to be so grumpy in the morning, Mr. Mughrabi?” she asks ignoring my statement anyways.
“Happy new year of candidates boss! Here are all the folders and CVS of the youngsters that applied to learn at our foundation this year. Hope you take a look at them and approve of the suitable ones and tell me so we can send them the “We welcome you in our second home e-mails actually Mr.-
“Dionne” I drawl and she clamps her mouth shut
“you’ll swallow your tongue, habebti” I say
“Sorry, excuse me if I’m too excited, but this is my favorite time of the year!” she says excitedly.
“Yes, yes I know, leave the files I’ll take a look at them” I say “Sure!” she leaves the files and leaves the office as well taking with her that sunshiny energy of hers leaving me with my thoughts.
   A thud from outside startles me, this is when I know that I zoned out again.
I couldn’t stop thinking about them; nineteen years and two months passed and I still think about them every day.
I always wonder how they’re doing,
What do they look like now?
Did they achieve their dreams or are they getting oppressed like what happened with me?
I distract myself from my own thoughts by working on yesterday’s folders and contracts signing them.
When a photo catches my attention.
One of the CVs Dionne got was protruding outward than the others and the photo was facing me.
A girl.
She was looking right through my soul …no God, this is a photo.
I felt more curious, I held the file pushing away the others from above it and opened it.
I couldn’t tear my gaze away from those eyes, how could someone feel this real in a photo?
Dark brown eyes stared at me with a line of long lashes surrounding them so innocent yet so deep. She has short to medium length dark hair framing her face that reaches her shoulders, it looks smooth and thick I have the urge to run my fingers through its locks, to feel it. With a fair skin tone that brings out the color of her cheeks and the contrast of her dark hair and eyes.
No, I have to stop this no girl could catch my attention yet I’m attracted to a picture in a CV.
Those lush lips…I scold my mind to focus and I start reading the qualifications carefully. Twenty years old wait, but she can’t travel alone being underage, is someone coming with her?
I look at the date of birth; first of July so, yes, if she came, she still has time to be Twenty- one, studied foreign language-… The home country.
I couldn’t believe it; she’s the first intern applying from my home country or the country that was supposed to be my home and I refused because I was so selfish.
I stop my thoughts and focus back again on the girl and her CV.
After reading her file carefully several times I make the decision. She’s accepted and I have a feeling that this decision will change a lot.
   Three hours passed between me busing myself with signing papers, overlooking CVs, answering calls and looking at the picture again and again.
Nobody can be this attractive in official papers. Suddenly an idea makes a way through my mind. Everybody has accounts on social media these days I think as I hold my phone typing her name in…Aurora.
I look at her photo “you don’t look so happy as your name indicates –a knock interrupts me and Dionne enters again
“Mr. the guy from our newest campaign is here and wants to meet with you with two of his group, should I lead them to the meetings room?” she rushes out.
“Yes, I’ll be there in two minutes” I say.
“Great…Mr. Mughrabi were you talking to yourself?” she asked suspiciously.
“Why would I do that Dionne” I deadpan
“Sorry I thought I heard you talking and you have no phone. Anyways! I’ll get out of your hair bye!” she exits.
I look at the picture again, now I’m talking to myself because of you, Aurora.
I keep a mental note to go back to what I was doing again when I’m back as I tuck the file carefully in one of the drawers and close it watching her face fade away.