.
.
.
On the other hand, after Aslam left, Amna woke up- her eyelids fluttered open, disoriented, and she realized she was still on the carpet where she had fallen asleep. She felt a dull ache in her body from the uncomfortable position. She sat up slowly blinking, a sense of unease settling over her as she wondered if Aslam had come back. She hoped she hadn't missed him. Glancing at the clock, she saw it was already almost 12.
She rose to her feet, her movements sluggish and weary. The events of the previous night came rushing back, the argument, the tears. As she walked down the corridor and the stairs, she heard the familiar clinking of dishes coming from the kitchen and the faint voices of Henry and Rose.
"Rose?" Amna called out.
Rose rushed from the kitchen and met Amna at the dining room. "Yes, ma'am? Good morning. Do you need anything?"
"Did anyone come this morning?" Amna asked, leaning against the dining table for support.
Rose nodded. "Yes, ma. Oga came back a little while ago but left in a hurry. I think he came back to pick something he forgot. He didn't have breakfast either".
Amna felt her heart sink, she nodded slowly, "Okay, thanks." she nodded and turned, heading towards the stairs.
"What should Henry make you for breakfast, Ma?" Rose asked.
"Not now." she dismissed Rose and rushed upstairs. She went straight to his room.
When she pushed the door open, she noticed the subtle signs that he was there. The clothes she saw on his bed the previous night were gone and the blinds were opened, he was definitely there and probably left the blinds opens intentionally to indicate he was home.
She sighed and went back to her room, her eyes falling on the dresser, and she saw a small piece of paper with a card underneath. She walked over and picked up the note, her hands trembling.
'Here's my card, if you need anything,' she read.
She sat down on the edge of the bed, sobbing. Amna glanced at the clock again, realizing she had missed the chance to see him, to talk to him, to try and make things right.
***
She spent hours in bed with her heavy quilt over herself, it still wasn't close to the heaviness she felt in her heart. Rose came by and knocked on the door, asking what Amna wanted for lunch.
"Just tell him to cook rice and stew with plantain and salad," Amna answered and finally, with a resolute sigh, she decided to pick herself up and get out of bed. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up, thinking of what to do next, she went straight to her closet and brought out a ton of dresses, trying them all on.
After Rose served her lunch and left it for her in the living room, she settled onto the couch and turned on the TV, playing an episode of Dynasty but paid little attention to it.
As she ate, her gaze wandered to the corner of the room, where the large bouquet of flowers stood. It was the largest bouquet she'd ever seen. She stared at it, contemplating where to put the stems. The sheer volume of the flowers was overwhelming; she didn't even have enough vases to hold them all. Even if she did, it was too much. She made a mental note to send some of the flowers to her mom, Mami, sisters and sisters-in-law.
After finishing her lunch, she decided to take a shower. She came out refreshed, performed Asr prayer, finding a moment of peace and clarity in her supplication.
Feeling a sense of purpose, she headed to Aslam's room still in her robe and decided to clean the room herself. She took out fresh sheets and changed the bedding, carefully tucking in the corners and smoothing out the fabric. She lit a candle, the soft glow and gentle scent filling the room with warmth.
