Love, sabr and lots of dua

chapter 4 - the distance between us

Amira sat at the bench with her friends, listening to the usual chatter about school, gossip, and weekend plans. She smiled  and laughed at their stories, but her mind was elsewhere. Her thoughts kept drifting back to Zayd, replaying Azraa’s words over and over in her head .It was something, but it still left her with more questions than answers.

Layla noticed Amira's distant expression and tapped her on the shoulder. "You okay? ,you've been quite lately ."

Amira blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. “Yeah, sorry. I'm just thinking about... stuff.”

Layla narrowed her eyes playfully. “Let me guess, Zayd?”

Amira hesitated, not sure if she wanted to dive into the topic again. She had already spent too much time thinking about him, and yet, she couldn’t help it.

Azraa chimed in. “You need to stop stressing over that boy. If he really likes you, he’ll come around. Don’t put your life on hold for him.”

Amira smiled weakly but didn’t say much. She appreciated their support, but her feelings were still complicated. She felt stuck—unsure of whether she should wait for Zayd or move on.

Over the next few days, Amira found herself more distracted than usual, barely paying attention during conversations with her friends. She would nod along, but her mind was always somewhere else. Layla noticed the change.

One afternoon, after school, Layla pulled Amira aside. “Hey, we need to talk.”

Amira's faced turned pink she had a feeling this was about to happen . "Yes? "

Layla crossed her arms, and her face turned serious “You’ve been really distant lately, and it’s starting to feel like you don’t care. Every time we hang out, it’s like you’re not even there. Is it because of Zayd?”

Amira felt guilty for not being there for her friends .“I didn’t mean to be distant, Layla. I’ve just had a lot on my mind.”

Layla sighed frustratedly. “I get it, Amira. But we’re your friends. We’re here for you. You can’t let a guy, especially one who hasn’t even committed to you, take over your entire world. It’s like we’ve lost you.”

Amira’s eyes widened, hurt by Layla’s words. “I’m not letting him take over my world! It’s just... I don’t know. I can’t help how I feel.”

Layla softened a bit, but her tone remained firm. “I’m not saying you shouldn’t have feelings. I’m saying don’t lose sight of what’s important—your friends, your goals, your studies. We care about you, but lately, it feels like Zayd is all you care about.”

Amira was quiet for a moment, reflecting on what Layla had said. She hadn’t realized how much she had been pulling away from her friends, unintentionally shutting them out. But now, hearing it out loud, it hurt to know she had made them feel like they didn’t matter. Like they weren't there ,she had been treating them the way Zayd had been treating her .
Amira felt deeply ashamed about herself for being such a terrible friend .

They both went home with this tiring tension between such close friends .

The tension lingered for a few days. Amira felt awkward around Layla, unsure of how to fix things. She didn’t want to lose her friend, but she also didn’t know how to explain the rollercoaster of emotions she was dealing with.

Amira received a note from Layla that day saying we need to talk.  Amira’s stomach twisted. She knew she had to face this head-on.

They met up at a quiet spot at their school, and Amira took a deep breath before speaking. “I’m sorry, Layla. You’re right. I’ve been distant, and I didn’t even realize how much I’ve been caught up in everything with Zayd. It’s just... complicated.”

Layla nodded, her voice  softening. “I get that it’s complicated. But we’re your friends, Amira. We want to be there for you, but it feels like you’ve been pushing us away.”

Amira's heart ached with Layla's words, cutting deep into her heart ." I didn't mean to push you away or cut you out of my life it's just that things have been ...complicated. Maybe my focus has been too much on Zayd lately . But you are my friend, and I love you , I wouldn't want to lose you .

Layla smiled, a genuine warmth in her eyes. “We’re not going anywhere. Just remember, no matter what happens with Zayd, we’ve got your back.”

Amira nodded, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders. She had been so caught up in her feelings for Zayd that she hadn’t realized how much she had been neglecting the people who cared about her most.

They hugged it out, and Amira walked away with a new sense of clarity. Zayd might still be on her mind, but she knew now that her friendships were just as important, if not more. She couldn’t let herself lose sight of the people who were always there for her, no matter what.

Amira goes home that night with the weight of her shoulders ,feeling the true value of friendship. She whispers a dua for guidance, asking Allah to help her balance her emotions, her studies, and her relationships.