Take off your Hijab (Rewriting)

Building A Legacy ✅

"Grief is a tangled web that binds individuals to those they have lost, revealing the courage to confront their fears and the light of connection waiting to guide them home."." 

Third Persons POV.

The polished surfaces and aromas of the office might've been welcoming to anyone else, but to Zach, they felt like relics of an empire he'd inherited by default. The hollow echo of his footsteps on the marble floors sounded foreign, as though he were walking through someone else's life. Even the sharp, clean lines of his suit felt misfitted, more like armor against the world than anything truly his.

A quiet but steady voice pulled him back to reality. "Zachary, what are you doing here so soon?"

He turned to see his uncle—his father's brother and a face familiar yet strange. Though the family resemblance was undeniable, his uncle's expression was softer, with a warmth that felt out of place here. His father had always maintained a steely exterior, all ambition and fortitude. But his uncle... His uncle looked at him as if he truly saw him.

"Uncle," Zach said, a slight tremor betraying his resolve. "I... I want to learn. Teach me everything I need to know. I want to take over."

His uncle looked taken aback, his surprise giving way to a more measured expression. Zach could see a flash of something deeper there—grief, maybe, or a sadness that hadn't had time to fade yet, quickly softened by something like pride.

"Alright, Zachary," he said, nodding slowly.

"You'll teach me?" Zach asked, disbelief threading through his voice, as if he couldn't quite grasp the reality of the offer. The flicker of hope sparked something within him, but the weight of expectation bore down just as heavily.

"Of course I will, Zach. It's your right. And I know it takes courage to come here, especially now. It's only been a few days SINCE.... Your father would be proud, even if he were still with us..." His voice trailed off, a shadow crossing his features.

Zach's chest tightened, the conflicting emotions churning inside him. Relief washed over him, but it was tainted by a deep-seated regret. This was his now, this burden of responsibility, even if he wasn't sure he wanted it. The specter of his father's absence loomed large, a reminder of expectations he felt unprepared to meet. What if he failed? What if he let everyone down?, 

 As they walked side by side, he watched his uncle exchange nods and greetings with the staff, offering warm smiles and remembering names—habits his father had never taken the time to learn. And in that moment, Zach understood just how different a leader his uncle might've been if given the chance.

Weeks Later:

Zach sat in the quiet corner of the office, the muted sounds of phone calls and low conversations forming a distant hum. He absently twirled a pen between his fingers, his gaze unfocused as he stared out the window, watching the world outside move on as if nothing had changed.. But everything had changed. He felt like a ghost, haunting a life that no longer belonged to him.

His uncle was in the conference room, leading a meeting with a confidence that Zach envied. The way he commanded attention, the warmth of his voice—it was a stark contrast to his father's cold authority. A thought gnawed at him, relentless and painful: why hadn't his uncle sought him or Samantha out more?

They were family, after all, yet his uncle had always remained at the periphery of their lives, just a distant figure. The realization settled over Zach like a heavy blanket, suffocating him. It wasn't just about his father's distance; it was about the choices everyone had made. Did his uncle truly care, or had he simply accepted the role of the 'other brother'—someone who watched from afar but never stepped in?.