The Price Of Betrayal

CHAPTER FIVE: Triumph and Trial

One month after the long wait, life at Al-Jazeera Academy brought a rare moment of joy for its students. The principal called them together to announce that their WAEC results were out. Alina’s heart raced as she joined the throng of students at the notice board. Cheers erupted as it was revealed that every student had passed with flying colors. Amir was the top scorer, followed by Adam, then Alina. The teachers couldn’t contain their pride as they congratulated the students for their stellar performances. For the first time in weeks, Alina smiled genuinely. She clutched her result slip tightly, her heart swelling with pride. She couldn’t wait to rush home and show her parents. Her mother had always dreamed of this day. Mama will be so proud of me! she thought, practically skipping on her way home. But her joy was fleeting. As she stepped into the house, a wave of dread washed over her. The living room was eerily silent, yet something was wrong. Her eyes widened in horror as they landed on her mother, crumpled on the floor in a pool of blood. “Mama!” she screamed, her voice cracking. She ran to her mother’s side, shaking her gently. “Mama, wake up! Please wake up!” With trembling hands, she grabbed her phone and called her father repeatedly, but there was no answer. Tears blurred her vision as she stumbled to the neighbor’s house for help.

Together, they rushed Khadija to the hospital, Alina praying frantically under her breath. At the hospital, the doctor’s face was grave as he examined Khadija. Alina paced the waiting area, her chest tight with anxiety. Moments later, her father arrived, his face pale and frantic. “Doctor, how is my wife? Is she going to be okay?” Mr. Hassan asked, his voice trembling. The doctor hesitated, then sighed deeply. “We’ll do everything we can, but… she overdosed on a contraceptive. It caused severe internal complications. I suspect she was attempting an abortion.” The words were like a knife to Mr. Hassan’s heart. “An abortion?” he whispered, disbelief and anguish mingling in his voice. “No… she wouldn’t… Why would she…” His knees buckled as the weight of the revelation sank in.Before he could process it, the nurse called the doctor urgently. Mr. Hassan followed them to Khadija’s side. Minutes stretched into what felt like hours until the doctor emerged, his expression even graver. “I’m so sorry,” he said softly. “We couldn’t save her.” Mr. Hassan stumbled into the room, his world collapsing around him. He fell to his knees beside his wife’s lifeless body, cradling her in his arms. His sobs filled the room as he clung to her. “Why, Khadija? Why would you leave me like this? Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you trust me?” His cries were raw, echoing with heartbreak and unanswered questions.

At home, Alina sat with her aunt, Zeenat, waiting anxiously for news. The air felt heavy, and her heart pounded with an ominous rhythm. When Zeenat’s phone rang, she excused herself to answer it. Zeenat: “Hello?” Mr. Hassan: “I… I’m calling to inform you… Khadija is gone. I couldn’t save her.” Zeenat gasped, her hand flying to her chest. Tears spilled freely as she whispered, “Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un. My sister… oh, my sister…” Hearing her aunt’s broken voice, Alina’s heart stopped. “Aunty, why are you crying? What’s wrong?” she asked, panic rising in her voice. Zeenat struggled to find the words. “It’s your mother…” she began, her voice shaking. “What about Mama? Is she okay?” “She… she passed away,” Zeenat whispered, fresh tears streaming down her face. “No!” Alina screamed, shaking her head violently. “No, it’s not true! Mama promised—she promised to always be here for me! I need to talk to her. She’s not gone. Let me talk to her!” Alina’s desperate cries pierced the room as Zeenat pulled her into a tight embrace, holding her trembling body close. “I’m so sorry, my dear,” Zeenat murmured, tears soaking Alina’s hair.

The house quickly filled with mourners. Friends, neighbors, and relatives arrived to pay their respects. Alina sat in the corner, her eyes vacant, her body numb. Amir stayed by her side, offering silent support as she stared blankly at the crowd. Later that night, Mr. Hassan returned home, his face hollow with grief. He gathered every ounce of strength to sit beside Alina, taking her hand in his. “My darling,” he began softly, his voice breaking, “I know nothing can bring your mother back, but I promise you this—I will always be here for you. I will never leave you.” At his words, Alina’s tears began to flow once more, and she collapsed into her father’s arms. For the first time since the news, she let herself cry freely, clinging to him as if he were her last anchor in a storm. Weeks passed, but the wound in Alina’s heart remained raw. Unable to find closure, she pressed her father for answers about her mother’s death, but he refused to speak of it. One evening, Zeenat finally broke the silence. “Your mother… she was pregnant,” Zeenat began, her voice trembling. “But your father didn’t want another child. That’s why she… she tried to abort it.” Alina’s world spun. “Papa didn’t want the baby?” she whispered, her voice filled with disbelief. “Why… why would he—” “Promise me,” Zeenat interrupted, gripping her hands tightly, “promise me you won’t tell anyone. Not even your father. Please, Alina.”

Alina nodded numbly, her heart heavy with confusion and a growing bitterness toward her father. Though Zeenat tried her best to comfort her, Alina’s relationship with her father began to crumble. She withdrew, her once-bright spirit replaced with a cold, guarded demeanor. As time passed, Alina found solace in her friends at school. Amir, in particular, refused to let her fall into despair. “You have to keep going,” he told her gently. “Your mother would want you to make her proud.” His words lit a small flame of determination within her. Slowly, she began to heal, leaning on Amir and her classmates for strength. By the time they completed all their exams, Alina had found a fragile sense of peace. Though the pain of her mother’s loss lingered, she resolved to honor her memory by doing her best.

Life can be unbearably cruel, and Alina's loss is a weight no heart should bear. Her mother was her anchor, her safe place, and now... she’s gone. Let’s hold Alina close in our thoughts as she faces this storm alone. Thank you for staying with her through this heart-wrenching journey. Together, let’s hope for healing in the chapters ahead." 🌹💔