In the heart of Wales, behind the walls of the grandest estate in the city, lies a hidden gem: sixteen-year-old Anna Hussain. With her mother as serene as the morning mist and her father a vibrant burst of color, Anna grapples with her identity-caug...
Hi folks I hope you midweek is going good, here's another chapter at your service. Enjoy the story <3 Don't forget to leave feedback.
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Trigger warning alert:
* child abuse*
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"It's alright, don't worry. Come."
Tamimi reassured, pulling me closer as Mom released her grip and strode away.
Without a second glance, he guided me alongside him, but my eyes lingered on the closed doors of the operating theater, a knot of helplessness twisting in my stomach.
With every step, it felt as though the ground was pulling me back, making it difficult to move forward. Tears streamed down my face, mingling with the cold air outside.
Mom and Barron walked ahead, their conversation a distant murmur. Tamimi and I followed in silence, my head bowed, lost in my thoughts.
Suddenly, flashes of light blinded me, and voices bombarded my ears.
"Hi, Anna, can you tell us about your friend?"
"How is Mariam now? Are her parents inside?"
"What did the doctors say? What happened out there?"
"How are you not hurt? When did you come to Islo?"
"How is your father doing?"
"Why are you not living with your father?"
"You have not made a comment on your parents' divorce, is there anything you want to say now.?"
I had never encountered paparazzi before, not since my parents' divorce four years ago. Mom had enforced strict privacy rules, ensuring no one came within fifty yards of our house. They respected her privacy, leaving me in the shadows, unnoticed. But today was different. It wasn't my mom in the spotlight; it was me.
Somehow, I found myself swept along in a whirlwind, the flurry of activity surrounding me intensifying as we hurried to escape the paparazzi's relentless pursuit.
Amidst the frantic chaos, a nurse's urgent call pierced through the noise, causing me to pivot on my heels, heart pounding in anticipation of the news about my dearest friend, Mariam.
My emotions churned within me, a tempest of hope, fear, and anxiety swirling through my veins, threatening to overwhelm me.
Each step towards the nurse felt like an eternity, my desperation to know Mariam's fate driving me forward.
But before I could reach the nurse, an invisible force seized me, wrenching me back with a violent jolt that sent shockwaves rippling through my trembling frame. The world seemed to spin around me, a dizzying whirl of confusion and fear that threatened to engulf me entirely.
"What are you doing!? Where do you think you're going?"
My mother's voice cut through the chaos like a knife, her grip tight and unyielding as she pulled me back from the brink.
"Mom, please, I need to know about Mariam!"
I pleaded, desperation lacing my words as I fought against the suffocating weight of uncertainty that threatened to crush me.
But my mother's response was cold and unforgiving, her anger a palpable force that pressed down upon me like a suffocating blanket. With each step, she led me further away from the nurse, her determination unshakeable despite my desperate pleas.
The guards, alerted by the growing disturbance, swiftly intervened, forming a barrier between us and the persistent paparazzi.
As we retreated towards the parking lot, my tears flowed freely, mingling with the cold, unforgiving pavement beneath me. I struggled against my mother's hold, the ache in my chest growing with each passing moment.
As the situation escalated, Barron rushed towards us; joined by Tamimi and Linus, who had a bandage on his forehead.
I had thought the doctors would keep Linus overnight, but here he was, standing beside me. He'd hit his head hard against the windshield during the crash, leaving him with scratches and a deep cut above his brow.
"Stop it, Aunt! You're hurting her!"
Timimi's voice rang out, a firm and unwavering command that cut through the noise like a knife, his words a testament to the fierce loyalty that bound us together.
With a final, defiant gesture, my mother released her grip, her actions speaking louder than words as she turned and stormed away, her anger palpable in the frigid night air. Just then, her hand flew through the air before landing against my cheek with a stinging slap, leaving me stunned and reeling.
The world seemed to spin as I stumbled, struggling to find my balance.
A pair of hands reached out to catch me, but they couldn't prevent my fall. I crashed to the ground, the impact jarring my senses, my head striking the hard surface.
Amidst the chaos, I heard shuffling; my vision blurring as something wet touched my hair.
