Islam Is My Diamond

Chapter 9 - I Am Sorry

The next day I was finally released from the hospital after the doctor saw that everything was great and running smoothly. My uncle was true to his word and came to pick me up, and guess who else was their? At first I was surprised to see him there since I already told him yesterday that my uncle was already going to come. I guess Noah just wanted to make sure I was okay since he thinks it was his fault that I was hurt, but at least that was what Ella told me yesterday before my uncle thing happened.

"Asalam Alykum. How are you today?" Right now I was in the hospital lobby waiting for my uncle to finish whatever payment and paper work the Secretary gave him for the 3 wonderful days I spent here (note the sarcasm), when Noah came up to me.

"Walykum Alsalam, my head still hurts just not as much as yesterday, but so far I am dandy Alhamdulillah (Praise God)." I answered.

"Alhamdulillah, listen I am sorry about what happened that day it was so dark and I didn't see you there. I couldn't sleep these past two nights thinking that I broke you and ...........," he trailed off after his voice broke at the last word. When I looked up at him I saw that his gazed was lowered, but I still saw the pained expression on his face. I don't know what he thought he did to me that day, but I do know that whatever it was wasn't his responsibility.

"Why are you sorry? I don't remember what happened that night or how I ended up in the hospital, but I know that whatever happened it wasn't your fault."

Now I was starting to get worried, because Noah was clenching his hands so hard his fingers were turning white. It was like he wanted to say something but wasn't sure if he should say it or not. It felt like ages until he finally said we he wanted to say, but it was something I did not expect to hear from him. To say I was shocked would be an understatement.

"I am sorry. Something serious could have happened to you. You could have been seriously hurt and it would have been my fault. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself for hurting someone, nevertheless, someone............ that I care about," he said the last part in a low voice, but I still heard it clearly. I just stood their gaping like an idiot. Thank God he still had his gaze lowered. I was about to reply when a old women came walking towards us. She was a short women with white hair that had a few steaks of blond, and her eyes were a pale blue color. She looked like she was in her late 70's. Noah looked up at me when I took forever to answer only to see that I haven't answered because I was to busy wondering why this women was walking toward us with a smile on her face. It seemed that Noah knew the old lady because when he saw her he smiled back at her with recognition, and when she reached us she told Noah,"Hello again, I saw you there with this gorgeous girl and I couldn't help but come say hello. You two are a very beautiful couple."

A what now?! "We're not a couple," I replied quickly. I felt my face go warm from embarrassment.

Why would she think we are a couple?

"Oh I am sorry, it is just the way you looked at him made it look like you were together. You would have been very luck to have him. I still don't know how to thank him for helping me," I think I look like a tomato right now, because I felt like I just put my head in the oven.

"It was nothing really. I just did what any person would have done," Noah told her but his face and neck was turning slightly red. He was blushing.

"Your being too modest, Noah," the women told him. Wow, she even knew his name.

The women turned to me and said, "This young lad here helped me carry some heavy bags upstairs to my husband. Yesterday, when I went to visit my husband he asked me to bring him his favorite dish tomorrow from home because you know how hospital food is like. Anyways, I had to put it in different bags so they won't rip. I also had to bring him a bag of fresh cloth and other stuff. Just two hours ago on my way to the elevator one of the bags that had his cloth spilled on the floor, and it would have been very hard to bend down with all these heavy bags. Then God send Noah to me to help me. God bless him, he even carried all these bags for me all the way to the 9th floor. He looked so worried. He didn't notice me at first, but when he heard me panting and having trouble he forgot all about his problems and helped me."

I couldn't help but smile. There is another reason for me to like him even more then before, "That was very nice of Noah, it sounds like something he would do," I told both of them, and they both smiled back at me.

"What is your name?" the lady asked me.

"Oh my name is Amal, what is yours?"

"Elizabeth, but you can call me Eliza."

"It was very nice to meet you, Eliza," I said.

"If you don't mind me asking; what are you both doing in a place like this?"

I replied. I first told her about how I was here for three days, and now I am just waiting for my uncle to finish so that I can finally go home. When it was Noah's turn to answer he just said, "I was making sure she was okay, and won't be staying here for another night."

Out of the corner of my eyes I saw my uncle coming towards us. I said salaam to Noah, and goodbye to Eliza, telling them that I was leaving. The car ride was very quite, mostly because I was very tired and still confused about what Noah said. Just thinking about it made want to go home and wrap my self around my own sheets. I never missed my room so much. I couldn't wait to see my purple room with its stars ceiling, the stars on my ceiling is what makes it easier for me to sleep.

Once I was in my room, I saw an envelope from the college I wanted to transfer too. It was the college that Laila, Ella, and Yasmin were in and we were planning on renting an apartment near the college so we can all spend the last three years of college together. Everything that happened today was quickly forgotten as I held the letter in my hand scared of what I might find inside. What if I didn't get excepted? I started making duaa that I would find an acceptance letter inside, and then I started to open the letter with shaky hands. When I read the first word in the letter it said, Congratulations! Ruby Luke Smith, I am pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to the University of Florida. There was more, but I was too excited to continue. I sent a quick message to my three best friends on my phone and after 10 minutes I got very excited replies. They even send me a few apartments they were thinking of renting. Now that I was accepted to the university I was so happy that I will be able to spend my two years with them, and I couldn't think of anything as great as that.

Alhamdulillah! I thank you Allah for this blessing of getting to spend my last few years of college with the people I love the most and will always keep close to my heart. It is also a good way to spend time with Ella before she leaves to Egypt.