Like It's The Afterlife

Chapter Two

My friends knew something was wrong around midnight. Dinners with my family did not start until eight and growing up, they were a two hour affair. Shadia has had dinner over my house, she even stayed over when both of her parents were put in the hospital.

Bar on the other hand was a basket case. "Shadia, she said if she does not come back it's her family. Assia would have texted by now."

I knew I was dead and my worst fear came to life but I will help my friends no matter what. "Bar, she might have fallen asleep on the sub. She has done it in the past and she most likely would not have good reception. Start posting on the school online board, Facebook, and Twitter. I will send out a group message to see if anyone has seen her. One last thing before we jump the gun, Assia is the world's biggest klutz. Start calling all of the hospitals in the area. She might have gotten hurt."

I know Shadia and I know her well. She is right, I am a klutz. In junior high during gym class, we were playing volleyball. I made the wrong move and broke my ankle. It was so bad I needed surgery. Back then, I just had the typical annoying parents. My brother Anwar was at the hospital with me with my mother and the joke was I needed to be put in a bubble. Shadia called me Gimpy the entire time I was on crutches.

Nothing was turning up on me and my friends were getting more worried. I wish I could save them from the heart break is about to come.

"Shadia,I think we need to call either Samia or Salma. They even warned us about Assia's brothers."

Shadia would have to be the one to contact them because while Salma and Samia are nice, they are anti semitic. It's one of those cultural issues.

"Bar, we are going to have to wait until morning. Also, I know Assia's brothers treat their wives like shit and neither are allowed to work. Her brother Anwar is an airline pilot and leaves early. We are going to blow off class tomorrow and then throttle Assia for scaring the crap out of everyone."

I left my friends restless that night. I knew where my body was , Teardrop Park. I went to see if the stories were true about ghosts being able to move objects and I could. I had a black and pink message board over my desk. I was able to draw tiny tear drops.

Nine a.m came and Shadia had to make the call to my sisters-in-law. She knew about about Soad as did Bar. "Salma, this is Shadia. Have you seen anything or heard anything from Assia. She did not come home last night."

I could hear Salma crying on the other end. "My husband said she is with the tears. He came home with bloody clothes. Samia called me this morning and said Amr said the same thing. Have you tried around campus? The hospitals? I know Assia is a klutz."

Bar had tears coming down her face and the look on Shadia's face was grave."We checked."

I could hear a string of swears Arabic. "Check Teardrop Park. He said she is with the tears. I am going to call the morgues. Nothing good came of last night. I have Anwar ' s clothes saved for the police. I told Samia to the same. See if you can get some of your classmates to help search for her. I will meet you there."

Bar and Shadia were crying but I could see Bar leaving mass messages just like Shadia is. Salma ' s suspicion is correct. My body is there.

At the park, there must have been 80 people from school. Salma and Samia were there as well. Everyone split up including some going over to Central Park to search there to be safe. I think the reason why no one called the police was maybe there was hope that I am alive. It would have been impossible for Salma and Samia leave during the night.

Everyone was going to come up on a gory sight. I had been lightly tapping them in the shoulders to draw them near my body. The sooner I am found, the sooner we can begin the process of getting my parents and brothers in jail.

The search had gone on for hours until twilight when Shadia saw my comforter under some brush. The cover to it was made by me when I was in high school. My family and I were visiting my aunts and uncles in Cairo. I do like to sew and design my own clothing as a hobby.

I went to the bazaar the bazaar with my grandparents and found the fabric to make my duvet cover, the same duvet cover Shadia would see.

I took a breath that I did not need as Shadia bent down to pull back my blanket. There I was covered in blood. My leopard print shirt had been torn to pieces through the stabs. I was cold and all color was gone."

Shadia seemed to be in shock. Bar began to cry hysterically "No, no. That's a dummy. That's a doll. That can't be Assia."

I could hear my R.A. who had been in on the search call the police in the background. Salma and Samia were sobbing hysterically. Shadia and Bar were leaning on each other for support. All I could see is tears and all I could hear are sobs. Nothing will be the same for them ever again. I will see my own justice and watch over them and their families until their time is up before I move on.

The police came and Shadia looked the female detective right in the eye. "I need to make a statement. Several of us do."

I will let them do all of the talking. They all knew what my life with my family is like and how they were going to force me to quit NYU and enter an arranged marriage. Something my parents do not like is dirty laundry being aired in public. Well mom and dad, your dirty laundry is going to be aired in public and the world will know about you and the three monsters you raised.