My life as a Fulani girl.

Chapter twenty-one

     "has he ever had something like that at your house?" Mommy asked.

    I had called her after I managed to get Ayman to bed after dressing his injured knuckles.

    I shook my head no "I don't think so" I muttered

My head was packed with many questions and apart from that i was worried

  is he going to be ok?

    "Hanina I need you to do something for me" mama said.

   she had worry written all over her, she was sitting by the edge of the bed.

    "what is it?" I asked.

"never leave Ayman, please" she said her voice shaking and then she burst into silent tears.

    I went over to her and wrapped an arm around her "mama don't cry, inshaAllah he'll be fine and I'll never leave him"

    "Hanina Ayman.." She paused wiping her face "he's a lost child, he's alone and he doesn't want anybody's help. He's broken and he's depressed, I have done everything I could but he still hasn't opened up to me or anybody"

   "oh" I replied all her words sinking in.

   he's depressed? He's alone? He's broken?? Wow

    "but mommy why is he like this"

"he wasn't like that when he was a child. It started in his teenage years and I wasn't there to help" she said her voice shaking

    "by that time his father and I were always travelling, we didn't have time for our kids. And his step-mother didn't really care about her kids talk less of ayman"

     "he became all alone, he didn't have anyone to tell anything to so he became distant. By the time we settled down he had already finished secondary school. From his ss1 to ss3 he didn't speak to anyone, not a single word was said from him. We had thought he had gone dumb" she sniffed and took in a breath then continued

     "but then everything changed when Kalthuum arrived. He got really close to her, he started talking a little again. And then when we visited an orphanage in London he met Sarah. They got really close and understood each other. I guess that happened because they had so much in common in life"

     she stopped and glanced my way. I was staring at her wide-eyed waiting for her to continue.

   "we were finally a perfect family again. Ayman got really close to Kalthuum, he was always at Safaa's house to see the little baby. She got fond of him too and they became best friends but then one night everything changed. Kalthuum got really sick and she was later diagnosed with blood cancer and they had to love back to London

   ayman completely broke down, he went crazy and then the drinking started. Ayman didn't even attend uni, he was drinking 24\7. We didn't know what to do. He refused rehab and I didn't want to force him so that he won't hate me again"

   "one day when we met with your parents at a gathering we became real friends. Your dad and Ayman's became fast friends, best friends even. Ayman's condition was getting worse so I thought why not get him married? Maybe love can cure him and when I saw your picture in your mom's phone I instantly grew in love with you

  

   I told Ayman's dad and he agreed then asked your father and your dad agreed too"

   she stopped and held my hands in her "Hanina forgive me, yes I was selfish I didn't even care to think about you. But I'm a mother and every mother wants her child to be happy right?"