The Other

22

(Zulaykha)

                                        I woke up to see Hana watching the television. She was watching the news. I hadn't even remembered falling asleep.

The sun shined brightly through the window, causing me to squint my eyes and put my hand in front of my face. Although it was sunny outside, today was not a happy day...nor will there ever be a happy day any time soon.

"Someone else died." Hana said. The news was live. They had been filming right next door to my house. I gasped and looked out the window.

The neighbors were in tears as police and detectives were investigating the scene. One of my neighbors died... The people who live there have a teenaged daughter. She must've been Alma's next victim. It's sad... I can't imagine how it feels to lose your child.

I sighed. "When will this stop?" I asked, irritated. I was tired of lives being taken away all because I sat in a desk!

Hana looked at me with sympathy. "Alma won't stop until you're the one to blame." Hana said.

Great. So now, I have to wait until people think I'm the cause of the deaths for the calamity to stop? Might as well just turn myself in!

I was pacing back and forth when Yasin, Yasir, and Ziyad had entered my bedroom.

You know... I like how I lock my door, but they still manage to get in.

"Did you see what's happening outside?" Yasin asked as he ran over to the window to watch the scene.

"Yeah." I said. "I just saw it on the news."

"All of these deaths..." Yasir said.

They were so clueless. I wanted so bad to tell them what's going on, but they wouldn't believe me... Hana isn't willing to show herself because God knows why. If Hana doesn't show herself, there's no proof that what I tell them is true.

But then again, they're my family... My closest family members at that... They're also Muslim. We believe in the unseen... Surely, they will believe me, right?

Part of me wanted to explain everything to them, but part of me also didn't want them to think I'm nuts...