Clara smiled at me.
She was one of the old ladies I spent my evenings with at the old age home that I volunteered at ever since I was sixteen.
"How was your day Mi Amor?" she said putting her hand kindly on mine.
"Shouldn't I be the one asking you that? How are feeling today?" Clara has stage 4 cancer.
"Oh Me Amor all I get to be asked is "how I am". Don't deprive me of my life before it has already ended. How are you Me Amor?"
She asked again.
"I'm Alhamdulillah". I replied. Clara smiled at me again.
"I love how you always keep true to yourself even when things are hard" she said cupping my face like my own Abu Ella (grandmother) would.
"Things aren't that bad". I say turning my face to look outside because I was clearly lying.
"I watched the news Amor. But they are. Promise me you'll be careful?"
"You worry too much". "Promise me?" she said rather sternly as my own mama would.
"I promise". I nod.
"Things will get better. People have to see the truth eventually". She smiles reassuringly.
"I don't think so. It's been the worse. Just last night I was about to take a selfie......"
I stopped my sentence half mid way realising I shouldn't tell Clara about the smoothie incident.
"What happened last night?" She asked looking at me worriedly. "Nothing big... Nothing you need to worry about" I tried to reassure her.
She was about to say something when a guy who looked to be in his 20's came and gave her a kiss on her forehead.
"Abu Ella!" He said with a smile.
He had a bunch of red roses in his one hand, they were her favourite.
Something about him was unnervingly familiar.
Rodrigo looked at me. And that's when I saw it. And I'm sure he saw it too because hate filled his blue eyes.
"You smoothie slushing...." I almost said out loud fighting the urge of throwing my bag at him.
"Clara I have to go, take good care of yourself. Inshallah, I'll see you tomorrow". I said gathering my stuff.
I didn't want to be in the same room as the person who nearly ruined my favourite hijab. Even for a minute.
"You to Me Amor. Remember your promise" she said to me.
I didn't even have to look back when walking out to know she was staring suspect something.
