The Truest Soldier-Islamic Life Story

Chapter Seven

Asima was glad Scar hadn't spoken to her during their endless run. She was sure it was because the Colonel was watching.

When time was up they were given a ten minute rest before they'd have to join the rest of the trainees in the evening workouts.

By then, Asima was beyond herself. Sweating under the heat of the day under her hijab, she wanted to lay down and never get up.

Sometime during her break, someone stepped close to her, the gravel crunching under their boots barely audible in her drumming ears. She opened an eye and saw Zaen and one of his new friends. Sighing, she closed back her eyes. She wanted to spend her resting time in peace.

"Hey, Asima," Zaen said, sitting down beside her. She grunted in response. "Don't know what I did wrong but, sorry." Asima was silent, feeling the heat ease itself off her.

"This isn't a girl scout meeting!" The Colonel shouted. "Leave her alone and get into formation."

Asima opened her eyes to watch Zaen stood up while his friend looked over his shoulder warily. Zaen held out a hand for her. There was no way she could refuse, not after he stuck his neck out just to apologize.

Asima wanted to hug him, hug him because he had the strength to not let Scar get to him and she needed it, too.

Instead, Asima took his offered hand and squeezed it before she jogged off towards where the others had clustered on the field. She met Scar's gaze with a fierce stare. Asima had nothing to fear, not with Zaen at her back.

****

"You sure there ain't anything going on between you two?" Mikey asked as the two made their way after Asima. Zaen laughed.

"Not the kind you're referring to."

"Honestly, how are you guys just so close? Religious connection or some shit like that?" Zaen scoffed, although he really didn't have an answer for Mikey.

"I guess you could say that," he said. But it was more like having a little sister that he'd never had. And the duty to protect her was what really drove him.

After the extensive training that consisted of two drills and doing the circuit in the sudden rain, Zaen dropped to down beside Asima, disregarding the wet ground, just as several others took a knee for a quick breather.

"Stand up," the Colonel barked. Zaen prayed that he wouldn't force them to do another late night workout. Allah please not another workout. "Get in the showers. It's Letter Night."

Hearing that, the trainees jumped to their feet with renewed vigor and ran back to the dorms.

Letter Night happened every two weeks. Any mail from family and friends would be sorted out individually. The Colonel had the right to withhold them if any trainee were particularly slacking.

Everyone, that is, but Asima.

It was the second Letter Night and Zaen had a feeling it would be a repeat of the first. He hung back with her, pretending his aching muscles was the reason for it while she played with the ends of her hijab, eyes down. Mikey looked back at them, and like everyone else, knew of Asima's situation.

The first time, it wasn't very long after everyone's name was called for most to realize Asima hadn't gotten one. While the others stayed up to talk about what they'd read in their letters, Asima had gone to bed early. But Zaen had heard her cry that night. It made him sick knowing that her family had given up on her.

What was worse was the third Letter Night; they were 42 days into boot camp. There was less than a week left of training and Zaen hated to think tonight would be another painful night for her; but he knew everyone, including Asima, expected nothing different.