Rendezvous of a hijabi

Chapter 10• Vomit and Ambulances

I marveled at the glorious sight before me.

Bright colours, neon lights. The smell of hot cinnamon wafted into my nostrils making me sway in a delirious state.

"Mmmmmmmmm," I inhaled deeply, "First things first, we are going to get me whatever this fine smell leads to,"

Layla snickered in amusement, "Hunny we have a lot to teach you. That is a churro,"

We queued up behind the stall that sold the chocolate filled, cinnamon coated fingers.

Everyone stared at me when I was about to try it for the first time, in awe; to see my reaction.

My eyes widened and I groaned, "Where the hell was this my whole life?"

A party of flavour exploded into my mouth and I wolfed it down in five minutes flat. Amazing.

"Told you!!" Nasra sang, "if only you could have it with marshmallows, let's get it later,"

We traipsed through the busy fair, dodging children screaming in excitement and delight, dragging their fatigued parents behind them.

"Ooooh," Alicia grinned, "This ride is the best,"

"Ok that is freaking huge," Halima muttered under her breath.

Towering over us, the ride stood at about 20ft high, hosting various loops and twists in its tracks.

We watch agog as the passengers shrieked in ecstatic fear, holding on for their lives as they were thrust left, right and centre.

My stomach churned as I watched the carriage be spun upside down 3 times before plunging down the steep, winding tracks.

"Halima...maybe we should sit this one out," I stammered, my eyes tearing away from the ride, that was a death trap.

It was only a matter of time before a poor unsuspecting victim wastes their £15 dollar ticket and is thrown of their seat, plunging straight to their death.

That was not gonna be me. No way in hell.

"Don't you dare try it," Nasra shook her head at us, "Halima come on man, you have been on it before. It was amazing, tell her,"

Halima scoffed, "Are we talking before or after I threw up over my favourite sneakers,"

I took a deep breath and finally agreed on going on the ride, we stepped onto the podium where the passengers were being suited up, dragging a pissed off Halima behind us.

"You will thank me later, just shut up and sit," grumbled Alicia under her weight.

The man monitoring the ride walked over and buckled us all in. I felt the belt tighten over my waist securely, but I still felt unsafe.

We girls all sat in the same row so we linked arms to comfort each other as our carriage rose higher and higher up the track.

I almost caught my breath before the carriage shifted in the tracks and we were swooping low at a heart stopping speed.

Everyone on the ride squealed at the top of their lungs through laughter, yet mine seemed to be out of sheer terror.

I unhooked my arms from Layla and Alicia's grasps from either side and held on to the metal bar in from of me to salvage any hopes I had of surviving.

We were turned upside down as if we were tossed in a wash machine, and instead of telling myself we were going to be derailed anytime soon, I enjoyed the feeling.

I felt adrenaline wash over my as I loosened my white-knuckle grip on the safety bar and let the wind rush over my hijab.

It was actually fun.

I whooped loudly as I was shoved to Alicia's side when the ride screeched to an unfortunate halt.

"THAT. WAS. AMAZING," I shrieked, my headscarf sticking up at unnatural angles.

I unsuccessfully smoothed it down, meanwhile glancing over to a shaken Halima looking about 50 shades of green.

Rushing to her side, I alerted the others and pinned the flaps of her black headscarf back as Alicia darted off to find an empty bag her friend could puke in.

I soothingly rubbed Halima's back when Alicia returned with a discarded walmart bag.

Before she could hand her the carrier bag, a single belch from Halima sent a sea of bile projecting all over Alicia.

Brown coloured vomit coated her honey blonde hair, trickling down her aghast face.

"I warned you guys," Halima croaked, grimacing at poor Alicia, "I'm so so sorry,"

Layla and Nasra rushed to Alicia's aid with paper towels, masking their amusement to the best of their ability, releasing only a few muffled wheezes as they dabbed at her hair.

We guided Alicia to the Female washroom, her gagging as she attempted cleaning Halima's puke off her face.

Halima apologised relentlessly, until a showered Alicia emerged in tourist clothing that had 'I heart NY' all over it.

Luckily, she had found a dodgy looking shower in the last cubicle of the washroom.

^**^**^**^

"Man I still smell the contents of Halima's lunch over me," Alicia whined for the fifth time, sitting behind the wheel.

"I'm sorry, ok," Halima scowled playfully, "At least some of us kept their lunch,"

After the ordeal, we decided it was best if we just went home and came back another day, which I was completely fine with.

It was 5:00pm, 3 hours ago I was supposed to be home.

I gulped.

Checking my phone, I winced when I saw 14 missed calls. Surprisingly enough, only 3 were from my mom at 2:36pm.

The rest were from Hamza half an hour ago. I brushed off an uneasy feeling in my gut, knowing them they were probably asking me to bring home a takeaway.

Immediately I called my mom and was stunned for her phone to reach voicemail.

Next I tried calling Hamza and he picked up almost immediately, "Safa....come home quick," His voice broke as if he'd been crying, "Something happened,"

He hung up.

My chest slammed against my ribs as I screamed at Alicia to reach my house and pull over as quick as she could.

Their flurry of panic and questions became a dull blur at the back of my mind.

My throat closed in as my fingers drummed the call button for Hooyo's contact, willing her to answer.

After what seemed like an eternity, Alicia pulled over and I thrust the car door open, running to my block.

Thick grey smoke rose from the kitchen window like a poisonous cloud.

Firetruck and Ambulance lights flashed in the distance and a figure in a stretcher was carried into the back.

I ran and ran until the figure became coherent.

No. No. This can't be happening.

Pushing past a group of paramedics, I begged to get inside the back of the ambulance.

"Sorry love there's no space,"

The doors shut and it sped off. The siren wailing.

My knees hit the concrete and I wept, Hamza running to my side, equally sobbing as hard and encircling his arms around me.

How did this happen?

**Author's note**
Oooh who do you think is in the stretcher?
Left you guys on a cheeky cliffhanger😏

Thanks for reading and as always don't forget to:
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