If Only I Were You

Ch.27

Poem/Quote of the day:

This life is not eternal,
But the next will last forever.

-Maher Zain.

Chapter Twenty Seven:

SAHAL'S P.O.V

I'm an orphan.

An orphan.

All my seventeen years of living, I used someone else's money.

I lived someone else's life.

I lived like the king, while I'm just a pauper.

Dad's confession came to me like a blow in the gut.

I spent two weeks in my room, remembering Ammi.

She was never my mum, I took someone else's mother away. She was never mine.

We never shared the same blood, the same genes, the same anything.
She was Afeerah's mother, not mine.
Never mine.

I woke up with a headache and a heavy heart.

I haven't seen Sahla since dad's- I mean Mr. Othamn's confession. She ran off right after I shouted at her.

Come to think of it, I'm worried about her. I know everything hurt her more than it hurt me. She was more fragile than me.

I got dressed and for the first time in weeks, I stepped out of my room and made my way to hers.

I knocked twice and no reply so I opened the door which was surprisingly unlocked.

There she was, on the floor, looking through her pictures with Mr. Othman.

My heart held something for her, compassion and love. Something I hadn't felt for her in years.

"Sahla? Are you okay?" I asked.

She looked up with a huge smile on her face. Her eyes weren't red and she didn't look worn out. Infact, she was wearing makeup.

"Ofcourse I am. Why wouldn't I be?" She asked with the same fake smile.

I get it now. She's trying to hide the fact that it hurt her. That she was affected by it.

"Sahla you don't have to hide anything. I know it hurts." I sighed.

"What hurts? There's nothing that's supposed to hurt. I'm alright. Nothing's wrong." She rambled, her voice getting shaky.

"You have to accept it. We're the orphans. He's not our dad neither is this our home." I said closing my eyes for a second.

Her smile faded and was replaced with a frown. "He might not have our blood or our genes, but he's still our dad. Because he raised us and loved us even if we weren't his. He fed us, and gave us shelter, he gave us love, he gave us everything. So what if we don't share the same blood? So what? He's our dad and nothing can change that. Not even Afeerah." She said.

It was surprising but what she said made sense. It was the first time Sahla talked from her heart, and not from her overworked brain.

"That was all I needed to hear, I needed the assurance, thanks for giving it to me." I smiled weakly.

A knock was heard.

"Come in." Sahla sighed.

In came dad. He looked tired and worn out.

"Dad!" Sahla got up and hugged him tightly. I could see the tears that slowly fell down his face.

"My daughter. Please forgive me. I'm so sorry. Sahal, I'm really sorry for not telling you earlier." He said.

"I forgive you dad but please promise you'll never leave me. You're my dad no matter what. I love you and I always will." She sobbed still hugging him.

"I promise." He said and his eyes fell on me.

Letting Sahla go, he walked over to me. "Sahal please forgive me."

I sighed and nodded, unable to talk.

After Sahla finally got ahold of herself, we sat down to 'talk'

"I know this is really hard for you but please understand that I have to do this. When Afeerah is discharged, she'll live in this house as my daughter, as you fellow sibling. I want you two to please welcome her warmly. This has affected her the most." Dad said.

Sahla's face didn't really agree but she nodded.

I nodded even though I didn't like the thought of Afeerah being my 'sibling' when my feelings for her were already this strong.

"That's all. You two are my jewels, I love you with all my heart."

I smiled and my eyes locked with Sahla's.

I understood what she said through eye contact and she understood what I said.

She was like; "Wait till Afeerah comes back, she'll be treated like a queen, and I won't allow that."

Yeah you guessed right.

The old Sahla is back. This time more angry and feisty.

Things are gonna be ugly.

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I haven't updated in a few. Yh, schls back and I don't really have time to write.

This is just a little chappie to heat up ur hearts. There'll be more in a few days or more.

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Love u mwahhh