MINE (EDITING)

chapter 31

"Ya Allah, doctor, is she going to be alright?" Muhammad's voice broke as he clutched his hands tightly. His usually calm demeanor was replaced by a look of raw panic.

"She is going to be just fine," the doctor reassured, flipping through Layla's chart. "And so is the baby. But she hasn't been eating enough, and that's likely the primary cause of her fainting. On top of that, I suspect some stress might be contributing. Please make sure she gets plenty of rest and a balanced diet."

"Thank you, doctor," Muhammad murmured, his voice tight with worry. Once the doctor left the room, he moved closer to Layla, gently brushing stray strands of hair off her forehead.

"Please, baby, wake up," he whispered, his voice cracking. "Tell me what's wrong. What's been eating at you?"

*****

Slowly, I drifted back to consciousness. The room felt blurry at first, the white hospital walls almost glowing under the fluorescent lights. As my vision cleared, I noticed my mother's face hovering above me, her expression heavy with concern. Ni'imah stood by her side, biting her lip nervously.

"Mammy? Ne Oldu? (What happened?)" My voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper.

"You fainted, Layla," my mother said, sitting down beside me and stroking my hair gently. "We were so worried. Alhamdulillah, you're okay now."

"For how long was I out, Mammy?" I asked weakly, looking around the sterile room, searching for Muhammad.

"About an hour," she replied, her Turkish accent lacing her words. Her face softened as she adjusted the blanket covering me. "Şimdi yemelisin (You need to eat now)."

"But Mammy, aç değilim (I'm not hungry)," I protested, my hand instinctively moving to cradle my belly.

"Bebeğinin iyiliği için Layla'ya ihtiyacın var (You have to eat for your baby's sake)," she said firmly. Then, leaning in, she kissed my forehead. "Şimdi izin ver de eve gidip dinleneyim (Let me go home and rest now). Since you're awake, Ni'imah will stay with you, and your husband will be back shortly."

Her warm hands lingered for a moment before she left the room. Watching her go, I turned my attention to Ni'imah, who smiled as she perched on the edge of my bed.

"Look how you're glowing," I teased, feeling a flicker of my usual energy. "Are you sure you're not the mai ciki now?"

Ni'imah burst into laughter, a blush creeping up her cheeks. "You're the one glowing with that baby bump, not me! But...who knows?" she added coyly, a mischievous glint in her eye.

"Wallahi," I chuckled, "if you're hiding something, I'll find out soon enough!"

Our laughter filled the room, lightening the tension. But before I could prod her further, the door opened again, and a familiar voice filled the air.

"Assalamu Alaikum." Muhammad stepped inside, his tall frame emanating relief and exhaustion. Without a word, he walked straight to my side, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead.

"Wa Alaikumussalam," I murmured, leaning into his touch. "How are you feeling now?" he asked, his voice laced with tenderness.

"Better, Alhamdulillah," I replied, giving him a tired smile. "But honestly, when am I leaving this place? Hospitals aren't my favorite."

"The doctor said you could go home tonight, inshallah," he assured me, squeezing my hand lightly.

Turning to Ni'imah, Muhammad raised an eyebrow. "By the way, gaskiya, you're glowing. Are you hiding something from us?"