Through the Dark

Chapter 1- Breaking News

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God sometimes takes us into troubled waters, not to drown us but to cleanse us. -Unknown

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Reading is something Amna loves to do when she wants to clear her head. Today was different however, it wasn't working. She has re-read the same page three times now and no matter how hard she tries, her mind just keeps going back to her aunts nagging about when she is getting married.

It's not like she isn't used to it, but today just got to her. Farid, her brother is getting married in a few months and that is the reason their aunts are at their house in the first place. The lefe is being conveyed to his bride today and their aunts are here to make it happen.

Amna on the other hand hasn't thought about getting married in a long time. After what she had gone through the first time she actually wanted to get married, it just isn't something she wanted to go through again. She might want to but she's scared of being hurt.

That didn't stop her mothers sisters from accusing her of not having any suitors because they knew she was sick or because there was something wrong with her mentally. There isn't. Not as far as she knows anyways. It was just their way of making her feel bad and not letting her forget that she wasn't their sisters real daughter.

After much debate and a lot of internal battle, she musters up enough courage to leave the little garden behind their house and go back in.

She tries to keep her head down and speed walk to her room.

"Baby come here." Mama calls from the living room, just as she reaches the landing of the stairs. She walks towards her after sighing deeply, sits down and tries her best to hide her frustration and discomfort towards the people in the house. "Are you okay?" Mama asks, stroking her arm. "Farouq told me what happened."

"I really need to find someone else to talk to, he's always snitching on me." Amna laughs, rolling her eyes. Farouq is her younger brother, he is in school but is going to be back in time for the wedding and she couldn't wait to see him.

"He was just worried about you. He said you sounded really upset." Mama defends her baby boy and Amna smiles telling her she knows. "I'm really sorry about my sisters, I know they can be very..."

"Annoying" Amna scoffs and Mama glares at her "sorry" she mumbles.

"They can be very nosy. I get it. But you do know they're right." Mama starts, tredding carefully, knowing fully well how sensitive of a topic this is.

"I'm looking, I promise. It's just really hard." That was a complete and utter lie. She's not looking. She probably won't be for while. Fear won't let her. Okay, maybe she's trying but hasn't gotten far yet.

"I know, I'm just glad to hear you're looking. I do have someone for you."

"No." Amna says without thinking.

"What? You don't even know who it is."

"My answer is still no." Amna says with a straight face.

"Keh" Mama warns making Amna slouch in her seat. "Just hear me out, you already know him, you guys get along very well."

"Why does he need a wife?"

"Excuse me?"

"I mean what's wrong? He should be able to look for a wife on his own if nothing is wrong."

"Is there something wrong with you?"

"No." Amna answers, confusion evident in her tone.

"Then why am I helping you look for a husband?" Mama asks quirking an eyebrow. "Exactly." Mama nods in victory. "Now, he's Hajiya Aisha's son. You know her, lovely woman. Her son is a wonderful man."