Adventures of Sinbad and Layla

Life in Tison (Part III)

It took ages for all of them to calm Layla down. She was having palpitations and she was hyperventilating. Eventually, Sinbad had to run a cool bath before carrying her to the bathroom and sitting inside with her, clothes and all. He didn't know if it was going to work but it did. The cool water calmed her senses and she began to breathe normally as she stayed clutching onto his clothes.

Once she was calm, Esra came in to dry her off and to get her changed. She then wanted her dad so Badr sat with her and lulled her to sleep. Sinbad stayed standing as he leaned back against the wall. His gaze remained on Layla.

"Why is this happening..?" he asked, breaking the silence in the room. "Why is she suffering..?"
Esra shook her head as she sat down beside Badr and the sleeping Layla. "None of this should be happening," she said sadly. "To either of you. What do we do, Badr?"
"There is nothing to do." He looked down at Layla and stroked her head. "She has to make the choice if she wants to keep the child or abort it."
Esra gasped. "But, Badr, the village will never accept it if she chooses abortion. She'll be shunned completely."
"It doesn't matter," Sinbad said. "If Layla has to leave, then I'm going to leave with her. We'll find a new home. Away from everything. Away from that bastard."
"Listen, Sin," Badr spoke. "No one is leaving. The only person who will leave is Sheikh." He looked at Esra. "No one needs to know about the pregnancy. I've already spoken to the healer and she isn't going to tell anyone. If Layla wishes it, she will abort the child and no one will know about it."
Esra sighed quietly. "If she chooses to keep it, she will be forced to marry Sheikh."
"No," Sinbad said. "If she chooses to keep it, I'll say the child is mine. I'm not going to allow the village to force her marriage to a mad man."

Badr and Esra knew that if she chose to keep the child, Sinbad would be making the right decision. Layla began to stir from an uneasy feeling in her stomach. The more she woke up, the worse the nausea became. Sinbad could see was struggling and quickly went to her and lifted her bridal style from the bed before carrying her to the bathroom. He got her there just in time as she began throwing up again.

It woke her up properly and once she was done, Sinbad helped her wash her face so she could feel more fresh. She looked up at him as he held her face and tears instantly welled up in her eyes.

"Sin, why is this happening?" she whispered as her lips quivered. "I'm so scared."
"I don't know... But no matter what happens, I'm never going to leave you. I promise."

She closed her eyes and lay her head on his chest as he wrapped his arms around her. He took her back to the bedroom and Esra made her something light to eat.

The hearing was the next day and Layla had a decision to make. One that they didn't want to push her to make but she still knew it needed to be done.

"I'm not going to keep it," she told them as she gripped onto Sinbad's hand. "I don't want to carry his blood. The only child I will ever birth is Sin's."
He nodded. "Okay. I support your decision."
"We all do," Badr said. "I will inform the healer."

He quickly left and returned a short while later with some medicine. It was a strong medicine made of herbs that would abort the fetus. The healer had also warned that she would bleed quite heavily for the next few days but Layla didn't care. She would accept it all if it meant that Sheikh's mark would be removed.

Since the hearing was the next day, they all agreed it would be best for her to take the medicine after. The last thing they wanted was for her to be in pain and bleeding during the hearing.

Once Badr and Esra went to sleep in the living room, Sinbad stayed with Layla as she cuddled up in his arms. His scent was helping to calm her nausea but all she could think of was the hearing. She didn't know how it was going to turn out or what the elders would decide.