Free Me

NINE

Abdallah sat in class with his eyes glued to the white board but focusing on what the lecturer was saying, was giving him a hard time. He had tried several times to pay attention, but just as he was about to start understanding, his thoughts would grab away his attention and he would unknowingly drift away. What was bugging him? The words he had with his father. Last night, his father came home and after exchanging pleasantries, pleaded to have a word with him outside. Abdallah had wanted to refuse but looking at his Ammie's eyes, he couldn't say no. He went out with his father.

"Abdallah..." His father had called and the look Abdallah gave him sent cold shivers down his spine. But he ignored. It was something he had to do.

"Abdallah I'm sorry. I really am"

"Really? What have you done wrong? Why are you apologizing?" Abdallah had asked, staring deep into his father's eyes. He was fuming with rage.

"Abdallah please. I know I have wronged you. I was such a coward. I shouldn't have left you"

"Sure yeah. But you did. And you have no idea how hard it was for the woman who left her parents just to be with you"

"Yeah I know... "

"You knew and you left her? Did you ever for once think about why she did that?"

"Abdallah... "

"Because she had faith in your love. She trusted you. And what did you end up doing? Betraying her. You left her with seven unhealthy children, all of which she wouldn't have had without you. Did you know how hard it was for us? Having to go to the hospital everyday because of one sick child or the other? Did you know how we survived? And because she's so soft and kind, you came back after all those years and she accepted you. Aren't you ashamed?"

"Of course I am Abdallah. I am so ashamed of myself that I don't even want to remember what I did. I said such mean things which I should never have said. And believe me, I regret all of it. I do regret... "

"Then why did you do it? Why did you leave us?"

"I was ignorant Abdallah. I didn't know that I contributed to your illness. Then, I just wanted to have healthy children. It was all I yearned for. But the same thing happened with the woman I married. We had two unhealthy children who all died before the age of three. Then I came to know that my genotype was AS and I could only have sicklers if the mother of my children was also an AS. That was how I figured everything out"

"You should have at least thought about that before acting the way you did"

"Yeah. I accept. I wasn't thoughtful at all. Which is why I'm standing before you. I can bear whatever hardship that'll come my way but ignoring me Abdallah... I can't stand it. It's killing me. So please I beg of you. Just give me one last chance to prove that I'm a good father. I promise I won't let you down... It's all I ask for please"
Abdallah could swear that he saw a tear slip and crawl down his father's cheeks in the dark. His words were full of regret for his actions. He was already trying to be a good father but Abdallah was just finding it hard to trust him again.

"I'll think about it" That was all Abdallah said before he left his father standing.

Now a part of him was telling him to give him a chance and another one was telling him not to trust him. Forgive him Abdallah. He's asked for one last chance. If you don't give him, you won't get to know whether he's truly repented. A stronger part of him said and he gave in. Just one chance and that's all.

Abdallah felt the guy beside him tap his shoulder. He looked at him and the guy gave him a small paper. Abdallah opened the piece of paper to read its content. It read: