Breaking Point

18

Chapter 18

To say that I was shocked, was an understatement. I was fraught with worry. My head spun as I imagined Salma running away. I squeezed my eyes shut, wondering what would happen when my mother found out. She would hold me responsible, no doubt. And how was it that I didn't notice Salma leave? I had left her alone for less than two hours. How could she do this, I thought. Why would she do this?

An unknown boy's face popped in my mind and my blood boiled. It had to be a boy. Unless she was at Nadia's...

I ran to my room, grabbing my phone and calling Salma's number. It went unanswered. My blood pumped in my ears as I tried Nadia's number.

"Hello?" 

"Where's Salma?" I asked, my words coming out in a rush.

"What?" Nadia asked, sounding confused. "I don't know? What's--"

"I found a note in her room." I interrupted her. "She ran away. Is she with you?"

There was a small pause before Nadia's gasped. "No. I-I- what?"

"Nadia." I begged. "Please tell me where she could have gone."

"I-She ran away. Where?." Nadia whispered. "I dont know-"

"You know she has a boyfriend." I gritted out. "Right?"

"But, she..." Nadia mumbled. "But she wouldn't--"

"She has!" I all but screamed. "She's gone! Tell me where she went!"

"I don't know." Nadia cried. "There was this boy she was talking to, his name is Kevin but they're not that serious. She wouldn't run away with him!"

My mind surged forward. Kevin? The name rung a bell but I couldn't place a face to it.

"Who is he?" I asked.

"He's a classmate in her class. He's in the basketball team, too. They go for lunch sometimes and...and dates."

I sat down heavily, grasping my forehead. "How long?"

"A few months now." Nadia said, quietly. "She made me swear not to tell you."

"What's his number?"

"I--one minute."

I waited, my phone pressed against my ear as I scoured my mind for any memory of this boy. How could I have been so blind? If my sister had had a boyfriend all this time...why had I never suspected. But if I was being honest with myself...the signs had always been there. Nadia's teasing, my sisters blushed reactions. Her taking off her hijab. Staying out late. Lying about hanging out with friends.

I gritted my teeth. My phone buzzed with a notification.

"I texted you his number." Nadia told me. "I'll try calling her and my other friends and ask around."

She hung up and I quickly opened her text to call the number she'd sent me. I waited painstakingly as it rung. No answer. I tried a few more times. After the fifth call went unanswered, I felt like ramming my phone into a wall. I threw it away and grabbed a fistful of hair in my hands. The sky outside had darkened, casting shadows in my room. My clock ticked in the silence. My mom would be home soon and I was dreading her reaction.

Salma's words suddenly surfaced in my mind.

"I just want to be free from all this shit."

My throat hurt. I was in the same situation, too. I was living in the same house, under the same circumstances, too. But I wasn't planning on running away, I thought.