Untying a knot (falling in love): MATURE CONTENT

I t a l l f e l l d o w n

I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing, it was Friday today.

I opened my eyes and slowly reached over to my nightstand picking up my phone. I looked at the screen, the caller ID reading "mum", I sighed. What could she possibly want at 6 in the morning.

I let it go into miss call but she started calling again. I pulled of the duvet and swung my legs over my bed forcing myself to stand up. I walked over to the balcony sliding open one of the glass doors, the cold slapped me in the face. I stepped out onto the balcony sliding the door shut and answered the phone.

"Hello?"

"Why didn't you answer the phone the first time I called!" I heard my mum scream through the phone.

"Mum it's six in the morning what'd you expect, what do you want" I sighed.

"Well we want you to come over and stay the weekend, we've found someone for you".
Those were the only words I needed to hear to put a million thoughts and scenarios through my head at once.

"W..what do you mean you've found someone.." I stuttered gripping the banister.

"I mean that your dad went to Pakistan a while ago and found a man for you to marry, your spending a weekend with him and then your going to get married shortly after".

My heart stopped. I didn't know what to do.

"Hello? Millie answer me!" My mother said through the phone. "I..who is he?" I ask, my voice close to a whisper.

"His name is Hussain begum" my mum says through the other end. "How old..he must he about..20 right?".

"He's 42".

"Mum I need to go.." I say gulping. "Okay but be ready, pack your things because your dads going to pick you up up at quarter to five" my mum says, I sigh looking up into the sky blinking multiple times "ok, bye", I end the call.

I sink into the chair closest to me on the balcony placing my phone on the table. I can't believe what I'd just been told. I, a 18 year old still studying, and failing. Was now going to be forced into marrying a 42 year old who I knew nothing about. And I had no say.

My mind wandered back to the time I was 11, and I found out that my parents had been put to an arranged marriage. Thinking it could never happen to me..but I'd just been told I was.

A lump started to build up in my throat and my eyes started to well up. I took my head into my hands unable to hold back tears anymore. I sat and bawled my eyes out for a good hour. What was I going to do now? I was being picked up at five, I was meeting the man who I would be marrying soon. The man who I yet was to see what he was capable of. And I was in for something big.