The Broken Tale

Forever tied down

That's Talya up there lol.

                    Layla stared at the white stick on the sink. Her fingers twisted and intertwined in one another as her entire body shook with fear. Two pink lines. Those two lines would change the entire course of her life either for better or for worse. Layla was frozen in place for a few minutes, it was like everything around her froze with her, as if the clock too stood in place. But Layla knew better than everyone else that time wouldn't stand still, the clock still ticked and she needed to face the world with either a curse or a blessing growing in her womb. She picked up the pregnancy test with trembling hands and slowly creaked the door open. Talya was leaning against the door, she quickly turned around, she had the same look of anticipation on her face as Layla's.
"So? What's the result?" She asked impatiently.
Layla gulped.
She slowly held up the test for her to see with a shaky hand, "I-I'm pregnant."
Talya stared at the test for a moment. Layla's terrified reaction didn't blend in well with the image of a happy marriage. Layla knew that now, Talya was sure that something wasn't right in her marriage.
"Come on. We need to have a talk." Talya finally found her voice to say.
"We can't just ditch the others." Layla protested.
"Yes we can." Talya answered, "We'll just catch up with them later."
Already bewildered, Layla could barely muster enough energy to stay standing up on her feet let alone fight Talya on something she really wanted to do. So she just hung her head and followed her to the living room where everyone was sitting and waiting.
"So are we good to go?" Alexander asked.
"No, Alex, Layla and I need to have an urgent talk." Talya explained, "We'll explain later."
Everyone stared at them for a second, glancing at each other and then back at them.
"Do you want me to come with you?" Brian offered.
Layla shook her head, "No, I'm fine."
"We'll meet you at the beach, alright?" Talya suggested.
Alexander nodded. Talya grabbed a jacket and car keys. Layla followed her out of the house and into a white SUV.
"So tell me." Talya said as she was driving, "What bullshit are you hiding?"
"I really don't know what you're talking about." Layla replied in one last desperate attempt to convince her.
Talya gave an unconvinced giggle.
"Very funny." She sneered, "Now spill it. You know you can't lie to me, Laili."
Layla felt bands of sweat running down her face. She was afraid that her worn out and overwhelmed body and mind would just collapse in one go.
"Talya, I really don't know where to start or what to say." Layla stuttered.
Talya pulled over on an isolated hill. Layla could see the roaring sea slide and flow against the rocks and shore.
Talya turned to face Layla, "How about you start with why you're not happy about the pregnancy?"
Layla bit her lip, maybe it really was for the best if Talya knew.
"I'm afraid that it'll be a girl." Layla admitted.
"Why? You've always wanted to have a daughter." Talya replied, "Is it about your husband?"
Layla sighed and nodded limply.
"Talya, Ali isn't who he seems to be." She murmered.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Layla took in a deep, nervous breath and gathered all her courage. She slowly pulled off her jacket, leaving her in only the strap sleeved crop top, revealing the bruises on her arm and the large scar from when he had stabbed her arm a few weeks before. Layla couldn't bring herself to look into Talya's eyes but she could feel her jaw drop in shock. There was a long silence, every second felt like another stab through the heart.
"He...hits you?" Talya finally asked in a shaky voice.
Layla nodded, "Talya, I didn't choose to make this baby."
Even though the abuse part was a shock, Layla didn't think Talya had expected Ali to rape her or be anything more than a loving and dotting husband.
"Wh-what?" Talya said in almost a whisper, "He-he...rapes you?"
Layla forced a nod.
"I-I'm so...I'm so sorry." Talya muttered, "Wh...why didn't you tell me? How long has this been going on?"
"He was fine for the first few months but then he just...decided to force himself on me when I refused to sleep with him. At first I was shocked but...soon it just became a daily thing."
"Layla- I..." she sighed, "I really don't know what to say."
"He'd tell me to sleep in the guest room and bang other women in our room. I'd just have to wake up in the morning and serve him as if nothing had ever happened just in hope of not having another beating or rape session." Layla continued, "I couldn't really do much. You know how my family would react...I didn't want to die and I didn't want Ali to hurt you. So I just had to deal with and...try not to anger him so he wouldn't hurt us."
Talya was silent. Layla glanced over to see her staring out at the roaring sea with a river of tears streaming down her face. They both sat there in tearful silence for a long time.
"This is all my fault, isn't it?" Talya finally asked, "You have to put up with this so he won't hand me over to Samir, right?"
Layla's eyes quickly bolted to her, "Talya, even if it wasn't for you, do you think I could leave him? His family and mine would track me down and shoot me in the head for 'disgracing' them. This is not your fault at all."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Layla shrugged, "I was scared. Scared that you'd take action and get yourself hurt."
"Wh-what can we do?" Talya asked in a tear choking voice.
Layla turned her head so that her eyes were locked in Talya's tear soaked brown pupils.
"Nothing, Talya." She answered, "Just pray that this baby is a boy and walk on eggshells."
"If the baby's a girl, he'll hurt you for 'disappointing' him and hurt the baby, huh?"
Layla nodded sadly. She felt Talya's hand creep down and take Layla's hand in hers.
"I'm here for you, Laili." She reassured, "I won't leave you one step of the way, I promise you."
Layla smiled tearfully and pulled her into a hug. She felt Talya bury her face in her shoulders, sobbing.
"I love you." Layla murmered through sobs.
"I won't ever leave you." Talya repeated.
Layla wondered if it was wrong or weird that despite the stuck situation she was in, in Talya's arms, she felt safe. As if a small voice in the back of her head told her that things could really be alright. But as Layla pulled away, she heard her phone ring in her pocket. She glanced at Talya, both wondering who it could be. She pulled the phone out of her pocket. Talya leaned over, both of them stared at each other with fear after they read that it was Ali who was calling.
"Wh- are you gonna pick up?" Talya asked fearfully.
Layla sighed, "what choice do I have?"
After one last glance at Talya, she picked up the call with trembling hands.
"H-hello?" She said.
"Is this Layla Elmar? Ali's wife?" An unfamiliar female voice asked on the other end.
Layla looked at Talya with confusion.
"Y-yes, is he alright?"
But the woman's reply shattered Layla's fragile world apart. Her shaky hand dropped the phone, it fell with a clatter. Talya stand in confusion but Layla froze. Tears rained down her eyes uncontrollably, her heart was stretched with pain and shock to breaking point, she could barely breathe. This can't be! This had to be a bad dream!