The Size of our hearts

17

It had been two hours since Hamid and I kissed. He was asleep, I couldn't sleep.

It was crazy, I was on a plane to Arabia I presumed, my parents had no idea where I was, I was just kidnapped and the only thing I could think about was Hamid's lips on mine. I looked over at him, his eyes twitched and I quickly looked away and out the window. He sat up and rubbed his eyes with his index finger and his thumb. He squinted his eyes before looking up and dimming the light.

"Can't sleep?" He said with a tired voice.

"No," I said softly still looking out the window and deep in thought.

"What are you thinking about?" He said as he placed his arm on the arm-rest and put his thumb under his lips to keep his chin up.

"Everything that happened in the last twenty-four hours," I said as I massaged my wrist.

"Everything?" He said as a smirk played on to his face.

I smiled and looked at the ground and thought about how long it had been since I'd seen him make that face.

"It's going to be okay, I'll try my best to get you back home," He said

"What about you?" I said quickly.

"We all have to face our demons one day," He said before biting his lower lip.

I nodded as I became aware of the silence on the plane. "Just try and get some sleep"

I put my head back on the chair and closed my eyes and soon enough I was asleep.

****

The wheels of the plane hit the floor and my eyes opened almost immediately, I sat up and peeled off the Blanket from my body. Hamid was standing near the door of the plane, I looked over at him and made my way over to him. I stood near him, then changed my mind and took one step to the side. He cleared his throat and smiled without looking at me. I rolled my eyes and waited for the door to open.

The door opened and the steps unfolded. Hamid lifted his shirt off his collar bone and dropped it again. Then he stepped out and walked down. I stepped out after him and fear engulfed me as I noticed the many soldiers surrounding us. I took a deep breath and slowly walked down the stairs.

An older soldier walked up to Hamid and greeted him by simply bowing his head then he looked at me and did the same. "minn hanna smock al-malki" The soldier said as he pointed towards a white limo-like car. As we walked over to the car I noticed that Hamid was walking differently. His posture was perfect, his toes did not seem to touch the floor and he had his hands bound together behind his back. When we reached the car another officer opened the door and we climbed in.

When we got in, there was a man seated there. He was dressed in an all-white long Kaftan, a red and white checkered cloth on his head held down by two black rings and he had on white leather sandals. I looked at him, then looked over at Hamid then back down at my laced hands.

"Hamid," He said as he prolonged the 'eee' sound. Hamid looked up at him and his expression was stone cold, I couldn't read what he was feeling or thinking.

"How was your trip," He said as he crossed his feet and cocked his head to the side. Hamid slightly shook his head and looked out the window. "anzur 'ily eindama 'atahadath 'iilayk ya walad!" The man's voice rose, it was loud and demanded respect. "Ok, why is she here?" Hamid asked.

"Do not question me! 'araa 'anak nasit min 'ayn 'atayt" The man's voice grew louder and his face became angrier. I didn't even notice the car was moving until their silence invited the low buzz of the engine. The rest of the car ride was quiet.

***

After an hour or so the car stopped. The car door opened, inviting the bright light from the sun into the car. I stepped out of the car and looked at the five-story mansion. It was bronze-gold, I turned around as I noticed the huge lake in front of the house. There were many soldiers standing in a line leading up to the front door, but they weren't wearing the same uniform as the ones at the airport. I felt Hamid behind me, he slightly brushed my pinky finger then stood beside me and gave me a reassuring nod.

"Who was the man in the car?" I whispered

"My Father" Hamid whispered back.

I thought of the man that said he was Hamid's father at school, I looked up at Hamid and realized there was so much I still didn't know about him. My mind drifted to my Dad, I wondered how he must've been feeling now, but I was quickly distracted as the doors opened. Hamid's father walked past us with a soldier following him and walked into the mansion.

We walked in after him, The room was magnificent, It was large with a marble ground. There were two marble staircases opposite each other, though still leading to the same floor. I looked to my left and my right. as there was a hallway on each side that stretched out further than my eyes could make out.

"Anwar take them to their rooms" Hamid's Father demanded a man dressed in a white kaftan and no shoes. The man bowed his head and walked towards Hamid as a woman dressed in similar clothing approached me.

"Wait uh rooms? Why am I here?" I said as my voice began to shake. No one answered me as tears of an emotion I couldn't fathom stung my eyes. Hamid looked at me and whispered "My promise, I'll keep it" I couldn't focus on him. I was too confused to take in his words even though I had heard them.

The woman patted my shoulder and asked me to follow her to my room. 'My room' I thought to myself, I'm not meant to have a room, I disagreed with every part of my being in my head then slowly walked after her.