Saved by my nightmare (A Nigerian Story)

CHAPTER 51

Kaduna, Nigeria
2020

"Man down, man down" Maliya heard someone shout, a chill running down her spine.

Blood.

It was everywhere, staining the earth with it's dark, thick redness and polluting the air with the nauseating stench of rusting metal.

Maliya moved closer to the lady next to her, a resident from Paediatry.

All through the flight, she hadn't been able to get one moment of rest, her mind in constant turmoil.

The thought of Rayyan hurt killed something in her, causing her eyes to sting with tears she couldn't shed.

She'd called his phone countlessly, her frustration building with each failed attempt at reaching him.

Maybe he's just busy, he probably put his phone on silent mode.

She could only hold onto the desperation in her thoughts, convincing herself that Rayyan was safe, away from harm's way.

She busied her mind with happy thoughts of him, willing her thoughts to predict his expression when he saw her.

She could imagine it.

He'd have a frown on his face when she saw him, a given considering he wasn't exactly in an amusing circumstance.

She'd walk towards him, boldly she hoped, even though her mind told her otherwise.

When she finally got to him, she'd call him by the name she alone did.

'Noor'  And then he'd know it was her and to God, he just had to know, because she would flip if he even assumed that he could be called that name by anyone else.

And then when he heard her, he'd freeze in place for a minute, just like she always saw in the movies, and then he'd turn towards her, eyes holding hope and disbelief.

Finally, he'd hold her gaze for the shortest moment, pinning her with that intensity that drove her mad with nervousness. Then he'd quickly remember his morals and lower his gaze, a full out grin on his face as he smiled at the ground.

And. her. heart. would. shatter

*
She fought to hold onto her thoughts once the bus pulled into the NDA.

The sight before her was ghastly, so devoid of happiness and hope, and this time she couldn't stop a tear from trailing down her cheek.

She felt horrible for wanting, above all else, Rayyan to be fine but she couldn't fight the fact that all she had on her mind was him.

As they walked towards a building, led by their supervisor, gunshots fired.

The sounds were simultaneous, an indicator that bullets had been exchanged by more than one person.

Her heart sunk, gut coiling more violently.

Maliya could feel the bile trying to make it's way out of her mouth, swallowing it down as she willed her legs— which had turned to lead— to move.

Every fibre of her body protested at her movement, but she just had to see that Rayyan wasn't hurt, she had to see him fine and okay and just...alright.

Her thoughts crashed against each other as she ran with the other medics towards the building.

He's okay, Maliya. He wouldn't get hurt without seeing you first.

Everything buzzed in Maliya's head, all the exercises she'd taken on how to remain calm in med school completely useless.

Deep breaths? She'd done that, Counting her heartbeats? Also done. Nothing worked.