Barakah

- We're Home

11/06/2021.

. . . . . .

Barakah

A flame burned stirringly within the irises of her dark honey-sweetened eyes.

Erratically.

Mad about and dying to collide with the oxygen in the air to fuel itself so it burned faster, recklessly.

Coming out of her daze as realization finally struck her, Barakah quickly turned off the Hair Diffuser.

She thought of greed.

The fire from the candle ate and ate. Ate it's fuel till it could no longer take more and took out. Greed was early death.

Greed was without end.

If a man falls ill to greed he loses his soul to become the walking dead and die in service to it.

Barakah thought, Jalal was the walking dead.

"Do you want it in two braids today or thick conrows?" Sakeenah, Farouk's foster mother had entered Barakah's room. Watching Barakah with keenness from the mirror.

Barakah met eyes with the niqabi through the mirror. Thinking to herself while she played with a strand. She rarely wore her hair out and even wanted to get herself another bob cut but her mother made her swear through teeth that she would never cut her hair anything above the bra strap.

She had never liked dealing with her hair hence why she always wore them in single long braids or cornrows.

"Sakeenah, Farouk loves long hair, right?" She asked a bit hesitant, "Should I just wear it out today? Get some styling products in so it looks like actual curly hair and not a frizzy bird's nest?"

Sakeenah belly laughed, "All this for my little boy? You're wearing blue too. He loves blue. You've kept all that I've said to mind."

She sounded content.

Barakah gave a coy smile, "So my hair out or cornrows?"

"I know my boy, he'll like you no matter what. And children are natural at feeling energies. Your intentions are pure. You're what I prayed for when I heard Jalal would be marrying again."

A dull month and a half had gone by for Barakah as a married woman. Aside from the sensational melody of rain and the crescendo of thunderclaps, she lived as if she was in her own personal safe house.

Until today.

Today her stepson would be coming home for the first time ever and she was anxiously eager. His father would be returning as well.

On her first day, she woke up to a note on her bedside. With quavery fingers and a few hard swallows, she pegged the note with two fingers in front of her face. A brief fragrant trace of him storming her nostrils and setting her nerves wild.

She almost— Almost tore it.

Amal, I'll be gone overseas (Germany) for a month because of work. Unfortunately, only I can do what the work entails hence why I'm leaving you with your new card. I've also written my mother's number at the back of the note. My family's your family now and as I'm not around, they'll be responsible for you. Sakeenah, Farouk's foster mother is in the house. She's bought a couple of house staffs for you to pick personally. Sakeenah has a daughter and they'll be staying with us. She's as good as family. She's also the only person I trust in the house with Farouk after you. If you need anything don't hesitate to call me as well. Your father's also sent your car.