Matters Of The Heart

𝟔. 𝐀 𝐆𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐬𝐞 𝐎𝐟 𝐇𝐞𝐫.

𝘡𝘢𝘺𝘺𝘢𝘯:

As I set aside my prayer mat, my gaze drifted towards the clock, its gentle tick a reminder of the passing hours. The slender hands now pointed to half past twelve, a time when the world outside seemed to slow its pace. My eyelids, heavy with the weight of exhaustion, longed for the solace of slumber. The meetings I had endured throughout the day had drained me, leaving me a hollow shell of my usual self.

With a weary sigh, I began to prepare my bed, the soft rustle of the sheets a soothing serenade. As I smoothed out the wrinkles, my body yearned for the embrace of the mattress, the promise of a restful reprieve.

Just as I was about to surrender to the allure of sleep, a knock at the door shattered the silence. My heart sank, my mind racing with the possibilities. Who could be disturbing my peace at this hour? I thought, my irritation simmered just below the surface.

And then, a darker thought crept in, its presence like a shadow on the wall. Aameen. If it was him, I feared I might not be able to contain my frustration. The very thought of his presence made my blood boil, my exhaustion forgotten in the face of annoyance.

With a deep breath, I steeled myself for the encounter, my hand reaching for the door handle.

As I swung open the door, a torrent of anger was poised on the tip of my tongue, ready to unleash itself upon the unsuspecting visitor. But, in an instant, my ire dissipated, replaced by a deep sense of concern and compassion. Before me stood my little sister, Daniya, her tiny face etched with the ravages of fear and tears. Her eyes, red and puffy, welled up with fresh sobs as she flung herself at me, wrapping her small arms around my legs in a desperate embrace.

My heart melted at the sight of her distress, and I felt a pang of guilt for my initial irritation. Kneeling down to her level, I gently cradled her face in my hands, my thumbs wiping away the tears that streamed down her cheeks.  ❝ What happened, Dani? ❞ I whispered softly, my voice barely audible over the sound of her sniffling.

Daniya's gaze met mine, and she nodded solemnly, her lower lip trembling. "Bad dream?" I ventured, already knowing the answer. She nodded again, and I drew her into a warm hug, holding her close as she sobbed out her fears.

In that moment, I felt a deep sense of regret for my earlier impatience. How could I have forgotten that Daniya often sought me out in the dead of night, seeking solace from the terrors that haunted her dreams? It was a familiar ritual, one that I had grown accustomed to, and yet, I had still allowed my exhaustion to cloud my judgment.

As I pressed my lips to Daniya's forehead, a soothing calm washed over her, and her sobs began to subside. Just as I was about to whisper words of comfort, a frantic voice cut through the air.

❝ Zay, Dani where...? ❞ Aameen's words trailed off as he burst into the room, his eyes scanning the space until they landed on Daniya, safe in my embrace. His face, etched with worry, relaxed ever so slightly as he took a deep breath in.

Without a word, he kneeled down beside me, his movements mirroring mine as he gently kissed Daniya's forehead. The tender gesture spoke volumes of his love and concern for our little sister.

In this moment, our differences were forgotten, and all that mattered was the well-being of the tiny human who had brought us together. Daniya, sensing our united front, snuggled deeper into our embrace, her small body relaxing as she felt safe once more.

The three of us sat there, a tableau of love and comfort, as the darkness of the night receded, and the warmth of our bond took its place.

As we comforted Daniya, Aameen's brow furrowed with concern.  ❝ Bad dream, little one? ❞ He asked, his voice soft as silk. Daniya nodded, her eyes welling up with tears once more, before she wrapped her arms around both of us, holding tight.