Two Brothers, One Heart (Rewriting)

Chapter twenty~eight 28

It was already the second term, and time seemed to have flown by in the blink of an eye. Before she knew it, it was May 27th, a special day for children all around. Islam stood in front of the mirror, her body still wrapped in a cozy terrycloth robe, as she pondered the relentless passage of time.

Her gaze fell upon the red spots that adorned her delicate neck, their presence stark against her slightly lighter skin. These marks served as a poignant reminder of her past, etched into her memory like a bittersweet tattoo. She couldn't help but reminisce about her sixteenth year, the ill-fated Sweet Sixteen that brought about a dramatic turning point in her life.

It was during that year, when life should have been filled with youthful joy and excitement, that Islam received the devastating diagnosis of Leukemia. The days that followed were a whirlwind of pain and uncertainty, each moment seemingly weighted with its own unique brand of suffering. As she stood there, her mind wandered back to the countless hospital visits, where she was confined to a sterile bed, her family's visits becoming increasingly infrequent. It was a lonely and isolating experience, one that left her yearning for human connection and understanding.

In the depths of her despair, Islam often found solace in the embrace of sleep, hoping that it would bring respite from her physical and emotional anguish. But each morning, she would awaken to a new day, greeted by a fresh wave of pain and challenges that seemed insurmountable.

Yet, despite the hardships she faced, Islam's spirit remained resilient. She found strength within herself to push forward, to fight against the odds that were stacked against her. And as she stood in front of the mirror that day, adorned in her terrycloth robe, she couldn't help but marvel at the remarkable journey she had undertaken.

Maybe that's why she didn't grow any taller after her surgery. It left her feeling distant and disconnected from the world. She rarely wrote about those moments in her journal during their time in the UK because she wanted to forget. Her mom would dismiss it, saying it was nothing since she had experienced it at the age of ten and it had passed. That's when she realized it was hereditary.

Perhaps that's why she secretly wished Firdausi could understand her struggles and be the one suffering. She believed it would make their family more attentive. Whenever Firdausi sneezed, they would rush her to the hospital, even if it turned out to be just a cold. But when she had panic attacks due to anxiety and the fear of the unknown, her mother would brush it off as normal and tell her to calm down.

Despite the pain, she held onto mementos from those difficult days. Like the time her mom couldn't be at the hospital and Aunt Bridget, Khalid's step-sister, stepped in to hold her hand when she had it. Alfred, Aunt Bridget's son, was a talented musician with blue eyes, even though he was black. He would play his guitar and sing silly songs for her, like "My Boo" by Usher and Alicia Keys. It was a joy to have them around.

"Still meditating," Zaynab interrupted her thoughts, standing by the slightly open door. She looked stunning in her tweed jacket, trousers, and turban-like cap.

"Mama," she said softly, sighing. "Can I just stay in my room all day?"

"No, you know it's a tradition. You're still a child to me, so you can't outgrow it. It's Children's Day, not Writer's Day. Just enjoy!"

"Okay, can I skip the shopping spree?"

"No, you have to attend everything because you deserve to be happy," her mother replied. "Get dressed and come downstairs. Everyone is waiting for you."

Frustrated, she collapsed onto the chair after her mother left. It seemed that when she wanted everyone to like her, they turned their backs, but when she distanced herself, they suddenly loved her. It was a confusing cycle of affection.

She picked the beautiful blue maxi gown from the rack and put it on. It had a lovely white floral pattern and a net collar that was a bit itchy. The buttons were a little tricky since they didn't have buttonholes, but she managed with Firdausi's help. Firdausi looked adorable in her colorful shirt and pink jeans, adding a touch of playfulness to the occasion.

After securing the buttons, she tied a bow with the rope at the back. Then, she opened the box of new sneakers that had just been delivered. They had blue shoelaces that matched her gown perfectly. The sneakers reminded her of someone she had recently met and had already fallen in love with, or maybe it was his brother who had been really kind to her lately.

She tied a scarf around her hair, giving it a nice finishing touch, and applied some pink-sparkled lip gloss to add a pretty and simple touch to her look.

Downstairs, Goggo and Mubarak's mom were whipping up some delicious chin-chin while chatting away. Maybe they were discussing food or something tasty!

Meanwhile, Firdausi and Mubarak were having a blast playing card games at the dining table, shouting and laughing. As Zaynab descended the stairs, she had her arm wrapped around Khalid's, and he was whispering something to her that brought a smile to her face.

Feeling a bit left out, she decided to step outside for some fresh air. The house was so big and intricate, it was hard to focus. She found herself gazing at the carrots and cucumbers growing in the garden. Goggo was doing a fantastic job cultivating vegetables for the family, even though Zaynab always ended up buying them from the store.

Every now and then, she peeked at her phone, making sure she didn't miss any texts from Usman. She longed for some alone time with him, where it would just be the two of them against the world.

Just then, Zaynab put on some pearl earrings to add a touch of elegance to her look. She asked Mubarak for help in moving the table to the backyard near the pond. Zaynab had a plan for a dinner party with a barbecue, and Khalid was the master of grilling. He seemed to excel at everything he did.

Islam offered to assist Mubarak, but he wanted to show off his strength by moving the dining table to the backyard near the deep and big fish pond singlehandedly. It seemed like they were all seafood enthusiasts.

They laid out a table mat with pink polka dots and used chairs from Khalid's home office, Firdausi's, and Zaynab's study room since there weren't enough chairs.

A big vase of lilies adorned the table as they transferred the food to the backyard. The house was amazingly huge, and the backyard was filled with beautiful ornamental plants, creating a refreshing atmosphere under the azure sky with diamond-like stars.

At exactly eight PM, Afra arrived with her family, including Fatima, making it a full house. The dinner was delightful as everyone shared their perspectives and joys of having kids. However, Islam sat silently, observing them with a mischievous smirk.

Michelle eventually showed up in her stunning fitted gown and stylish sunglasses, adding more fun to the gathering. They decided to go on a shopping spree and picked out various items. This time, it was Michelle who took charge of organizing the spree. They even splurged on some fancy accessories, but Michelle managed to bargain for them.

As they sat in Michelle's car, they watched the fireworks illuminate the sky, a beautiful symbol of love and eternity.

"I can't imagine my life without you," Michelle said, holding her hand.

"I'll always be here by your side," she replied, smiling.

"Cheers to a fresh start," Michelle said.

"Cheers," she responded, fist-bumping their hands. They continued to gaze at the sky, captivated by the mesmerizing fireworks.

Blah blah blah, short and boring

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