By Your Name

Introduction

Not edited : contains errors

The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Her hair flailed behind her as the cool breeze caressed her whole being.

She always enjoyed this season. She loved the scent of the earth whenever it was about to rain. She enjoyed watching raindrops splatter as they hit the soil. She relished the cool temperatures that always accompanied the rain.

"Aneesa!" she heard one of her sisters call from upstairs.

She sighed, leaving the window pane. She trudged up the stairs, only to bump into her sister.

"Aneesa, your phone has been ringing like crazy. Please answer it."

She collected the phone just as it began ringing again.

Seeing the caller ID, she rolled her eyes. She silenced the phone and made her way to her room.

She checked the phone to see about ten missed calls, all from two people. Seeing the second name, she smiled a little and hit the call button.

After two rings, the person picked up.

"Aneesa Abdullahi, your phone is useless, you know that, right?"

"Shut up. I was downstairs when you called. So, what's up? Can't wait to see me already?"

"Girl, you wish. If I had my way, I would be out of the country tomorrow, but that damned prison called school..." she trailed off.

Aneesa grinned a little. "So, what's up? It's very unlike you to call more than twice."

The girl sighed. "Nabeel won't let me rest. He's been blowing up my phone for three days straight, asking why you won't pick up his calls. I told him you usually don't answer calls because you almost always don't know where your phone is, but the dude won't stop calling me to ask if I've heard from you."

Aneesa was quiet for a few seconds, biting her tongue. "Hanan, please tell him to stop wasting his time. I'm just not interested in him. And him being this relentless is only making things worse, not better. Tell him I don't love the chase like he thinks. I'm just not interested."

"Ouch... that's my cousin we're talking about, Anne," Hanan said, feigning hurt.

"The same cousin you told me changes girlfriends like shirts? It's not even about that. You know me, Han..."

"...no love, no dating. I know that. It's just that he's never chased a girl this relentlessly before, and I haven't seen or heard him with any girl since he met you. And the way he keeps pleading..." Hanan sighed. "Well, I'll know what to tell him."

"Please do that. I'll send him a text as well, you know, to let him down gently."

Hanan laughed at that. "Well, I gotta go start doing that and then prepare for my return to prison. My regards to little Asma."

"Sure, Han. See you tomorrow. And my regards to your mum."

Just as she put the phone down, the door burst open. A girl around seven years old came in, her hands in fists.

"Ya Aneesa, look!" She extended her fist toward her, then opened it, revealing two teeth.

Aneesa gasped. "Oh! Little Asma is growing up. When did they fall out?"

"Just now, but I want them fixed back in. I look ugly without them," she said, teary-eyed.

Aneesa sat her down on the bed and examined her mouth. "They left just a small space, Asma. It's not that noticeable. And look, a new set is already growing in."