Our Space

Chapter 17

"Well I'm still working in the same place doing boring office jobs. At least the parties are fun. But since I last saw you, I broke up with my boyfriend and that was kind of tough." Sami looked up at his sister with surprise. Then he looked at his father whose gaze darted about the room, clearly feeling uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry to hear about that."

"Yeah well, that was expected. I mean, who'd wanna stay with a messed up girl like me?"

A very awkward silence followed. Sami's mind was racing at this new information. He knew his sister was rebellious but he didn't know she'd be so open about it. But he didn't feel like he had the right to judge. He knew there were all sorts of people in the world and everyone had their difficulties and differences. He just hoped that he could help his sister somehow since their father didn't seem to be too interested in helping.

Their mother walked in with a tall glass of water and handed it to her husband. She sat down next to him and asked him the usual set of questions about his flight and his work.

"Minnie, will you go check on the food please?" Sami's mother asked and Manahil left the room. After a few seconds, Sami followed her. He entered the kitchen and stood in the corner, scratching the back of his head.

"Parties? Boyfriend?" He asked.

"What do you care?"

"I do."

"Yeah, okay!" Manahil replied sarcastically.

"I do!" Sami said with more force. Manahil turned to face him and crossed her arms.

"You want to know the truth?" She asked. Sami nodded. "There is no boyfriend and the parties suck. I only go on a yearly basis or something when they force me and I only drink one glass of orange juice with fear that someone might spike it. I haven't had a boyfriend in years."

"You lied?"

"Yes, I lied. I guess I have a habit of making myself sound terrible to him just so he'd tell me off. But he never does. If he told me off, maybe it would show that he cared. But he doesn't care! He doesn't give a crap! Why do you think I'm dressed like this?" Manahil asked Sami, pointing to the sleeveless dress she wore which came just below her knees. Sami didn't want to pay too much attention to it. "Have you seen me dress like this in the past week? Nope, because I don't dress like this. I'm perpetually cold so I'm always covered in layers. It's become a habit and I don't even dress like this in summer!"

"So you're trying to er... erm..."

"Yes, Sami. Now save yourself the trouble of talking and acting like you care."

"I do care," Sami murmured. "And I understand." Manahil scoffed.

"Yeah right."

"When I left home... for uni... A part of me wanted to er... I wanted someone to stop me. Tell me not to leave," Sami admitted. Over the past few years, he'd denied the truth to himself because it hurt to dwell on it. They were too happy to see him go. "I was hurt and angry. That's why... I told myself that I... I won't live here again. Because nobody cared."

"Oh," Manahil said. She was silent for a moment. "I don't think there is a family as messed up as ours," She commented and Sami smiled.

"No, there are some pretty messed up families."

"You didn't stutter!" Manahil exclaimed and Sami grinned.

"Yeah. I hope I can keep it up." Manahil smiled back at him and there was a new peaceful atmosphere which came over them, something which Sami had never experienced. Feeling an opportunity arise, Sami thought about talking to his sister about something which he was thinking about over and over since they were already bonding. Perhaps it would be easier to talk to her than directly to his mother. Manahil was about to walk out of the kitchen when Sami stopped her.