For Her

Chapter Three: Girls Got Game

"Never give up or lose hope because surely at the end of the tunnel there is a bright and shining light waiting for you. You just have to be smart enough to realize it."

That used to give me hope that everything would turn out fine. That there are good people in the world and that I just needed to be smart enough to realize that. Not much later I discovered that, that was bull and the hope I was feeling before was false hope. Because surely there is no light waiting for me at the end of this tunnel, just nothing but the dark night that surrounds me and envelopes me into a sea of sadness. Grief. Whenever I used to feel like this, I would always turn to Allah. Because unlike everyone else in my life, God was always there, and I know that no matter how bad things may get, I could always turn to him and not just in my times of need. At first I used to resent Allah for making our mother sick and letting my father become an alcoholic who didn't care about anyone but himself. I didn't pray as much as I should've and just got out of touch with everything. But after that, I realized that Allah only tests the people who he knows can handle it. I realized how strong I actually am and it also made my resentment for my father slowly start to decrease. I must've zoned out because before I knew it, Amelia was waving her hand in front of my face frantically.

"Hello! Earth to Amara." Amy snapped her fingers, trying to catch my attention.

Before I could even say anything Ms.Car blew her whistle once more and everyone stopped talking. "Okay girls, today we are playing dodge ball against Mr. Archer's male class. So yes we need to show the men that we women have game, so let's set up!!" She said a little too enthusiastically. The one thing I like but also don't like about Ms.Car is that she's always happy which can be a good thing, but there is a such thing as too happy and she has definitely crossed the line into that realm.

Amy and I along with the other 26 girls in this class laundered around and gathered a few balls here and there. After we set them in a line we walked back to the bleachers. I love playing dodge ball because it's the only sport that you are fully in control. You control where the ball goes. Sometimes I wish my life was like that, I could be fully in control. Cause if I was, I would heal my mother, find my father and ask why he walked out on us at the time we needed him the most, I would've given Mahirah a better childhood, I would help Hamid get a soccer scholarship, I would help Amran with her business and even find a way to relieve Nur of his stress. I would just fix everything that I think is wrong. Everything that I have no control of. But Allah does, he controls everything, so when I feel desperate I turn to him.

The doors to the gymnasium opened and the first thing I saw was Hamid walking over to where I am with someone else... it's... Ken doll. I quickly turned around in hopes of them both walking the other direction. I love my twin and all but I really don't want to run into his friend. Or acquaintance, whatever he is to him. The boys began to line up on the other side of the gym, they all looked strong, buff, they're probably football players or something. All of us girls started walking to the side opposite of the boys.

"It's 30 to 28 one guy needs to go over to the girls side." Mr. Archer announced.

"Mr. Archer I wouldn't mind playing with them."

Oh God, I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the sound of that voice.I know that voice way too well. That, ladies and gentlemen was the voice of my very own twin. Why does he want to play with girls?? And that's when it hit me like a ton of bricks, he probably wants to talk to me about something. More specifically someone and I just might know who.

"Very well Mr. Abdullahi you can go."

"Play ball!!"

Everyone ran up at once in search of a ball. The thing about me is that I LOVE dodge ball, throwing balls, dodging them, they're all easy for me. As soon as we all ran back Mr. Archer rang his bell, indicating that we could start throwing them. "So Zubair told me he got you guys detention." My brother started off. See? Told you. I know this dude all too well.