Habibi (new edition)

Chapter Five

Chapter 5 

It was Thursday. Our final day here. I couldn’t believe I was finally leaving! I was finally going to show my family and friends my first big…project. That I had finished. That I had worked on…on my own.

 We were meant to be leaving tonight at 10 at night so we had all day to get ready until we left. Fortunately my whole family had packed our bags beforehand so we could just relax. All my friends were excited and ready to go too. We were meeting them at the airport later.

I had been speaking to Jacob for the last couple of days since we finally met. He was being kinder every day and I looked forward to talked to him each day.  However for some reason he reminded me of someone but I didn’t know whom. It felt like Déjà vu for some reason...

Also my nightmares were getting worse each day. I think it was the eight o’clock walk home the other day was what triggered them. I shivered slightly. I didn’t want to be in that situation ever again. The strange feeling that you were being watched and also scaring yourself when you see a stranger across the street…

I wasn't ready to go back to remembering what …nearly happened five years ago. Something that shocked me to my core and I still can’t believe. Something no one else knows, and the worst thing was I couldn't tell anyone. Because I was half scared and half ashamed.

I shook my head trying to distract my thoughts and read a quick surah under my breath. I heard a knock on my door.

“Come in,” I said out loud.

It was Miya. I smiled at her as I continue to read the book I was reading. It was ‘1000 Splendid Suns by Khalid Hosseini.’ It was one of my favourite books and I heard they were making a film as well. I was excited to watch it, however I hoped they wouldn’t ruin the book like they have in previous films that have been based on certain books before. (Cough twilight cough)

*Jkjk*

“Hey girl! What you up to?” She exclaimed, carefully sitting on the edge of my bed.

“Just wandering round the streets of Kabul.” I replied to her, not glancing up.

When I was followed by a silence, I looked up and noticed Miya staring at me strangely. I waved my book at her and she nodded, understanding me now. 

I went back to reading about Mariam and her sky-blue burka as Miya sat there fidgeting on my bed.

(Burka is an enveloping outer garment worn by women in some Islamic traditions to cover their bodies when in public.)

“I need to talk to you…” She suddenly blurted.

I froze. Those words in one sentence were something nobody ever wanted to hear. I looked up at her, putting my book down.

She hesitated before rushing out her next sentence, “I’mpregnant.”

Huh?

I shook my head at her, “Sorry, didn't get that.”

 “I’m pregnant…” She said more slowly looking up at me under her eyelashes.

I stared at her for a second before screaming out loud. “OH MY ALLAH!! CONGRATU…” But before I could finish my sentence she put her slim hand over my mouth.

She looked around her nervously. “Shhh! I haven’t told anyone except you!”

“Why not?” I frowned at her.

“It’s not Zack’s baby…” She whispered looking terrified.

My mouth dropped. Was this a joke? I felt angry, surprised, sad, confused, astonished and rage all at once.