[Edited]
(DISCLAIMER: Salam before you start reading please keep in mind that I started writing this book when I was 15. I've grown with this book so that means my writing has grown too. Back then my writing was immature, so before you start criticizing just know that. And I'm also editing so please don't tell me if I made mistakes because I know I've made PLENTY okay? Thank you. Now you can go on and read!!)
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"Just with a couple more footsteps then my life would either get better or... worse." -Amara Abdullahi, FH.
CHAPTER ONE: Two Worlds
Zubair Hassan
"Give it back Bayla!"
As per usual I was woken up by the loud screaming of my little sister Zubayla and my little brother Harun. Ya Allah, what are they fighting about so early in the morning? Why can't there ever be a quiet day in this household? What am I saying, I thought to myself with a sigh. The word quiet is the exact opposite of us Hassan's. If there ever is a quiet day in this house then something is seriously wrong. "Shut up you two!" I yelled as I brought my pillow up to my ears, trying to block out the sound of their annoying voices. Nope that didn't work cause I could still hear them bickering. Suddenly my door opened and my two annoying siblings barged in like a pack of wild animals. Okay not exactly like that but you know what I mean. "Not until she leaves my Xbox alone." Harun yelled with a very pissed off look on his face. For a fifteen year old he could still be very childish, Zubayla too she's sixteen but acts like she's six.
"For the last time I didn't touch it! That was Abdullah!" My sister exclaimed with a frustrated look prominently on her face. That's it I can't take it anymore, I swear these two are one day going to be the death of me. You have not been tested unless you live one day with my psychotic siblings who want to tear each others heads off. "Stop!" I yelled my voice was firm. This has to end now cause if they disturb my sleep one more time they're going to get it. "Now both of you shut up! I don't care who started it as long as you both end it, right now." I put emphasis on the word now to make my message even more clear.
That's right show 'em who's boss, I thought to myself with a slight smirk. Being the current oldest boy living here is hard work. Exhibit A, you have to make sure that these little trouble makers are in line and not biting each other's heads off. "But-" Bayla started but stopped when she looked at my face. "Fine!" She sighed. Both of them turned to look at each other and apologized, I know deep down they didn't mean it but hey, who cares? As long as they are leaving me alone I am all for it. "Oh and mom said to get up. We're going to the masjid soon, dad is organizing the event today and we all have to be there." Bayla informed me.
I completely forgot, my dad runs the masjid and we have to help him set up and everything. Groaning, I start to get up from my bed and rub my eyes with the back of my palm.
"Okay, got it."
After trouble one and trouble two left my room I walk up to my mirror and looked at myself. My hair looked messy but not all that bad, my brown eyes looked tired and droopy. I didn't get much sleep last night because I had to help Bayla with her science project she decided to do last minute. I should win the best older brother of the year award. As I walked into the bathroom, I turned on the faucet and splashed cold water on my face to wake me up and man did it work.
* * *
"Mom I need to find my shirt!" My little brother Uzhair whined. Uzhair is the youngest of all of us, he's six years old and by far my favorite brother. He's so adorable mashallah, some people say that he looks a lot like me, I can sort of see it. I leaned down and picked him up off of the floor. He looked at me and gave me a big smile making his cute dimples more and more visible.
"How about I help you find your shirt and you let Mama cook? How does that sound bud?"
My mom gave me a thankful look which made me happy. I love helping out my parents every chance I get, it just makes me feel good like I'm doing something right. "Okay! What are we doing!?! Let's go find my shirt!" After I put him down Uzair zoomed out of the kitchen as if his life depended on it. What I can't understand is how he has this much energy in the morning. It's like he drank 15 gallons of some sports drink. I grabbed Uzair's hand and we walked to his room.
* * *
After I got little man dressed and cleaned, we walked back into the kitchen. From the looks of it everyone else was just about ready, everyone except Bayla. She was still doing her makeup and I don't like that she's doing that. As her older brother it is my job to look out for my sister and I don't want her to be like all of those other girls. In one swift motion I grab her makeup kit out of her grasp.
"Zubair! What the hell!?" She snapped.
"You're too young for this Bayla and you know it. Don't copy what you see all of those other girls do, instead of following try leading." I snapped back. I hate doing this but if I won't who will? My parents already have a lot on their hands, there's no one else but me.
She groaned as she walked pass me and into her room.
Amara Abdullahi
"Mara, wait up!" Hamid called out chasing after me. Wait up? We're in the biggest rush of our lives, we have to get to the hospital now and he's asking me to wait? Our mother has been in and out of the hospital for almost 6 years now. Her cancer that she has been fighting for years, has came back harder than ever this time. The doctor said there had been a change in her today, I'm not sure what though. All I know is that we need to get there fast. I turned to my twin brother who was still running after me. I stopped running once we reached my car and started up the engine. Once he was in I drove the car out of our schools parking lot.
"Man when did you start running so fast?" Hamid asked as he placed his hand over his heart. He seriously needs to start exercising more if this makes him tired. I didn't even have time to reply, my mind was set on one thing and one thing only. Is her condition better or worse? Please Allah heal her, please don't let us lose our mom."Wait, we have to pick up Mahirah remember? Obviously no one else can do it." Hamid reminded me. Damn it, I completely forgot about our baby sister. We have to pick her up from elementary school. I bumped my head against the steering wheel. I can't, I just can't do this anymore. I'm tired, my head is killing me, I am in no condition to drive.
"Here, you drive please." I unbuckled my seat belt and got out of the drivers seat. He didn't hesitate to switch with me, thank Allah for that. I sat in the passenger seat and laid my head against the cool glass. "Everything is going to be fine Mara, In Shaa Allah. Just make dua and don't stress yourself out too much." He tried to reassure me but it didn't work. When I was little I use to ask Allah what did we do to deserve this? Our father walked out on us a long time ago and now we live with our older sister and her husband. Speaking of older sister, we need to call Amran to let her know.
I quickly dialed her number and waited for her to pick up. "Hey Mara this isn't a good time to talk can I call you later?" My sister's girly voice boomed throughout my phone. Not a good time? I couldn't help but scoff. When is there ever a good time in this household? "No, you can't this is urgent Amran. The doctor called and told us that there was a change in mom's condition. You need to come now, we're on our way and we're bringing Mahi with us."I informed her. There was silence on the other line for a good second."Okay, I'm on my way." She said immediately before hanging up. We parked in front of Mahirah's school. "I'll go in and get her." My brother said as he got out of the car.
Hamid left me inside the car alone, all by myself. I hate it when I'm alone because then I'm forced to think of my problems like I don't do that enough already. My mind is racing with all sorts of thoughts, with questions that have no answers, with emotions building up inside of me. Before I knew it my two siblings were already inside the car and Hamid started the engine up once again. Mahirah was all happy and oblivious while both Hamid and I were worried out of our minds. Ya Allah, please let her be okay and let things go back to normal, I prayed silently. I missed the times when everyone was together and happy. I remember how whenever we'd come home Mama would always be there to give us hugs, ask us how our day was. When she first got sick it's like we didn't understand it fully, we just expected her to be home and shower us with love like always. Witnessing her getting more and more sick was the most heartbreaking thing in the world.
"Mar Mar!!" Mahirah hugged me from behind.
Seeing my baby sister so happy and lively actually put a smile on my face, I wish I was like that. I wish I was oblivious to my surroundings and was a little kid again and all I had to worry about was finding my favorite pair of shoes. "Hey Mahi, how was school today?" I ask as I turned around to face my 6 year old sister. In a lot of ways she looks a lot like me and Amran, same hair, dimples and same dark chocolate eyes that all of us Abdullahi's inherit. She bounced up and down in her seat so high that it looked she was on a spring.
"Whoa there Jumpy Joe, don't hurt yourself!"
She laughed, showing her cute deep dimples again.
"You're funny Mar. School was great I made a new friend and his name is Uzhair!! Oh and another one named Isaac but he's mean to me, he says my hair reminds him of his dog." She stated with an adorable frown on her face. Hamid and I looked at each other and we both couldn't help but laugh at that. It's just the way she said it that made both of us laugh uncontrollably. After I stopped I took a deep breath as I tried to suppress the laughs that are threatening to escape.
"Then his dog must have beautiful hair, tell me if he says anything else mean to you cause I'll mess him up!" Hamid said jokingly. The look on her Mahi's face shows that she believes he would do that."Ham Ham, violence is no good!" Mahi exclaimed in the most serious, but cute, tone she's ever used. Hamid nodded his head as if in a shameful way. "You're right, I'm sorry." He pouted his lip and looked at Mahi with his big brown eyes. Okay even I have to admit that was pretty adorable. Mahi smiled and patted his head as she told him it was okay. "We need to get going." I said as the smile I had slipped off of my face faster than it came. Hamid started driving the car and we rode in silence well with Mahirah talking every so often. After 15 minutes we parked in front of the hospital and got out.
"Are we visiting Mommy today? Yay, I want to tell her what happened at school." Mahi beamed excitedly. Neither Hamid nor I have told her the news about mom because who would want to see that beautiful smile slip off of her face? All she thinks is that mom just has a bad headache and the doctors are fixing her up. If only it were that simple. If only she just had a headache then everything would've been fine. But no, she was diagnosed with leukemia. She got really sick after Mahirah was born and then a little after that dad left us.
We had to live with our aunt for a while until Amran married Nur, then we moved in with them. I remember the first day Amran saw Nur, she said she felt butterflies in her stomach and despite everything she's been through he gave her a reason to smile again. She said it was love that she felt in her chest but I don't believe in that. There's no such thing as true love in my eyes. Just pure infatuation, I stopped believing in love along with a lot of things. I grabbed Mahi's hand and started walking, my heart beat increased faster and faster with every step I took. Just with a couple more footsteps then my life would either get better or... worse.
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A/N: Hey guys I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Please tell me what you guys thought in the comments section down below and stay tuned for the upcoming chapters as well!:)
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STAY
QURUX
MY
QURUXLEYS
MWAH!!:)