Blossom

14

Z A R A H P O V

Groaning, I got up from a bed. Looking around the place, it was unknown to me. Sitting up straight, I took a glace at my surrounding.

"Hey, you are awake. I will call the doc," A husky voice spoke right beside me.

"Can you please stay with me?" I shyly asked, gripping his shirt-sleeves between my thumb and index finger. 

"Sure," he smiled gently, sitting next to me. There was a pause. I was actually surprised that I asked him to stay with me. Inside me was terrified for being alone. Never in my life, I thought that everyone I love would leave me.  

"You gave us quite the scare.”

"Sorry that you had to go through all that just for this unlucky girl," I chuckled embarrassedly about everything. 

"Hey! Hey! Now don't say that" he turned toward me. 

"Well, that is true. I am unlucky. My father died in front of me. I never knew who was my real mother. My 'sister' betrayed me. What else could it be? I am unlucky," I bite my lips, preventing myself from crying in front of him. 

He grabbed my face in his big hand and stared at me, "you are not unlucky. You are lucky. Don't listen to them. I heard about what happened; I am not going to judge you. I know this is weird that we got married, and we don't know each other. Right now, you are my wife, my everything. I am right here for you. We will take things slow. How about we start as a friend? What do you say?"

"Yeah, that would be great," I was relieved to hear those words from him. I terrified for a second that he might get angry at me. 

"Good, now let's get your doctor," he kissed my forehead before heading out. I couldn't help but blush. He was charming and caring at the same time. I always wanted a husband like that. I guess Allah did what He did for a reason, and I am actually thankful for that. Maybe everything will turn out alright. 

"Girl, I see what you're doing?" Sofia walked in with a smirk plastered on her face. 

"What?"

"Don't just 'what' me? I saw that. I will admit you two make a great couple," she teased, pinching my cheeks. 

"Oh, you be quiet," I muttered, looking away. 

"Salam, sweetie. How are you," A middle-aged man walked in, whom I don’t think I’ve met yet. 

"Walaikum salam. I am doing fine Alhamdulillah. Just a little tired," I answered. 

"Well, it's good to have you back. I am Doctor Abasi. You can call me Uncle Abasi. I am this i***t's Uncle," he introduced, slapping the back of my husband's neck. I released a small giggle seeing him getting teased by his Uncle. 

"Nice to meet you.”

"Nice to meet you too. The cause of your fainting is because you were put under a lot of stress, which your body couldn't handle. To prevent this from happening again, I would like for you to not stress anymore and have rest,” he recommended, flipping through the papers.

"Thank you. I have been getting a lot of headaches," I answered. 

"Okay, what do you feel like when you get this headache?" He questioned. 

"I feel nausea and vomiting. Extreme sensitivity to light, so painful to the eyes and head that I have to stay in a dark room," I replied. 

"How long has this been going on?"

"About a week or so."

"What you have is called a Migraines, and other types of headaches, such as tension headache and sinus headache, are painful. Sometimes Migraine symptoms include a pounding headache, nausea, vomiting, and light sensitivity and are treated with anti-nausea drugs and abortive or preventive medications. I am going to recommend you take 3 pills of Motrin as soon as your headache starts. We want to stop this headache from getting worse. Okay?" he smiled. 

"Thank you."

"Your welcome. Well then, Ahmed just has to sign the dismiss papers, and you are off to go, but I would recommend you stay for one more days just in case," he smiled, patting my head. I nodded my head, understanding his directions and comments. He gave a friendly smile before walking out the door. The room suddenly got cold, causing me to shiver. When Ahmed saw me shiver, he quickly closed the windows. Sophia stared at her brother with shock, as if she didn’t just witness her brother’s action. 

Ahmed seems to sense her eyes on him, so he asked, “what?”

“Oh, nothing. When elders say, marriage changes people, I didn’t know they meant this fast of change,” she mumbled, walking to the other side of the room.

Ahmed walked up to her, smacking her head, “don’t you have anything else to do?”

“My only job is to tease my sister-in-law,” Sophia winked at me. Ahmed raised his and in front of Sophia’s forehead, ready to flick his fingers, but when he saw his mother entering the room, he quickly retired his hand. 

"How is my beautiful daughter-in-law doing?" She took a seat next to me. 

"Assalam-o-alaikum. I'm doing fine, alhamdulillah. How are you?" 

"I am very well, knowing that you are fine," she placed a kiss on my forehead, my heartfelt warmth of a mother when her lips touched my forehead. 

"I am sorry for the trouble that-"

"Nonsense. Don't mention it. We can't control, what happens to us," she cut me off.

"Thank you.”

"Stop with the thank you," she scolds, putting her hand on her hip.

"Sorry,"

"Stop apologizing."

"Okay. I will just stop talking-"

"I came here as soon as I hear about it," stormed in someone that I really didn't want to see right now.

"What are you doing here?" mother-in-law spat, looking at the person in front of us. 

"Auntie, it's okay," I assured her. 

"Call me, mom. Now on, I am your mother, do you understand?"

I gazed at her in surprise. Tears piled up in my eye as I quickly wrapped my arms around her waist, sobbing like a 5-year-old child. Yesterday, I thought that I lost my mother, but Allah has given me another caring mother. A mother who never met me, but she is willing to take me under her wing. A mother that every child dreams of. 

"Thank you so much, mom," I mumbled, clinching into her dress. 

"Don't worry, child. I am right here beside you all the time. I am going to give you two some privacy," she kissed my forehead. 

I smiled, pulling away, and watched her walk out of the room. It was just Mariam and me only. To be honest, I wasn't ready to talk to her yet but, I guess talking to her and getting this off of my chest is the best thing possible right now.

"You knew about this the whole time, didn't you?" I asked, not looking at her. 

"I-yes, I knew about this. I am sorry that I didn't tell you earlier. I didn't want to hurt you," she cried out. 

"But you already hurt me anyway. What's the difference?" 

"I am sorry. I know that it is hard for you; you might never forgive me, but I still will not lose faith in us," she promised. 

"There is nothing you can do," I stated, looking back at her. 

"Yes, there is. I am going to get your trust back again. I will do anything," she promised. 

"Anything?" I looked at her

"Yes."

"Will you choose him over me? What if I told you to leave him? Would you do that?" I questioned. 

"Anything but that," she pleaded. 

"I have an answer. Can you please leave now? I am exhausted," I laid back down, pulling the blanket closer to my chin. 

"Okay. I will come back late."

"Don't bother," I mumbled, turning away from her. 

"I am sorry," she apologized before walking out. 

Sometimes I felt like the world was slowly disappearing in front of me. Or maybe it was just me who was fading away. Those moments didn't matter anyway. Because of my empty burning lungs and my heart hitting my chest so hard, I thought it will break my ribs and rip apart my skin was the only thing I could think about.

I was sick of crying and wasting tears that didn't need to be destroyed. I knew there and then that I am not going back to my old life. This is my new life—a new beginning.