Swipe Of Love

27

♕ W A L I D P O V ♕

His wrath is just like mine. Antonia did very well at taking care of him. She was there for Omar, but I wasn't there for my very own son. I looked up at the sky; the full moon was glowing down on the earth as the stars shined brightly, lighting up the sky.

I wish I could tell you, Antonia. I just wish I could.

I entered my house. Turning on the light, I saw a card on the table. I wonder who it's from. Opening it up, I read it. It was another letter from that unknown baster that destroyed my life.

Ah! Loverboy, Loverboy! You can't keep away from your family. Can you? I warned you, buddy. Now that you neglected my orders, I am going to have fun finishing your little family. Starting with your little wife. God, she looks hot in her PJs. Watch your back

                                                                                                                                                          - XXX

I clenched my fist. Bitterly, I threw the paper on the ground and stomped on it. This man will never stop until he kills me. I have tried my best to look for him, but he wasn't found anywhere. Where could that bastard be?

Taking out my phone, I called Jack.

'Boss?'

'Listen, I want you to walk around my wife's house. Merely don't let her know that you are my bodyguard. Got it,' I ordered.

'Yes, boss,' he answered.

'Make sure you keep an eye on her! Anything happens, let me know right away,' I snarled.

'On it,' he said.

I grabbed my sweatpants and changed into them. Walking up to my closet, I opened the door, holding mine and Antonia's wedding photo. As I looked at our picture, I stepped up to my bed and laid down with it. I placed the photo on my chest.

I missed her so much! I want her on my arm. I want to kiss her and see her prepossessing face that can not be compared to anything in this world. I ask Allah (SWAT) for nothing except to help me bring my wife, my love, my cupcake back in my arms again. That's all I ask.

♕ A N T O N I A P O V ♕

I cracked the door to Omar's room. It was a lot that he had to take in from his father yesterday. Walking in, I sat next to him on the bed. I don't know what you are going through right now, although I know you are my strong little boy. You are a fighter. May Allah give you strength, my son.

Nothing in this world is perfect. So many things are going on.

"Good morning, mom," he yawned.

"Good morning. How was your sleep?" I asked

Sitting up, he laid back down, putting his head on my lap, "It was good alhamdulillah."

"What are you going to do now, my son?" I questioned, running my hand through his brown hair

"I don't know, mom. I need time to think," he sighs.

"You should get to know him. Hang out. Have fun. Maybe then you will find out the answers to your questions," I suggested.

"As I said before, I'll think about it. For right now, I just want to lay down on my mother's lap forever," he smiled.

"Aww! Now got up! I made your favorite paratha. Aloo paratha," I pulled him by his hand.

"You're the best," he hugged me, ran to his closet, then to the bathroom.

"Noor came yesterday. She said you two had projects to do. Then she left," I folded his clothes.

"I know. I did tell Noor I would be busy," he yelled from the bathroom.

"Well, call her," I said, picking up the dirty clothes.

"Can you do it for me, please? I don't have Noor's number," Omar walked out of the bathroom.

"You are her project partner. Not me. You should have her number." I raised my eyebrow.

"She won't give me her phone number because I did something stupid," he rubbed his neck.

"And the stupid thing is?" I asked.

"Something that you should never find out about it," he laughed nervously.

"Oh, don't worry, I'll find it out. Mothers always find out everything. Now, come downstairs and eat your food. They are getting cold," I reminded, walking out the room.

Entering my room, I drank some water from the glass on the mini table next to my bed. I grabbed my clothes for work and changed into them. After that, I walked downstairs to see Omar already eating his food. I grabbed an apple from the fruit basket on the left side of the kitchen table.

"I am heading off to work. Make sure to lock the door," I reminded, walking out the kitchen door.

"Mom?" he called

"Yes," I re-entered the kitchen.

"Medication," he shook the small orange medicine bottle.

"What will I do without you," I sigh.

I popped a pill into my mouth and drank some water. Walking up to Omar, I hugged him, "Love you. And try to be nice to Noor."

"Can't promise," he replied.

"Of course, you can," I shouted, walking out the door.

I exited the door. On the way to work, I grabbed some donuts. Soon I arrived at work. As I walked into the building, I saw crowd employees in the middle of the room.

"What's going on?" I ordered.

Hearing my voice, everyone moved away, going back to their work. Emily stood there and waved at me. A smile appeared on my face on its own. I walked up to her and pulled her into a big sister hug.

"Hey!"

"Hello. How are you?"

"I been good," she pulled back from the hug.

"I ordered you not to show up to work for the next couple of weeks," I frowned.

"I know, and I am just here to visit. Guess who I brought," Emily smiled.

"Who?"

She took a step back, making me gasped. In the stroller laid down our princess. Stepping close to her, I picked her up.

"How is my little princess doing? Look at you! You are growing up so fast, MashAllah," I commented, playing with her small hair.

I feel this pull toward her as she opened her delightful eyes to look at me. Her golden-brown eyes shined like the bright sun. A small yawn left her little mouth. I watch her small lips form into a tiny smile that can light up the whole world. Allah (SWAT) created his creation so beautifully. MashAllah!

Aww went through the room.

"She is beautiful, Mashallah," I spoke in a soft voice, not wanting to wake her up from her beautiful sleep.

"God has beautifully created her," Scott mentions.

Scott is an 80 years old man. He works with us. Of course, me being me, I don't let him do any work. I allow Scott to hand out jobs to others and joke with them. We all take him as a father. Scott was married to Mary.

Unfortunately, she passed away at a very young age. She wasn't feeling well. For a couple of days, we thought she was just a week. Boy, were we so wrong.

It started with just a simple cough. As the days passed by, Mary's cough got worse. She lost a lot of weight. We immediately took her to the emergency room since she started to cough up blood. She felt weak and couldn't move. I still remember that day.

                                                                                               ♕ ♕ ♕

I have never seen her like this in my whole life that I have spent with Aunt Mary. Never. So weak and vulnerable. You could see the pain and agony in her eyes. I grabbed her hand and squeezed it, assuring her we are all here for her. She is not alone. We are all going through this together.

I looked at Omar, motioned him to sit with her. I have a gentle kiss on her forehead. Opening her fragile eyes, she smiled at me. I got up from my seat and walked out because I couldn't handle her seeing like this.

"Ms. Kateb, may I have a word with you?" Dr. Hakim asked

"Of course, Doc," I answered, following him behind.

I entered his office. Grabbing a chair, I took a seat. "I am very sorry to say this, but Mrs. Working has cancer," he informed, looking through her file.

"What?" I asked in utter shock.

"The worst part is that you have brought her in at the wrong time. Cancer has spread through 90% of her organs. If we try to do any surgery on her, there's a chance she might die," he said, pulling out the test results.

"How can this happen? What about the treatment?" I asked, filled with hope that she somehow will get better.

"A group of diseases which cause cells in the body to change and grow out of control. Most types of cancer cells form a lump or mass called a tumor. A cancerous tumor can invade and destroy healthy tissue. Cells from cancer can break away and travel to other parts of the body. There they can continue to grow. This spreading process is called metastasis," The Doctor began to explain, "I am sorry; hence, there is no way out."

"We still have the treatment, right?" I asked again.

"If we do the treatment, I am afraid it will not work. At this point, we can't do anything except pray," The Doc answered.

"What the hell do you mean? You are the Doctor. You save lives. Isn't that your job," I yelled, feeling frustrated by all this information. There was no way out of this dangerous cancer unless Allah (SWAT) have mercy on us.

"Ms. Kateb, I am not a God. I don't give lives and take them away. As much as it pains you to take all this in, it hurts me too. I feel incompetent when this situation comes in, where we can not do anything to help the patient. I feel worthless seeing a person die in front of my eyes. Especially when the patient takes his or her last breath in front of us, we are doing the best we can," he spoke, looking at me with pity.

"So, that's it?" I asked, leaning back on the chair.

"I am afraid not," he sighs.

"How will I tell her husband? Or her children? How long does she have?" I ran my hand down my face.

"Less than 2 weeks," he replied.

"Yah, Allah! How can you say that? Just a minute ago, you said you are not God. Then how can you say something like that about a person? You have no right to. I believe in Allah. If He wills, then she will live more than just 2 weeks," I confidently spoke, standing up from the chair, ready to walk out.

"Yes, you are right. I have no right. However, this is the fact scientist found; I am only giving you the information."

"Well, they are nothing but a scientist who just wants the gold medal from the country," I spoke, walking out. I completely understand that I am rude to the Doctor when he was only trying to help. However, I don't know how a doctor can just declare how long a person has to live. They have no control over that. Their nonsense talk fills me with indignation.

The following week, Mary passed away. Leaving us all alone. Nothing was the same without her. The tears flowed unchecked down my cheeks, dripping from my chin. I was too down to cry out. I stood there as still as a statue. We can't do anything besides pray for her.

                                                                                               ♕ ♕ ♕

"Earth to Antonia!" Emily snapped her finger in front of my face. I have an apologetic smile for not listening to her. She completely understood my means of not paying attention to her.

"Miss Aunt Mary?"

I nodded my head, taking a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. Emily's father, Scott, got married again, and this time it was to Aunt Mary. At the beginning of time, Emily wasn't accepting their relationship since she loved her mother to death. She didn't want anyone to replace her mother's spot.

Except for the fact that she loves Aunt Mary also. Not as much as her mother tho. Within a couple of months of the marriage, Emily has realized that her father needs a partner. He can not stay alone forever. Uncle Scott never got married before because Scott didn't want his second wife to treat Emily crudely. So he waited. So she started to bring Aunt Mary closer to her and her father's life.

"I miss her so much," she mumbled, rubbing my back in comfort.

"We all miss her," Scott hugged her.

"If she were here, she would be very proud of you," I patted her back, "After all, you gave her what she always wanted."

"You too. You're her daughter, too, and my older sister. Did I tell you I have to go to NY," she clapped her hand, changing the subject. She often does that when she doesn't want to talk about things that bring back unhappy memories.

"No, you didn't. When?" I raised my eyebrows in confusion.

"Tomorrow morning is our flight," she answered. Then, she leaned in to whisper in my ear, "he wants to give a surprise."

Emily gave me a wink. I scrunched my nose in disgust. I really didn't want to know that information. "And you are telling me this now," I narrowed my eyes at her.

"Sorry," she laughed nervously.

"Do you need anything for the trip?" I query.

"Yes. One simple thing. Can you ask your driver to drop us at the airport?" she said.

"No need for that. I'll drop you off," Scott offered.

"Dad, no! You don't need to do that. Right now, you are supposed to focus on resting and taking your medication on time. Plus, Antonia said she would handle your bills; I'll do your groceries. Stop worry too much and go rest," she pinched her Uncle Scott's cheek before placing a kiss on it.

"She is right, Uncle Scott. I will tell my driver to drop you off at your house," I pulled out my phone.

"But-"

"No buts. Give me this," I grabbed the files from him.

"What will I do with you girls," he chuckled, walking out the door.

"Now, as for you. Go home and relax," I instructed.

"Kicking me out already, I see," Emily taunted.

"Yes. Now out you go," I pushed her out the door.

I sauntered her to the car. As she put the baby in the car seat, I put the stroller in the car trunk. I went up to her and hugged her tightly.

"Be safe," I mumbled.

"Thank you," she responded.

I watch her get in and drive away. I reverted to my office with hundreds of files in front of me, waiting for me to sign them.

What a wonderful day!