Chapter 15 — Aisha’s Breaking Point 1
1001 Words
Aisha had always known the house didn’t like her.
The walls may have been painted a tired cream color, and the windows may have been cracked just slightly at the corners, but none of that mattered. The real danger wasn’t the house — it was the man inside it. The man whose voice could silence her soul before he even finished saying her name.
That night, the danger felt thicker. Heavier. Like the air itself had mood swings.
Aisha walked into the sitting room slowly, her steps feather-light, praying she wouldn’t draw any attention. The room smelled like stale gin and anger. Her father was sitting on the old couch, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, breathing in a way she recognized—slow, loud, too steady. A storm waiting to see who it would strike first.
Her chest tightened.
She knew this version of him.
“Where have you been,” he said, not lifting his head, not blinking, not breathing like a normal person. His voice was low — too low. The kind of tone that made your stomach curl up and hide inside itself.
“I… I was just at school,” she whispered.
SLAM.
His palm hit the center table, making the empty bottles rattle. Aisha flinched even though she tried not to.
“Don’t lie to me, Aisha.”
Her heart started sprinting. Her hands trembled. Her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth.
“I’m not lying,” she said, voice shaky. “I— I stayed back for extra classes.”
She expected him to shout. To curse. To throw something. But the silence that followed was worse. He raised his head slowly, and the hatred in his eyes made her knees weak.
“You think I’m stupid?”
“No—”
Before she could finish, he stood up and walked toward her with slow, calculated steps. Every part of her body screamed run, but her feet wouldn’t move. Her breath caught in her throat.
“You were with that boy.”
Her heart stopped.
Kamal.
The world almost tilted. “We’re just friends.”
“Friends?” he barked. “So that’s what you’re doing now? Opening your legs for some useless boy in that school?”
The words hit her harder than any slap ever had. She felt her lungs tighten and her face heat up with shame she didn’t deserve.
“No! Daddy, I didn’t—”
He grabbed her arm before she finished talking. Hard. Fingers tightening like metal claws. Pain shot up her shoulder.
“I’ve warned you. I’ve warned you over and over—don’t embarrass me.”
“I didn’t— I swear—”
He dragged her toward the dining table. Aisha stumbled, knocking her shin against the chair leg, but he didn’t stop. He shoved her against the wall, the impact ringing through her skull.
“The school called.”
Her heartbeat froze mid-air.
The school WHAT?
Her father’s breath was hot and sour in her face. “They said you were involved in some nonsense fight. They said you’ve been sneaking off. Is that how you want to disgrace this family?”
Aisha’s vision blurred.
She wasn’t even suspended. She hadn’t been accused of anything. They only called to check on her after the bullying incident. But her father didn’t want facts — he wanted blame.
He wanted something to hit.
Her voice cracked. “It wasn’t me… please, it wasn’t—”
His hand rose.
Aisha’s eyes widened—
And then it happened.
The slap knocked her sideways.
The room spun. Her ears rang. Her cheek burned like fire. Tears filled her eyes instantly, hot and heavy, falling before she could wipe them away.
“Daddy please,” she cried. “Please, I’m not doing anything wrong.”
He hit her again, this time with the back of his hand.
Aisha’s knees buckled and she dropped to the floor, palms scraping against the cement. Her head felt light, her vision shaky.
And then the belt came off.
Everything in her went cold.
“Daddy, please please please—” she sobbed, crawling backwards, but the wall blocked her path. “I’m not lying. I didn’t do anything—”
The belt cracked in the air.
Her scream tore out before the pain even hit her skin.
The sting seared across her back, cutting through her uniform. Another blow. And another. And another. She curled into herself, hands covering her head, body shaking uncontrollably.
“Useless girl!”
“Stubborn!”
“You want to bring shame!”
“You want to start sleeping with boys!”
Each word was a knife.
Each lash was fire.
Her body trembled. Her breaths came in sharp little gasps. Her tears soaked into her sleeves.
When he finally stopped, her entire back throbbed and her mind felt like it had left her body. She couldn’t move for a few moments. Couldn’t even breathe properly.
He dropped the belt on the floor and walked away like he had just finished sweeping the house. No remorse. No guilt. Just an empty look on his face, like hurting her was routine.
“Useless,” he muttered. “Just like your mother.”
The words hit harder than the belt.
When the room finally fell silent, Aisha stayed curled on the floor, shaking. Her cheek swollen, her lips trembling, her back screaming in pain.
And for the first time in a long time…
She was scared she might not survive this house.
Her tears blurred the ceiling above her. Her breath quivered as she whispered the only name that made her feel safe:
“Kamal…”
And that was the exact moment she realized:
She had to leave.
Tonight.
Not tomorrow.
Not after courage.
Right now.
Before this house swallowed her whole.
Before her father destroyed whatever was left of her spirit.
She had to run.
To the only person who had ever tried to save her.
- Writer
