THE RED INK
231 Words
Zahra went to Amara’s house before sunrise.
She did not knock. She entered and showed the photo.
Amara’s face turned white.
Where did you get this? she whispered.
The hospital register. Red ink. Baby swapped.
Amara’s hands started to shake. She sat down fast.
It’s true, she said. All of it.
Zahra felt cold. Who did it?
Amara looked away. Tears fell. My husband. He paid the doctor.
He said our baby died. He said your mother could not raise two girls.
He wanted only one child to inherit everything.
Zahra could not breathe. So he stole me. Zahra’s voice was cold.
She did not cry.
Amara was on her knees now.
`Please forgive me,` she said.
Zahra looked at her.
`You were my sister.`
`Now I don’t know who you are.`
She turned to leave.
The room was silent.
Only Amara’s sobs remained.
Zahra walked out fast.
She needed the doctor’s file.
No more tears. Only truth.The night was quiet.
Zahra sat in the taxi.
She stared at the photo.
Red ink. Baby swapped.
Her life was a lie.
Amara’s face came back to her.
The tears. The fear.
`Why did you wait so long?` she whispered.
No answer came.
Only the sound of rain.
She wiped her eyes.
She was done crying.
Tomorrow she would get the file.
Tomorrow she would get names.
Tomorrow the truth would be free.
- Writer
