The Life of Zara

CHAPTER FIVE

I turned to look at our house. It's on fire. Holding my mom and brother's hand we ran along with a few neighbors. There was a man in black, face covered only his eyes are visible. He kept following us as we ran.

Don't look back. Don't look back.

I release an animal cry when I stepped on a dead body. A deep cut on his neck. His blood all over the place. I couldn't move. I remained rigid. The body is that of my next door neighbor. My childhood friend. I couldn't even cry. I couldn't move.

"Zara," mother dragged my hand but I couldn't get out of my trance.

"He is going to kill us if we don't get out of here. He is almost here." Mom keeps shaking me.

"No mom.

You can't die. They killed him. Mom they killed him. They are going to kill us too. Mom you guys should run. I can't move. Run! "

"Zara, Zara, wake up." Some one was shaking me.

"They killed him! Can't you see they killed him? They are going to burn us too. Mom you have to run."

"No one is going to kill you okay? Just wake up. You are fine."

I opened my eyes. It was a dream. I'm soaked in my own sweat. Ahmed is sitting beside me. Weird! What happened? I was in the living room the last time I could remember. How did I get here.

"You fainted. And you were dreaming. "

I stared at him. I couldn't make out words. I tried to sit up but I feel very weak. It's weird having him sitting here and looking at me like this.

"Can you go? I'm fine." I managed to voice out my voice hoarse.

He look at me in disbelief. "You are fine? Can you explain what just happened? I thought you were going to die. You.. "

I cut him off. "I'm alive! I didn't die."

"Damn.. I didn't mean it like that.

Who got killed?

You have been watching action movies lately haven't you? "

"Yeah I did can you go out now."

He's making me angrier by the second. He looked at me and stood up.

"Don't think too much into this I just helped you. I don't like being here either. Whatever this is get it over with." With that he left.

I turned my face to the other side. Hot tears begins to run down my face onto the pillow. Mom, dad, and my little brother.

Will I ever meet you again?

Dad are you alive?

Mom how did you guys survive?

Are you happy?

Have you been eating well?

Do you have a roof under your heads?

It has been four years!

I buried my face on the pillow and cried out until I could cry no more.

Ya Allah protect them. Ya Allah let me meet with them. I believe in you and I know that you will bring us together. I wish I could call Laila right now. I have to talk to him. I can't stay apart from her.

Ahmed

My eyes are fixed on the TV in front of me. I move my hand,my fingers grazing on the cold glass of the table as I search for my drink. Reaching the glass cup I picked it up and place it to my lips I finished the remaining coke in one gulp and placed the glass back on the table. I could hear the door at my back open which happens to be that of the little witch. slow steps could be heard as she came out. For a moment she stopped there staring at my back. I can feel it. I don't need to turn. I pretend not to hear anything and continue to watch the movie. For a good five minutes she didn't move. Is she watching the movie?

"How long are you going to keep standing like that? You are burning holes in my head." I broke the silence.

She stepped forward and sat on the floor at a distance from me. I hate her innocent act as much as I hate her.

"What is it?" I asked she's irritating.

"I want to ask you a favor." I almost couldn't hear her.

"What favor? You are the type that always do what you want."

"Will you please let Laila to be coming here? She's my only friend."

"Your partner in crime? When I'm forced to stay with one w***e in my house. Now you want me to be tolerating the sight of two? Are you that selfish?"

She rose from her sitting position. What ever she was about to do is interrupted by the animalistic cry that came from the TV and both of our attention turned to the it. A chaos in the village as the terrorist were burning houses and killing people. A little girl was about to be killed when her mother ran into her and died instead. My attention is completely on the TV. I turned to find Zara shaking violently. Tears filled eyes. She looks weak all of a sudden. The moment she sense my gaze she stood up on shaking legs and went to her room closing the door behind her. I couldn't comprehend what just happened. Did she experience a fire accident when she was small? Is that all pity for a movie? It has to be more than that. For a moment I could see a flick of sadness in her eyes. A flick of pain. A flick of loneliness. I want to ask her what happened to her. Is she having panic attack? For a moment I wanted to comfort her. She looks vulnerable. The eyes and face that seems to be innocent filled with tears. Her Innocent and beautiful face can deceive anyone. Unless you know better. I'm not going to feel guilty because of this.

After-all she's a hypocrite. I won't concern myself with her private life. She has to pay for the pain she caused me and my family.