Chapter 16
1064 Words
Stay With Me
The night air felt colder than usual.
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Sakina walked faster.
Her chest tight.
Her thoughts heavy.
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The mall.
Her father leaving.
The promise.
Broken.
Again.
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By the time she reached him—
Her eyes were already glassy.
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Nii stood where he always did.
Waiting.
Silent.
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She didn’t smile this time.
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“…you came,” he said.
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That was all it took.
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Sakina stepped closer—
Then suddenly hugged him.
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Tight.
Unexpected.
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Nii went still.
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For a second—
He didn’t move.
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Then slowly—
He let her.
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“He left again,” she whispered.
Her voice shaking.
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Silence.
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“I thought this time would be different,” she continued softly.
“But it’s always the same.”
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Nii’s eyes darkened slightly.
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“They don’t change,” he said.
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That sentence—
Landed deep.
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Sakina pulled back slightly, looking at him.
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“You understand… right?”
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A pause.
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“…yeah.”
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Simple.
But it felt real.
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She wiped her tears quickly.
“I waited for him… I even skipped coming to see you yesterday because of him.”
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Nii’s gaze sharpened slightly.
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“…don’t do that again.”
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She blinked.
“What?”
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“Skipping me… for him.”
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Her heart skipped.
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“But he’s my dad—”
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“He’s not there,” Nii cut in quietly.
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Silence.
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That hurt.
Because it was true.
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“You came to me now,” he continued.
“Because you knew I’d be here.”
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Sakina didn’t speak.
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Because she did know.
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Nii stepped closer.
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“I don’t leave.”
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That was the hook.
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Sakina’s chest tightened.
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“…you won’t?” she asked softly.
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Nii held her gaze.
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“No.”
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A lie.
But a perfect one.
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Sakina nodded slowly.
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“I just want someone who stays,” she whispered.
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Nii’s expression didn’t change.
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“I’m here,” he said.
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And just like that—
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She believed him.
Completely.
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Later that night—
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Sakina lay on her bed, calmer.
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Her pain from earlier—
Replaced.
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By him.
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“I don’t need anyone else,” she whispered again.
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And this time—
She meant it even more.
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The Next Morning
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The dining table was quiet.
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Too quiet.
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Sakina walked in slowly.
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Her father was already seated.
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No phone.
No movement.
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Just watching her.
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That alone—
Made her uneasy.
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“Good morning, Daddy,” she said softly.
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“Sit,” he replied.
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She sat.
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Silence stretched.
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Then—
“I got a call from your school.”
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Her heart dropped.
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“…a call?” she repeated.
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“Yes.”
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His voice was calm.
Too calm.
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“They said your grades are dropping.”
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Sakina looked down.
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“And that you’ve been absent… more than once.”
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Silence.
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Her fingers tightened under the table.
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“Sakina,” he said firmly.
“Look at me.”
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She did.
Slowly.
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“Is that true?”
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A pause.
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“…yes.”
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The word was barely audible.
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His jaw tightened slightly.
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“Why?”
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She hesitated.
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What could she say?
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I’ve been meeting a boy on the street… skipping school to see him… doing things I don’t even understand…
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No.
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“I just… didn’t feel like going sometimes,” she said quietly.
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“That’s not an answer,” he replied.
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Silence.
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“You’ve never been like this,” he continued.
“You were focused. Disciplined.”
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Her chest tightened.
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“I’m still the same,” she said softly.
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“No,” he said firmly.
“You’re not.”
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That hit.
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“What changed?” he asked.
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Sakina shook her head quickly.
“Nothing.”
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A lie.
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He studied her carefully.
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“Is it friends?”
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“No.”
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“School pressure?”
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“No.”
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“Then what?”
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Silence.
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Her heart was beating too fast now.
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“I said nothing,” she repeated.
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His voice hardened slightly.
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“I don’t believe you.”
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That scared her.
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Because for the first time—
He was paying attention.
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Really paying attention.
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“You will stop missing school,” he continued.
“Immediately.”
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She nodded quickly.
“…okay.”
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“And your grades will improve.”
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“Yes.”
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“And whatever distraction this is—”
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She froze.
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“—it ends now.”
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Her breath caught.
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Ends?
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Her mind went straight to one person.
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Nii.
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“…okay,” she said again.
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But her voice—
Wasn’t convincing.
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Her father leaned back slightly.
Still watching her.
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“Sakina…”
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She looked up.
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“I may be busy,” he said, quieter now.
“But I’m still your father.”
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Silence.
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“I won’t let you ruin your future.”
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That should have comforted her.
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But instead—
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It felt like a threat.
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Because now—
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She had something to lose.
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Later that day—
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Her phone buzzed.
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Nii.
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She stared at it.
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Her father’s words echoing in her head.
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It ends now.
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Her heart pounded.
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Then slowly—
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She picked up the phone.
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“…hello?”
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A pause.
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“Where are you?” Nii asked.
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She hesitated.
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“I’m at home.”
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“Come.”
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Just one word.
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The same control.
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The same pull.
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Sakina closed her eyes briefly.
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Then—
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“…okay.”
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Because no matter what her father said—
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She couldn’t stop.
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Not now.
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Not anymore.
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🔥 End of Chapter Sixteen
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