The Broken Pieces

He pressed on the gas pedal, as he remembered his mother's words asking him to come back home because they needed him. He found himself helpless because of the old memories that haunted him. He wished he could have done something differently and would have saved his first best friend. Even though he was only ten, that's the guilt he's been living with for the past 15 years. He was not paying attention to the increasing numbers on the meter. He saw the car in front of him and stepped on the brakes, but by the time he slowed, it was too late. She woke up in the hospital bed, trying to remember why she was there. She got the answer with the bandage wrapped on her head and arm. She recalled being hit on the back and then hitting a tree. She was told that she had been taken to the hospital by a stranger. She was discharged from the hospital within a couple of hours. A check was handed to her by a nurse telling her it was to cover the cost given by the stranger who bought her. She called her mother to pick her up. That night, lying in bed with her cat Muezza cuddled next to her, she thought about the check of ten thousand dollars with the name, 'Osman Ahmet Khan'. She was furious with the stranger for leaving a check, but no apology. He even paid for hospital costs and sent her car for repairs. What was she trying to prove with the hefty check, she wondered. Ayna POV My anxiety got better of me as I hit the road and I was driving too slow for the speed limit. It is my Ama who says that I should drive as she believes it's a step toward being independent. I was unaware of the car speeding up behind me. Before I could make sense, I was knocked unconscious as my car hit the tree and I hit my head on the steering wheel. I woke up in the hospital bed, trying to remember why I was there. I got the answer from the bandage wrapped on my head and arm. I winced, feeling pain in my left arm that was wrapped in bandages. I wondered how much time had passed and who brought me. I saw the nurse coming to check on me. After questioning the nurse, I found out I had been there for the past couple of hours and some unknown stranger dropped me at the hospital. And left just a while ago. After the doctor checked me, he gave me permission to go home, as there was nothing serious. I got discharged from the hospital without having to pay a penny. Guess what, that rude, arrogant driver has already paid all the cost of the hospital. I called him rudely because he did not stay behind to make sure I was okay. His whole name is Osman Ahmet Khan. I had heard this name before but I can't remember. I walk outside only to be stopped by a stranger wearing all black, glasses and Bluetooth, just like the bodyguard you see in the movies. He blocks my way and coldly orders me to get into the shining black Mercedes. I refused, but he insisted, “Please, ma’am, I am ordered to drop you home. If you don’t go I might lose my job.” I agreed, not wanting to trouble him. I gave him directions to my home when he dropped me off. I walked into the empty house where I lived with my Ama, who wasn't home at the time. I was starving and couldn't cook. I called and ordered some food. While I waited, I changed clothes. I had bandages on my head and arms, but the doctor said it wasn't anything serious. But I don't believe the doctor because I think I hit my head pretty hard and had probably damaged my brain. I never give anybody a second thought, but I find myself thinking about the stranger I haven't met yet, but already assumes his personality. Someone who did everything for me except wait for me to regain consciousness before leaving. I was thinking about him too much. That wasn't my thing. I tapped my forehead, ouch! Sorry head. Just then, my mom walked in. Once she saw me, I thought she would faint. She walked over to me, " Oh my baby how did you get hurt again? Trouble is like a magnet for you." I sat up straight, " Oh wow Ama that sounds just like what Edward told Bella." My mother tapped my forehead, rolling her eyes. "Awe my little girl, you never take things seriously, do you? When are you going to grow up?" Ama came to me, took me into a motherly hug, and asked me what happened. I explained everything that had happened, leaving out the information about the check. "Ama, you want me to drive, so that's what I was doing. Just pray for my life so I don't end up dead." My mom shook her head and put her finger on my lips, “ shh, My baby, don’t say that you are my world. I won't be able to survive if I ever lose you.” my mother got emotional. I hugged my mother, “Ama, I love you so much.” “I love you too my Jaan, let me get you haldi wala doodh (warm milk with turmeric) so you can feel better.” I watched TV with my mother while drinking my milk. I was a big fan of soap operas and enjoyed those fantasy love stories, wondering if I would ever be able to find unconditional love as they show in dramas. Muezza curled up on my lap purring. Muezza is my cat who I found as an abandoned kitten, grew into my beautiful fur baby. He has light gray fur like that of wolves and blue eyes. I retired to my room. My room was my full home, it contained my valuables and my secrets. I lay down in my bed, thinking about my day. I decided that I would return the check to Osman. After all, he had paid hospital bills and sent my car to get fixed, as the bodyguard-looking guy told me. I didn't need the check after all. I did have some self-respect, I might be living a middle-class life, I was not greedy, my mother taught me the difference between good and bad, and she gave me the most important lessons in life that I would never forget. My mother taught me to be strong, confident, independent, and self-sufficient and never to rely on others. Once, she said to me, 'never take too much for a favor, because who knows you have to pay a larger price for it.'My mother is the only family I had. I missed being the little mama’s girl who could cuddle with my mommy and not worry about anything, but now I wasn't the little girl anymore. I had to prove that I was strong to my mother who was constantly worrying about me. I hugged the pillow that had replaced my mother drifting into a deep sleep with Muezza balled next to me.