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19

It was after Fajr, and I was sitting in my hospital bed reading Quran. It had been a couple of days since I've been here, and the only visitors I was allowed were my parents, siblings, Bhabi, and Angie. They had, I guess, decided that once I started regaining my memory, then I would have more visitors. Today was my last day at the hospital, and I would be going home around dinner time after my tests.

My days in the hospital were very peaceful. I honestly didn't want to go home. I would wake up for Tahajjud and pray; then I would do Fajr; I would then read 1-2 pages of the Quran since I wasn't allowed to do much reading in case of complications with my concussion. I would do dhikr and sleep. After I woke up, my parents would come and bring me some Tim Hortons for breakfast. I would chill and hang out with Bhai and Bhabi. Zara and Angie, they would come and bring photo albums to look at. Later I would have lunch, usually some shawarma from down the street; then, Doc would run my tests. After that, I slept.

I honestly wish I could live like this forever!
But I was excited to go home and regain my memories!
Even with the photo albums, I hadn't remembered anything!
I saw pictures from Bhai and Bhabi's wedding and still got nothing.
My graduation pictures even more nothing!
I tried so hard to remember!
But nothing worked!
But I knew Allah had a plan as he was the best planner.
So I just kept making dua'a

"You haven't been like this in a long time," Mama whispered from the door.

"What do you mean," I asked

"You've always been a good Muslim, but after high school, you stopped memorizing Quran, I would have to tell you to pray, the way you wore your hijab wasn't the same as before. That kind of stuff It's like after high school you lost a piece of yourself."

I was shocked. I knew I would get busy after high school, but did I change that much?
Did I become one of those people that valued the Dunya that much?

I was broken out of my thoughts to see Baba come in with a big Tim Hortons bag with a grin plastered on his face.

"Last Hospital Breakfast Habibti!"

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As I walked down the halls of my home, I saw a picture of me with a graduation cap and gown alongside my family. That doesn't seem like that long ago. But I still had no recollection of any of it.

Mama and Baba told me not to stress and that Inshallah, it would all come naturally.
I walked into the kitchen to see Mama on her phone with tears in her eyes.

"Is everything okay?" I asked

"Yes, love, I was inviting your Uncle and Aunt over for Dinner.

"Why are you crying? Do you not want them over" I teased

"I do, but I'm just scared for when you find out what happened, causing you to lose your memory," Mama said, hugging me.

"Inshallah, I will be fine," I said, comforting her and trying to comfort myself. Whatever happened could not have been that bad, right?

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The doorbell rang, and Mama ran to open it.
I stood behind Mama, with Bhabi and Zara clutching both of my hands.

Aunty Asma and Uncle Umar both greeted me and talked to me as if I was a piece of fine china. So gently, and Aunty Asma hugged me so gently.

Then came to identical-looking girls around my age, Rukaiya, and Fatima, I believe, and they gave me a bone-crushing hug.

"Oh, I'm so sorry we missed you so much when we-"

"Haye beta's your going to hurt her," Aunty said disapprovingly.

They let go, I noticed they had tears in their eyes. Poor babies.

"It's okay. I'm okay, guys," I said, smiling.

"Where's Zayn?" I heard Baba ask

"He said he'll be here later," Uncle Tahmeed said

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We were all sitting in a circle talking when the doorbell rang.

"That must be Bhai," Fatima whispered.

Having enough of all this secrecy, I said

"Can you guys PLEASE tell me what happened to me, so I don't freak out in front of everyone!" I said, basically begging.

At this point, I hated not knowing? Did this Zayn guy save me from getting run over or what happened?

"We all decided we'd tell you after dinner," Bhabi said in a tone that screamed "end of the conversation."

Before I could say anything else, Bhabi shut me up.

Why were they so secretive? It's not a big deal. What difference will it make telling me now than Dinner? If I knew now, I could at least compose myself and not make a fool of myself in front of everyone.

"Come, let's go help with dinner," Bhabi said, leading us downstairs.

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No one would let me do anything.
I just sat there.
I was being treated like glass. I hated this

"Everyone, let's go eat," Baba announced, as everyone went to go take a seat.

I took a seat beside Bhabi.
I lifted my head to and looked around the table.

Across from me sat who I'm assuming is Zayn, his eyes were on me. His eyes were like a black hole; I literally could not stop staring, nor could he.
Astagfirullah! I was never like this. Why am I like this now?!
I never cared for boys, but for some reason, something was pulling me towards Zayn; it was so weird.

I said Bismillah and began to eat.

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After Dinner, everyone was seated in the living room. The atmosphere so thick with tension, I was starting to think maybe I shouldn't know what happened.
Baba was the first to speak,

"So none of us were there when the incident happened, so Zayn beta would you tell Saima what happened."

Zayn slowly looked up, locking his eyes with mine, and began.

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I walked into Mr. Robinson's Law firm with my dad's file in my hand. I wanted to get this over with as soon as possible. I hated that man; I hate him so much, what he did to Mom and Kulsum is unforgivable. As I entered the firm, I noticed it was empty, which wasn't odd or anything; the firm closed a couple of minutes ago.

"Mr. Robinson? You here?"

As I walked up to Mr. Robinson's Office, I heard some talking,

"Hey, Mr. Robinson, what the-"

I looked to see Mr. Robinson with his hands on Saima. Her eyes filled with tears and her face Red, with fear.

He then let her go, and she fell, her head hitting the desk, a loud *crack* was heard throughout the room. I quickly ran towards her, and when I did that, Robinson ran out. At that moment, I didn't care what he did. I just needed to make sure Saima was alright.

I quickly tried to wake her up, she was unresponsive, I then checked her pulse, and it was steady. I promptly called 911 and Omar and told them to come.

Until they came, I just sat there on the floor with her head in my lap, and we waited.

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"And then the rest was history... I'm sorry I didn't do more I didn't know what else I could do," Zayn said, his head in his hands as he spoke with regret.

I was astonished.
He was going to hurt me.
My employer, career-wise, the man I looked up to, was going to hurt me.
Hell, he already did hurt me.
But it would've been worse if Zayn didn't show up...

"Thank you," I said to Zayn.

He looked at me, shocked. He was about to say something when I announced.

"I think I'm going to go take a nap and let this process," I said with a small smile.

I hated how everyone was looking at me with pity and sadness. I needed to leave.
So I went upstairs. But sleep didn't come to me.

I laid there and let my thoughts take over.

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