•Aaliyah

I pried my eyes for the second time since I was defiled.

I was in the hospital. Who brought me here?

The sedatives seemed to have an effect on me because I happened to keep forgetting things or events.

Aunty Faridah visited in the afternoon with Uncle Imran while Uncle Hakeem left just thirty minutes ago.

I pretended to be asleep so I wouldn't face their pitiful gazes and listen to the same word over and over again.

Sorry.

Who has that helped?

It only increased the pain because whatever was damaged couldn't be restored.

Uncle Hakeem brought me a basket of fruits and another that was filled with food. It was my favourite food; macaroni and beef stew. I devoured it after he left before drifting off to enjoy another period of blissful sleep without interruption.

"I brought you here Lilly." Bilal answered as if he could read minds.

"Th-th-thank you."

And I broke down again out of embarrassment.

Now who would marry a woman who wasn't a virgin?

Nowadays men reject the lady once they hear she has lost her virginity without inquiring from her or her family members why she wasn't one.

Akhram! Oh my God. Will he accept me like this?

Wait, I saw him that day...

My head hurt as I tried to remember what transpired between me and him that unfortunate day.

He left me!

And without any warning, the tears filled my face.

My baby left me hanging. After everything we've been through. He helped me heal after the death of my parents. We went through all the losses and wins together. I was also there when his mother came to visit and she fell sick. I took care of her with him.

Now where was he?

When I say don't expect anything in return from any human others will ridicule me with the amount of years they shared a friendship with their so called best friends.

It was all preordained but he could've tried to assist me in whatever way he could.

I thought he loved me. For once, I tried to love someone and he disappointed me.

I would've called Hamza but I'm too ashamed to. He'd probably scorn me at this point. I've already drained the love out of him. Has he moved on?

Only our next meeting will tell.

"Hamza is in the next room. You can see him whenever you're ready."

"Stop reading my mind!"

Now his psychic powers are scaring me a bit.

He doubled over in laughter till tears came out of his eyes.

"Lilly I know you too well to know when you're thinking of him."

"Ok. How did you know I was thinking about asking you where I was?" I questioned.

"It's the first question anyone asks when they wake up in a different place from their home."

Right.

"So why is Hamza here?"

"Promise you won't freak out."

"Promise." I said, after crossing both my index and middle finger underneath the purple hospital sheets.

"Hamza got into a fight with Abba."

"Oh my..."

You know the rest.

I bursted into tears and Bilal frowned.

"I know I shouldn't have told you!" He complained.

"I'm ok. I'm just overwhelmed. Why would he fight for me even after all the things I did to him?"

"That's love Lilly."

I blushed with dried tears in my eyes and on my face, "I see love when I look at you and Ruqayyah. How is she by the way?"

"She's actually fine." He smiled.

"Does you have any kids yet? Am I an Aunty?"

"We have a daughter."

"Awww my Billy is a daddy." I cooed.

He smiled so wide you'd think he was advertising toothpaste with his too shiny, white teeth.

"I am, Lilly and she is the best thing that happened to me after marrying Bilan."

"Who's Bilan ?" I asked, confused.

"Ruqayyah. Sorry I made a mistake. Only her family members call her that so it confuses a lot of people. We just decided to calm her Ruqayyah in public to avoid being questioned."

"Oh ok. So what's my niece's name?"

"Layla."

"I love the name. I'm sure she's as beautiful as her name. When can I see her?"

"After you've been discharged."

I knew he didn't want to be rude and tell me the truth about his wife. Over the years we've tried to be cordial because she's basically my sister in-law but she doesn't seem to like me and the feeling is mutual.

She must've refused to come with her child. Oh well...fuck her.

"Can I see Hamza now?"

A part of me told me I'd heal when I saw him.

Bilal called a nurse and who helped me up. I wrapped a veil loosely around my head, wore my fluffy bunny slippers and followed Bilal to Hamza's room.

I was too scared to open the door. I stopped in my tracks the moment we reached his room. He knocked a bit too quickly so we had to go in because he answered immediately.

If sweating produced money, I'd be a billionaire by now. The Air Conditioner was turned on but I was still releasing liquid from my body that was soaking my hospital gown.

"A-a-aliyah. I didn't think you'd come." He said sickly.

"How can I not visit my figh-knight in shinning armour."

He smiled but it seemed it was making his facial muscles feel a bit strained so he let his face fall back to it's poker face.

"You don't deserve this."

"I know. How will I face the world now? Who'll believe me?"

"We know and we believe you. You need to get out there and tell everyone what happened to you."

Toh motivational speaker!

"I can't. My image is everything to me. I actually care about what the world thinks. Nigeria is not a country that easily sympathizes with victims of rape. They'd neglect me."

"You have to stop worrying. You're perfect if you don't know. I can write a book about describing you and still need another to continue because the first wouldn't be enough. Several volumes would exist! So you see you're just amazing. And don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

I broke down for the first time in his presence and it not only burnt my heart because I hated receiving looks of pity but the pain that was being reflected from the rims of his pale deep-set eyes. That made me more heartbroken than I had been before stepping foot into this room. He looked at me, silently, but his eyes were calculating as he subtly strokes his stubbly chin.

"I understand that but I don't think you know what's at stake here. Who'll marry me?"

"There are a lot of men readily waiting for someone like you to settle down with. You're everything a man would want. You've got the brains and the beauty! What else? A progressing empire!"

To be honest, he gives one of the best pep talks. I was really starting to feel better.

"I hope there is."

We all sat in a brooding silence. There was so much to say but we were all in our own world's.

"So why did you fight for me?"

I broke the silence.

"Because I love you."

"How are you still by my side after everything I did you? How do I start to repay you back?"

"Love me." He said too quickly, almost as if he was begging with the broken look his eyes held.

He tried to look into my eyes, daring me but I was scared I would betray myself and he'd see just how desperate I was so I looked away.

I thought he'd loose hope after all these years. But here he was still by my side after all these years. It was as if we were back to square one. I see us mending all the broken pieces of our relationship and picking up the fragments from where we left off.

I'm willing to love him now. With all my heart! But I'll let him get well first before I proclaim my undying love to him.

"Do you know where Abba is now?"

"He's in the next room."

I turned and Bilal was gone. When did he leave?

He left to give us some privacy.

Honestly, this nigga was best friend goals.

"Bilal is gone!" I gasped.

"I know." He answered in a monotonous way, probably because I didn't give him an answer.

So, just like me, Hamza and Abba were stuck in a hospital.

This is one hell of a mean joke the universe is playing on us!
___________________________

~Aisha Safiyanu🥀