KULSUM'S POV.

I lied.

I didn't stop. If anything, things escalated afterwards.

I tapped my foot impatiently on the floor as I used my long nails to scratch my arms. It didn't hurt—or maybe it did, I'm not in my right sense of mind to decipher it. I couldn't help it, my skin itches. I continued to scratch it, my whole body cradling back and forth as I stared at the brightly painted walls of my room.

Two days. I've spent two days with no drugs or money and I'm slowly losing my mind.

I couldn't sleep no matter how much I tried. I couldn't eat and I couldn't find it in me to be interested in anything.

Lucky for me, none of my family members—apart from Zayn, has ever checked up on me aside from taking away my drugs when I'm asleep—which I hardly am. It's like they're avoiding me.

Why am I not surprised?

I could barely make out anything in my room as I had turned off the light and closed the curtains two days ago. My eyes had slowly become accustomed to the dark.

I can't live like this. I need to take my drugs. I just have to. I'm slowly losing my mind sitting like this with nothing to take.

With frustration eating me up, I get on my two shaky feet and started making my way to the door. I had to lean on the wall for a while before I could stand straight without falling on the floor. I didn't bother to cover my hair with the hood of my hoodie as I opened the door to my room and stepped out.

Almost immediately, I clenched my eyes shut because of how light illuminated the hallway in contrast to my room. I used my hand to cover up my eyes from the blinding lights. It took me a while to get my eyes accustomed to the brightness and even when it did, I had to blink occasionally.

I cautiously made my way to Sabrina's room which is beside mine. I know she isn't at home. She's usually at work by this time, whatever the time may be. Bottom line is, she isn't at home.

I turned the doorknob I held firmly in my hand and pushed the door open. I slid into the room and closed the door behind me before making my way further in the room.

Her room is a contrast to my room that has almost everything black colored. It had always been like that even before all this started. Everything else is exactly the same so I knew the positions of it all. I hastily made my way to her bedside cabinet.

I fall on my two knees as I tugged the drawer open. My gaze fell on the inside that's filled up with papers and whatnot. I searched through it but couldn't find anything in it. I didn't bother to close the drawer as I pulled the one beneath it and just like the first one, there was nothing that I need inside.

I stood up and all but ran to the closet where I headed straight to where her suitcases are. I unzipped the zipper of the first suitcase I came across. There was nothing in there other than papers that are of no use to me. I pushed the suitcase aside only for my gaze to fall on a duffel bag. I pulled the bag and opened it.

I released a sigh of relief when my gaze fell on two bundles of one thousand naira notes. Just what I was looking for. I picked the two bundles and closed the bag. Pulling the suitcase that was in front of it to the position it was before, making sure I leave no trace of me being in there.

I then turned around and walked out the walk in closet looking back to make sure everything looks just the way it did before I got there. The two bundles of money held firmly in my hands.

Just in time I turned back, I heard the door to the room close making her eyes widen when Sabrina walk in typing something on her phone.

I gulped thickly and hid the money behind me at the same time she raised her head up and noticed me there. Her brows arched in confusion as her lips tilted downwards, "Kulsum..." she said as if carefully choosing her words. "What are you doing here?" she asked placing her phone on her bed.

I gulped again, darting my tongue out to lick my chapped lips as I think of my answer, "I'm here to see you" the lie rolls off my tongue smoothly.

"Huh" she hummed as she looked at me cautiously, "I don't mean to be rude...but why?" she asked taking two cautious steps towards me.

I shrugged, not replying with anything.

"Why are you here Kulsum?" she asked again, this time a little sterner probably realizing that I wasn't going to reply.

"Do I need a reason to see my sister?"

She shakes her head, "Not really" she folded her arms over her torso, "What are you hiding behind you?" she asked as she tilted her head to the side to look past me but pushed my hand back further.

"Nothing"

"Then you won't mind dropping your arms right? You must be exhausted folding your hands like that. Here..." she walked towards me making my heartbeat escalate, "let me help you" she reached her hand out to my arms when I stepped back.

"No!" she raised a brow at my sudden action, "I have to leave now" I tried to step away from her and slip out. Keyword, tried.

I failed. Obviously bound to happen.

She stopped me before I can and because I wasn't paying attention she was able to grasp my arm and pull it up. The action was so sudden that the money in my hand slipped out and fell on the ground making both our gazes snap to it.

"What..." she stared at the floor with disbelief painting her face.

I bit my lip hard and looked away, internally cursing myself for being so stupid and careless.

"Why?" she asked after picking up both bundles of money and held it in her hand. She looked at me again, the emotion on her face visible and clear as day, "Answer me Ummul Kulsum why?" she didn't raise her voice thereby betraying the fiery look in her eyes.

I looked away and kept my lips sealed.

"Must you steal money from me Kulsum? What do you plan on doing with it? Buy drugs and try to kill yourself again?"

I kept shut refusing to open my mouth.

She released an audible frustrated sigh, "Tell me Kulsum! If you wanted something you could've told me, I would've helped you!"

"Help?" I finally turned to look at her, "You will help me?"

"Yes"

"Will you give me back my drugs then?"

She stared at me as if I just said something stupid, "No...God no!" she kept the money beside her phone, "You need help Kulsum, let us help you please" she pleaded, her voice breaking at the end.

I huffed and rolled my eyes, "I don't need your help! I'm perfectly fine. This is all your fault to begin with!"

She clenched her eyes shut. When she opened them again, they were filled with tears which made me scoff, "Yes, it's our fault. Let you fix the things we caused.."

"No! I don't want it" I yelled running my fingers through my short hair out if frustration, "Y-You...just get away from me and leave me alone!" I ran out of her room and got into mine, closing the door shut behind me.

I rested my back on the door and slipped down as I tugged the strands of my hair tightly.

I need to help myself. They won't help me. They all hate me. It's their fault to start with. They started this.

~*~

"She's not getting any better. If anything, she's only getting worse"

"That's why I can't even bring myself to look at her. I can't bear to see my daughter in that state"

"She basically looks like a walking zombie. If we don't do anything any time soon, we might lose Kulsum"

"Which is why we need to do this" I recognize that as my father's voice.

"Hold up" That was Zayn, "We can't force her into this"

Whatever it is they are talking about, I agree with Zayn. They can't force me into anything. Especially in the current situation I'm in.

I moved impossibly closer to the door just to hear what they're saying. Due to the small stash of cocaine I found somewhere underneath my mattress I could barely stand on my two feet.

Silence followed afterwards before Sabrina spoke up, "Zayn, you of all people should remember how she looked like the other day. I can't remember the last time she ate food. All she had been depending on is drugs. The other day you are aware how she overdosed Benzos and Ketamine. We're lucky she survived that. Earlier I caught her trying to steal money from me, which she would've used to buy drugs. How long so you think her body can handle?" she threw in what is supposed to be a good argument.

I know they are talking about me, that is for sure. However, what I don't know is what they are thinking of making me do.

"She promised me she'd stop" Zayn said in a low voice. He sounded disappointed in me for some reason.

For the first time in my life, I didn't care about what Zayn thinks of me. It must be the cocaine but I really didn't care. I could barely feel anything at the moment. I don't even know what to feel.

"She lied Zayn" Sabrina stated, like it's the most obvious fact in the world. "That's one thing she's good at. Lying"

"She still promised"

"She's not the same sister you know Zayn. And she'll only get worse if we don't do this. It's for her own wellbeing" My mother finally spoke up after a while. "It's been years and she isn't any better. It's time we do what we should've done in the beginning"

I grew frustrated and tired of hiding behind the closed door of my room. Without much care, or any to begin with, I swung the door open and stepped out making the heads of my family members snap to my direction.

They all stood a few feet away from my room and by the looks of it, they didn't expect me to show up now. Three other people were standing along with them. One male and two females who looked what is supposed to be intimidating.

"What are you all talking about? What do you plan to do to me?" I asked, my voice low. I'm too exhausted to try and raise my voice. I'm sure my eyes looked sunken too considering that I'm squinting them due to my exhaustion.

My siblings and mother looked at my father who maintained his gaze on me, "Kulsum..."

"We're doing this because we love you" My mother cut him making him sigh as they all nod. She had tears in her eyes which are bloodshot—she looked like she had been crying for long.

I moved my gaze from her to the three other members of my family who looked beaten up. Zayn's eyes are red too but held no tears in them. Sabrina and my father looked determined and an emotion which I couldn't decipher is visible in their eyes, "What is going on? And who are they?" I pointed to the three strangers.

"Kulsum" My father started, "You're going to rehab"

~*~

So....she's going to rehab!

Alright....

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Also, thank you for the 1.48k reads. I love y'all!

Love, Jannah.