KULSUM'S POV.

She scoffed, "How is our fault you couldn't keep yourself sober? How is our fault that you think only about yourself and not the rest of us? How is it our fault that you cannot handle stuff on your own and rather resulted to ruining your own life!" she half yelled and she would've done more had mom not placed her hand over her arm.

"Sabrina that's enough" Mom said lowly but Sabrina was having none of it.

"No mom, let me say what's on my mind. She thinks she can just speak to us anyhow after everything we did for her? We've tried to be with her throughout this stage of her life yet this is how she repays us?!" she said in the same tone as earlier.

"I really wished you didn't just say that" I said in a tone lower than any I'd used before.

"What?" Sabrina asked as she glared at me, anger plastered on her face.

"This is not the time I need you in my life. When I really did need you what happened huh? We're you there?"

She rolled her eyes, "Are you going to keep yapping about how we've been 'ignoring' you since you were a kid?" she air quoted 'ignore'. "Seriously Kulsum, this is getting a little old—"

"That's not what I'm talking about Sabrina" I said still not raising my voice. I'm slowly losing every strength I have to argue with them. I would've just left too but I needed to get this off my chest, and if I don't do it now, I might never get the chance.

After all, I don't have much time.

"Then what are you talking about?" Asked Sabrina impatiently.

"You seriously have no idea why I'm like this?" And sure enough, they looked clueless.

I looked down and laughed humorlessly. I don't understand how they can claim something like that. How can they even say something like that? "You guys are worse than I thought" I muttered bitterly. "Let me remind you then"

I threw my phone on my bed angrily as I paced in my room. I don't get why he just won't answer my calls. Instead, he just sent me one message, one message!

~I'm at work. I'm really busy right now. This is important.

And that was it.

For all I know that is not a reason. How can he put his work over me, over this!

I tapped my feet impatiently on the ground as the tears stream down my face like waterfalls. I couldn't even hold them back anymore. My throat felt parched and any time I try to talk; my voice comes out strained. My eyes hurt from crying so much and I'm sure my face is crimson red too. But even then, I couldn't help but cry knowing that I'm hopeless.

And my very own husband doesn't think this is important enough for him to be here.

None of his family members are here too or even bother to call me. I know they live in a different state but it's been two days already.

I need every bit of support I could get.

But I'm getting none of that.

The door swung open and Salma walked in. However, halfway through she went back when she heard my father's voice coming towards the room, she left the door open. I couldn't hear what she told him but I did her his reply. He said, "She'll get over it. I have work to do now, it's campaign period I can't stay here. Excuse me" he side stepped her and walked away.

This only made me cry more. This is the worst thing that has ever happened to me yet my own father thinks his campaign is more important.

Just then, my mother came and since Salma was standing there, she talked to her too but she too like my father gave her own excuse, "Look Salma, I have to go and meet these ladies. Hajiya Halima, wife of Gombe state governor is having this event for her daughter's wedding and I have to go there. This is really important for Alhaji's campaign. The governor is one of his biggest sponsors. We may lose that support if I miss this. Just let her sleep over it" she didn't even wait for Salma's reply as she walked away too.

Sleep over it? Oh wow.

Salma watched their retreating backs and sighed. She turned and was about to get back into the room when she saw Sabrina who walked towards my room door and stood in front of the door. She looked at me then moved her gaze back to Salma, "She's still on this?" she asked as she pulled out her phone from her bag, "I have a date now, I can't stay here and babysit her. She's old enough to deal with her own problems and besides, my carrier depends on this. I'll lose my job if I miss this" she threw me one last glance before she walked away too.

I hugged my legs to my chest as I rocked myself back and forth crying my eyes out. I don't know what hurts most. The fact that I lost the most important thing in my life or the fact that none of my family members care enough to even comfort me when it was what I needed most.

That was the sacrifices they made.

Me. I was that sacrifice they made to gain their position.

Salma walked into my room and closed the door behind her. I didn't bother to raise my head from the position I was in and she didn't try to get me out of it. Instead, she wrapped her arms around me and let me cry on her shoulder.

She was the only person that was there for me since to my family they did not deem me worthy to stay and comfort at a time like this. This is the time I needed them most in my life more than ever but like always, I'm nothing to them.

"Did you ever think that all I wanted was some sense of support from my father" I looked at my dad, "My mother" I moved my gaze to my mom, "And my very own elder sister" I rested my gaze on Sabrina. "But no, you guys just chose to ignore me like always"

I don't know if it was my eyes or it really happened but I think I saw some sense of guilt in my mother's eyes. My father and Sabrina though had a passive look on their face so I couldn't tell if they really cared at the moment.

"Salma was the only person that was there for me—" I wasn't able to finish my sentence because Sabrina cut me off.

"And she has been through so many things too yet you didn't see her end up the way you did?" she stated as if everything is my fault.

I inhaled deeply and exhaled counting from one to three before I replied knowing if I had replied at that time, I might say something I will not regret later. Just saying. But still. "Salma was the only person that was there for me" I repeated, much more calmly and slowly, "And because she saw the position I was in, she thought of helping me the only way she got over her own problems"

My father's eyes widened in realization and it took my mother a second for her to understand it. However, Sabrina, as slow as always, didn't understand.

My father was the first to speak, "Kulsum are you saying what I think you're saying?" he asked, and I think everyone in the room could detect the anger in his tone. I wonder why he's angry though, he's no better in this case.

"No" my mother shook her head, "It can't be. She is your best friend"

"Was" I corrected her quickly. I didn't like that girl's name being said as my best friend because she was never the best friend. "She was my best friend. Not anymore. Not after what she did"

"She introduced you to drugs?" my father asked as if he can't believe his words. I don't blame him though. I won't too have had I not been in the position I am because of the role she played.

I nodded but just like always, Sabrina was against me.

"You can't actually believe her right?" she asked staring at our parents in disbelief, "Dad!" she called out our dad who looked like he believe me, "If she this then why didn't she end up the way Kulsum did? You know everything Kulsum says is a lie. You can trust her"

"That's true" my mom agreed to what Sabrina said.

Sabrina sighed, "Thank you!"

"That's not what I mean" she sent Sabrina a glare, "However, if what you are saying is right, then why didn't Salma end up the way you do?"

"Why don't you ask her yourself" I said calmly because I know they are already having a hard time believing me. They won't believe anything I say if I let it all out at once.

"I don't believe you" Sabrina said glaring at me.

I looked at her giving her a quickly once over, "That's your problem not mine"

Silence filled up the room that had no many emotions thick in the air. My father was the one that broke that silence, "We're sorry Kulsum" he said making me laugh lowly humorlessly.

I stood up from the chair I was sitting on, my gaze still on them and I could feel my eyes tearing up at the thought of what I lost, "yeah well your sorry won't help change anything" I said lowly before I made my way out of the room. Non one stopped me because they knew I had been through so much already all in one day.

Once I reached my room I let the tears fall. I cried for everything that happened. I cried for what I lost that made me like this. I cried because for the first time in my life, I let what I've held in for so long out.

I cried for my son that I might never get to see again.

~*~

HER SON!

Yup, this is what this is all about...her son.

Alright, just a couple more secrets to be revealed.

Five chapters left, get your tissues ready, we're saying goodbye to dearest Kulsum and the others...

Might update three chapters tomorrow again then two on Friday and boom! We're done.

Share, comment and vote please. Let's at least reach 5k by the time we're done kay? Help this girl out.

Also, i'm not putting this book on Okadabooks for now, I'm panning on publishing it in paperback in shaa Allah. So....who's excited for that? I know I am!!

Next book is VEILED! Yes, it's coming real soon.

Love, Jannah.