KULSUM'S POV.

That's what this is all about.

Three years ago, I had my son taken away from me and I've never seen him ever since then. They all claimed that he's dead but I don't believe them. And by 'they' I mean my family, my husband and his family.

You're probably wondering where my husband is and what's the situation between us right?

We got divorced a few days after the day they all stood me up which was a day after my son was kidnapped.

I will be lying if I say back then I didn't wish that he'd actually care.

But who am I kidding? Up till date none of them even tried to bring up the topic again after they claimed that he died. I wondered how they could say something that casual as if they were talking about the weather.

It's my son we're talking about.

I can't just 'get over it'. No one can ever get over the loss of a child just like that, we just never do.

You know why it hurts? It hurts because I had my one-year-old boy taken away from me and none of my family members, my husband, and his family seem to care that much about it because they were busy. I've never needed support in my life as I did back then, but I never got it.

So how do you expect me to turn out? How do you expect me to love and care about them? Just how?

That was why when Salma gave me that drug on that day, I took it. I took the drug to forget everything that's going on in my life at the moment. I thought since I had drugs, everything will be alright but I was mistaken. Something else hit me unexpectedly. And that was what made me who I am.

Why should I care about anyone again? What's there for me to live for when I've lost everything that matters to me?

I sighed and sniffed wiping my tears with my palms. I reached my hand out and opened the cabinet that I kept both letters that I got. I ignored the second one and picked up the first one. I didn't bother to close the cabinet as I slipped on the floor and placed the envelope in front of me. Pushing the tip open, I slid my hands into it and brought out the content.

My lips stretched into a smile as I gazed at it. This is the only I have now that keeps me going because it is a proof that I might not have lost everything yet.

It's a picture of my boy. He's alive.

~*~

I darted my tongue out to moisturize my chapped lips as I rubbed my hands together. I raised my head and looked around to see the people that are so alike me in so many ways yet so different. Even if I die now, at least I got to understand that I'm not alone in this world. There are a lot like me.

I spotted Laura under one of the trees with her back on the bark of the tree. Her knees were pulled up to her chest while she stares into space whilst playing with a stone in her hand. She didn't see me yet so I made my way towards her.

"Hey" I said as I sat in front of her Indian style. I pushed the hood of my hoodie back as I settled my gaze on her.

She moved her gaze to me and when she realized it was me, her lips stretched into a small smile. She didn't say anything but rather just kept staring at me and as if something clicked in her, she shook her head, "I guess your therapy was bad" When she saw my eyes narrowed at her, she must've understood the question I wanted to ask even before I voiced it out, "It's written all over your face"

I shook my head massaging my temples with my fingers, "You really need to learn how to shut it when it comes to some things" I muttered but I knew she heard me.

She shrugged and chuckled. I couldn't help but just stare at her. How comes someone like her chuckle at a time like this. I'm not saying she shouldn't laugh but no matter how much she tries to hide it, there's always this glint of pain in her eyes I could never overlook. "Are you okay?" I said it before I could even think about it. I couldn't help it though. The bags underneath her eyes looks more prominent now, a dark ugly shade of black and there was something I couldn't exactly point a finger at.

It's strange.

She stopped chuckling at look at me, her lips setting downwards before she shook her head, "Don't worry about me. Worry about yourself" she said with a small grin on her face.

I wondered what up with her and the cheery attitude today. She's not normally like this. But I don't have time to dwell on that. The questions in me left me unsettled.

"You know what?" she spoke up making me snap out of my train of thoughts.

I looked at her, one of my brows raised in apprehension, "What?"

"Family is for life" I couldn't stop myself from rolling my eyes and looking away, "You can't run from it Kulsum"

"I didn't run away from them, did I?"

She sighed, "I get that what they did to you was wrong but you have a brother, a sister, a father and a mother. Do you know how many people wish they could give everything they have just to get that?" I didn't answer, and so, she continued, "No matter how bad the situation is, your family are the only people that will always be there for you. Yes, they might miss so many things that are important to you but at the end of the day, they are still family"

"Can you stop all these please Laura? I'm not here for you to lecture me about my family" I didn't intend to sound rude, but I did, and I do not regret it. "I don't know you, but you know me which is why we're here. You said you'll give me the answers I want"

Even though she didn't say it, I know she wanted to say more but decided against it. "Go ahead. Ask away" she waved off as she leaned back on the tree bark and closed her eyes.

"How do you know who I am?"

"Small world" was her curt answer.

"That's not the answer I was looking for" I'm trying my possible best not to lose my calm but if she will reply to all my questions like this, then what's the point of being here in the first place.

"Well it's what you got. Deal with it"

"Are you going to answer all my questions like this?" I didn't bother to hide the irritation in my tone and much to her pleasure, she smiled. I guess she enjoyed seeing me worked up like this.

"Possibly" she still didn't open her eyes nor moved from the position she's in.

I nodded as I huffed slightly, "Then I guess I'm wasting my time here" I stood up and fixed my hoodie. As I turned and was about to walk away, she spoke up.

"You know for someone who was once a doctor you sure do have two things"

I didn't turn, but I answered, "Which is?"

"A bad memory and a short temper" she chuckled because again, she found this entertaining I suppose, "Sit down. I'll answer your questions"

I turned around and saw her sitting upright now, her eyes opened and a small smile on her lips, "Sit if you want answers" she repeated.

I sighed and sat back down again. If she will answer my question then I'd rather sit and endure all that she will throw at me, "How do you know me?"

"You and I met before...you know, when you were still a doctor and all" she replied. "Should I be surprised or hurt that you don't remember me?"

I shrugged, "I've met a lot of people in my life, it's hard to keep track"

She nodded, "Okay then. Next question"

I thought of what I'd ask next amongst the dozens of questions I have, "Who else knows about my identity"

Her brows furrowed as she seemed to be in thought, "No one that I know of. Trust me, I know how to keep my mouth shut"

"So you've known who I am all this while. Why didn't you say anything since?"

She shrugged as she puckered her lips slightly, "I don't know...I guess I waited to see if you'll recognize me or not before I make a move"

I didn't say anything afterwards as I contemplated on the next question I'll ask. I don't know if it's safe for me to ask her this but she seems to know a lot so it won't harm anyone, hopefully, "Were you the one that sent me that letter?"

She blinked slowly, her lips stretching into a smile, "Which one" her voice came out low. And I didn't know if I should find that creepy or not.

"You know about them all?" she nodded but didn't say a word more, "How?"

"I have my ways Kulsum. Leave it like this" I wasn't so sure about that but what she said next made me forget about that, "If you're talking about the one about your son, then yes Kulsum, I was the one that sent you that"

"Why?"

"Because if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have what is most precious to me in this world, my daughter"

Her daughter? I don't know why but it was then that something clicked in me, "Wait...are you?"

"Yes Kulsum. I'm that drug addict that her husband died as a result of overdose"

~*~

So...i'm tired of starting sentences with 'so' sha!

Anyways, Laura is that woman...

I love Laura sha, she's my second favorite person in the book, after Zayn that is.

Four more chapters to go.

Love, Jannah.