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Layla made it her mission to visit Khadijah everyday for the past two weeks, though most of the time was spent in silence, they would watch a movie once in a while but that was it.

Khadijah decided after Layla's visit night before to let herself heal and not fall back in the same pattern of pain that she'd been doing everyday for the past weeks.

It was going to be hard, that she was sure of, and when she woke up in the middle of the night drenched in sweat reliving the pain, it affirmed her that she was right, it wouldn't be easy, that was why she didn’t tell anyone because they'll force her to go back to therapy, she knew it wouldn't help and a relapse wasn't something she was looking up to.

She walked out of her room and to the kitchen, she made her usual black coffee and sat back watching her mother cook.

Seeing how much food her mother was making, she wanted to ask if they were feeding an army but refrained remembering her mother liked to cook sometimes and just give it out as sadaqah. (charity)

She'd helped package the food then went and took her bath, she told her mother she was going out, hajiya Ladidi was too happy she was stepping out she didn’t even ask where she was going, it was probably to Layla's or one of her sisters, well a specific one anyways, she knew it would take a while before she went back to normal with Baraka.

It was when Khadijah was in the car that she realized she should've picked a specific place to visit, she would've loved to go and see Sadiya but she wasn't quite in the mood for her nieces and nephew, and Layla told her she had an impromptu trip to the Abuja, she would be back in the evening, with no course she set for the nearest supermarket deciding she should treat herself and get something for Sadiya, her baby was due in a few months.

She was in the baby clothes section when her heart involuntarily lurched, she stopped to catch her breath keeping the two onesies she held, mentally counting to ten to control her breathing that was coming out in pants, not knowing why she suddenly felt suffocated, she moved to the wall and rested her back against it, she tried the breathing exercises again and this time it worked, when she was sure she could stand on her feet, she decided to leave the place altogether.

“The blue is better.” she couldn't mistake the voice, she knew that voice!

She walked faster wanting to escape from the nightmare because it had to be a nightmare and in her haste to leave she bumped into someone, she muttered a sorry at least she thought she did though she wasn't sure. Her vision blurred making her surrounding seem hazy as she pushed the person.

“Khadijah?” she froze, it wasn't a question she knew.

Instinctively she stepped back, only then realizing she’d shut her eyes, maybe she actually was dreaming, you dream with your eyes closed right?

“Khadijah.” she couldn't mistake the voice, she's heard it each and every day for the past two weeks, embedding itself in her memory anew, like she'd ever forgotten.

She felt someone shake her which breaking her from her trance, she looked up at the bane of her existence and shivered, out of fear definitely, it felt all too familiar.

It was probably a mistake on her part to show fear, like a predator he smells fear and loved it, he loved the chase, she reminded herself.

“Fancy seeing you here.” his voice was deeper, more gruff than it was before now that she's paying attention, she didn't reply.

“Love, who is this?” a feminine voice asked.
She wanted to shake his arm that was on hers, she didn’t pay attention to the woman as she was still frozen.

She needed to get out of there, a second longer and her she'll start shaking and probably find herself in the hell that had taken almost everything in her to leave.

“My wife.” Suleiman muttered, bile rose up in her throat from that comment but she didn't contradict him.

“What do you mean your wife?” the woman let out a-was it nervous laughter?

“My first wife.” he elaborated, she didn't realize he was still holding her hands until his grip tightened.

Khadijah willed her lips to move, for her voice to work so she can scream to the world she wasn't his wife, she'll never ever be his wife again but her mouth and body betrayed her and the only thing she was able to do was squeeze her eyes and hope a miracle would happen and somehow she'll find herself in the safety of her bed, knowing her mother was right next door because no matter how her mother was, she was still her mother and her mere presence exudes peace.

“Aren't you divorced?” she could hear their voices but she couldn’t understand what they were saying too engrossed in trying to get her limbs to function.

“No!” she didn't know how but she yanked her arms out of his, ignoring the pain she and discomfort she felt because the pain was nothing compared to the torment and distress she was sure she would feel later when it all comes back, the former would be more or less a feather’s caress.

How she got to the parking lot was the last thing on her mind as she rummaged through her bag with trembling hands trying to find her car keys, she wasn’t in a state to drive but she’d take that over being in the same place with him.

A sudden wave of dizziness made Khadijah rest against a car she hoped was hers, she only registered the dark paint on it as she tried to compose herself enough to drive, driving into a wall was not on her bucket list, she already had enough problems it wouldn’t be wise to add to them.

“Do you need help?” she jumped when she heard a voice beside her, with the little ounce of strength she had she managed and shook her head no, thinking whoever it was has left she changed position so her back was resting against the car. Her eyes snapped open when she felt someone’s breath on her face.

“Let me help you there.” The same voice spoke sounding sultry voice, her eyes widened at the man who was standing too close for comfort.

She moved back something digging into her back but she didn’t care trying to put distance between them, he moved closer his eyes raking her whole body, her stomach twisted in disgust.

“Why are you so scared? I just want to talk to you.” she shook her head no again, not sure what she was even doing.

His hands reached out and grasped her arms and she heard a yelp probably from her.

Please please please, she chanted in her head, prayers tripping over themselves in her head.

She didn't know what she heard first, the thud or the grunt but she heard something and suddenly the hand holding hers was gone and she could hear people’s indistinct chatter and a few gasps.

Khadijah felt her throat closing up again and she was panting, desperately look for air.

“Stop standing there and get me water.” someone yelled.

Arms wrapped around her again this time she was against someone’s chest because of the fast beating of what she presumed was his heart, or hers she wasn’t sure. She ignored that though as she fought against the unfamiliar touch, her attempts at freeing herself were futile as she felt herself being pulled, they sat probably because she felt something solid beneath her.

“Here,” the tip of a bottle was against her lips, her body moved without permission as she took huge gulps, “Be careful.”

He removed the bottle and they sat in silence for what felt like forever.

Slowly, her vision started clearing and her breathing evened gradually as her heart beat returned back to normal.

A wave of exhaustion washed over her and the only thing she wanted was her bed and comforter, maybe a hot cup of black coffee again or her Umma's hot cocoa and pancakes, pancakes, that's good, it's been a while since she had pancakes, Maybe umma will even make waffles and then she'll-

“Are you okay?” Khadijah looked up abruptly because she's forgotten where she was or that she had company, she was looking at him but her eyes weren't focused on him.

“Do you want more water?” she shook her head. He didn't say anything for a while before breaking the silence, “What's your name?” that's when she heard it, the familiarity of the voice, she focused her gaze on his face, she's seen him somewhere but she couldn't remember where, he was still looking at her like he was waiting for something, she remembered he asked her a question.

“Khadijah.” her voice was a little whisper.

“Farhan, do you remember me?” she didn't miss a beat before nodding.

“I'm glad you do, I'm famished, come on let's go and get something to eat.” he stood up, then waited for her to get to her feet, when he was sure that she could stand on her own, he led her to small inn close to the supermarket, they were both as they walked.

They sat at a table for two, she was glad the place was empty.

“I think I'm going to buy a cape, I kind of like this hero thing.” he joked after waving her off when she thanked him, Khadijah smiled beside herself, grateful to Allah that sent him because she knew it was Him who did it for her.

******
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Just a small notification, this will be the shortest chapter till further notice because I've been writing really loooonnnnggggg chapters, I'm talking 4k words plus these days, yeah I'm proud of me too.

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Till the next update

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Amyrah