Imentet
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"What is wrong with you?"

Ada's furious tone only made him feel worse. Her voice was louder than it ever had been in years. He finally drove her over the edge.

"You told our young girl to stab herself with an arrow?" Hearing her recall his actions made it impossible to respond. "I know she's not making this up. She loves you too much to lie about you. But you're teaching her suicide?"

Maalik didn't answer. He just leaned against the indoor walls of his home with his head lowered, a crestfallen look plaguing his face. Only a single wicked candle softly illuminated the room in an orange glow.

"Did our visit to Amun's temple teach you nothing? How could you conceive of committing such a despicable and vile act against her?"

"I didn't mean to." He had no other excuse.

"You screamed at her, talked down on her and treated her like an insect! Look me in the eyes and tell me that you didn't mean to abuse our young daughter and traumatize her."

Maalik never dared to look into her eyes, he couldn't bear it. He knew what happened, he remembered every last detail. But what confused him were the emotions that drove him to that point. He didn't know he was capable of abuse, especially against someone he loved so much. What happened in the desert was unintentional, the dominating feeling he experienced pleasured him, but also disgusted him.

"Only a sick, twisted snake would do something like this." She continued to degrade him. "Where is the man I love, the man our daughter relies on?"

"Ada, I'm sorry." The moment he said it, he was slapped harshly across the face. He stumbled back but kept his balance and leaned on the wall for support. There was no use in fighting back, he already knew he deserved it.

"Why?" Her voice cracked from the stress. "I want to understand why this happened. Are you sick? Are you possessed? You love Aisha, sometimes I think you love her more than you do me."

Maalik wished he knew why, but this was beyond his control. "I lost my temper. I swear I didn't mean to, maybe I am sick, but I don't know why this happened."

"You think any sane man would do such a thing when losing their temper? Do you think I should separate your head from your shoulders when I lose my temper? Because I've lost it already, and as much as I wish to do that, I can still see my husband somewhere in your eyes. But you looked at Aisha and only saw a weapon you could use to your advantage."

He stayed quiet, and Ada continued. "I had to hold Aisha in my arms and check her for wounds. Any other woman would have fed you to the crocodiles by now, because it's what abusers like you deserve."

It happened again. Maalik's mind shifted in hostility. He couldn't tolerate any more of this. "Enough of your threats, Ada! I said I'm sorry, and I'll ensure this never happens again for as long as I live. I just wanted her to succeed and learn to stand for us and herself. Get this through your head, because I don't wish to see my only family dead and rotting in the desert. I don't want a repeat of Khemenu. My fear is what controlled me, and I won't let it happen again! What more do you want from me?!"

Ada reached for a suspended shelf on the wall beside them. Maalik hoped she wasn't reaching for a weapon, but his eyes widened when her hands touched the hilt of a flint knife.

"I want you out." She spoke and lifted the knife, its blade pointed right at him. Maalik slowly reached one hand forward in hopes of stopping her. His heart accelerated within him, granting him the adrenaline to take action.

Just as he snatched her hand, she had already swiped the knife and cut deep into his palm and nicked his thumb. He only succeeded in disarming her, though his bleeding stung and forced him to bite his lip.

He shouted to conceal the pain. "Why would you do that?"

With his hands clenched, he wasn't able to defend himself when Ada stepped forward and grasped his earlobe. She tugged it hard, and he yelled from the searing torment. A thrusting motion shoved him back, and Ada continued to push him towards the exit while maintaining her powerful grip on his reddened ear.

"I said I want you out!" If pulling his ear to the verge of nearly tearing it off wasn't bad enough, she focused on yelling into it. "Whether you want to go back to Amun's temple or go fight a horde of invaders and die, you can do so alone!"

Finally, one shove against the hanging leaf in the doorway caused him to tumble and fall. He struggled to stand, his legs whimpering while his injured hand remained clenched. "Ada-"

Her tone lowered. "Don't speak Maalik, just leave. I don't want you to touch me or my daughter again. You crossed a line that I could never forgive, and there are consequences."

"You would banish me out of this family over one mistake? I can understand if I hit her or threatened her, but I never laid a hand on her! Give me a chance to set things right, she's my daughter too."

A tear developed in her eye. "She told me everything, and I know she wouldn't lie about it. You know what you said in that desert. I sincerely hope and pray you cure this sudden madness of yours, but I will not tolerate having you in this house. If this can happen once, it can happen again and all I care for is Aisha's safety. So leave. Just walk away and help yourself."

He wanted to protest again, but Ada already turned her back on him. With nothing left to say, Maalik stood still in the doorway and breathed in the cold air.

It was dark out, as the moon had recently just risen into the night sky. So many stars and constellations were visible. But he didn't care to look at any of them. Instead, he walked to his side, just around the house.

There was a ladder leading to the roof, the one spot he just had to see before leaving. He had to be fast and quiet before Ada would notice. It doesn't matter what she said, he couldn't leave everything behind like this.

Climbing to the roof, he saw her holding on to the miniature pyramid he sculptured for her. Aisha hadn't seen him just yet, rather she stood at the edge and looked out onto the actual magnificent pyramids of Kemet.

But when his quiet footsteps alerted her, she turned her head only to gasp. She scrambled back in fear, his menacing figure in the dark continuing to slowly approach her. He had his hands up, trying his best to calm her down.

Putting a finger down in front of his lips, he used his other hand to signal her to take it easy and sit. She began whimpering, and it seemed like she was about to scream. Yet she never did, and it presented the right opportunity for him. 

He kneeled beside her, keeping his hands to himself to show he won't harm her. Despite wanting to speak everything on his mind, he didn't even know how or where to begin.

Instead, he slowly extended a hand towards her. She was trapped on the roof with nowhere she could possibly go besides falling off behind her. Maalik waited for her to trust him, even if that meant sitting up here all night. But if Ada were to see him now, the situation would only escalate.

Aisha continued to look at him with those frail innocent eyes. Her voice emitted a quiet and fragile question. "Are you going to kill me?"

To hear his own daughter speak those words to him crumbled his heart beyond repair. He already regretted everything he had done in that desert, but this only worsened him. He did this to her, her fear was because of him. Never in his life could he have imagined tormenting his own flesh and blood in that manner. He couldn't bear another second of it, and he looked away from her eyes to focus on the floor beneath them.

When he raised his head and gazed at the distant pyramids, an idea emitted. The stars sparkled above the looming structures, but it could have been because of his watery eyes. He slowly extended a hand to hold the miniature pyramid from her. She resisted, and he reassured her. "I'm not taking it away, I just want to show you something."

Behind them was a large mudbrick that was used as a table. Maalik carefully held Aisha's pyramid and gently set it atop the brick. Then, he gestured her to sit in front of it.

After a brief hesitation, she sat on the floor and faced north. He seated himself beside her, leaning in closer to the pyramid. She scooted away an inch and held her frown.

"Look at it up close, then pay attention to the horizon behind it." He tested it first, following his own instructions as the pyramid took up most of his vision. Then, his eyes darted to the right ever so slightly.

He could spot the real pyramids in the back, the two of them lined directly with Aisha's miniature sculpture. They made it appear as a third tall pyramid beside them.

When he leaned back, he allowed her to try it herself. He watched her carefully, noticing the look in her eyes when she viewed the pyramids.

"You wanted a pyramid, and I gave you one. I want you to remember that, always."

He knelt in place and spread his arms out while maintaining the warmest smile he could form. Aisha watched him in return but never reacted.

"Could I have a hug before I leave?" He whispered and held his position. But she still hadn't moved. "Please?"

Her melancholy eyes stared back at him. She showed no effort to grant what he wanted. Maalik's arms grew weaker, and another tear fell to the floor.

"You don't need to forgive me, Aisha." He struggled to keep all of his emotions from spilling. "But you know that Baba would never hurt you. He loves you, and he only wants one last hug before saying goodbye."

The brief silence that ensued was broken when Ada's voice suddenly called from below. "Aisha! It's time to come down now."

Aisha's head turned towards her mother's voice, and she stood up. Maalik however made one final attempt. "Please."

She looked back for a few seconds as if to give him false hope before she ran for the ladder. Maalik's arms fell, and his head lowered in defeat. He slumped towards the ledge of the roof and paused to rub his eyes. Then, he jumped.

He dropped to the sand on all fours, slowly finding the strength to stand and walk onwards. There was no destination on his mind, but he'd need food and shelter soon.

As his silhouette lingered in the moonlight below the starry night sky, a deep breath entered his lungs.

Determination to set things right flooded his mind against all odds of his success.

He had to find a way.

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Historical Notes:

Many homes in Ancient Egypt were formed using mudbricks. Due to annual floods in the country bringing forth lots of mud, construction was made easier. Mudbricks were shaped into large singular stones that had to be dried in the sun.

Low-class homes were made with one-brick thick walls, whereas higher-class homes had double-thick walls for added security.

Low-class home

Some houses didn't have doors as wood was scarce in Ancient Egypt and could mainly be obtained through imports. Therefore, houses resorted to hanging leaves or one large single leaf, and larger doors were secured with bolts.

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