I looked around the safe house in confusion. It was much emptier than the last one I had been in.

Right after The Day of Ashes, there was a huge rush into all the safe houses and in order to keep the people they had already accepted safe they had to accept only one person at a time. If the safe houses are too full, they are bound to attract attention and get everyone inside killed.

I sighed. I wondered what Malak was doing right now. Maybe she was selling chocolates to our enemies. Or dying her hair a peachy blonde...

"Assalamu Alaykom (Peace be with you), sister." a small voice coughed.

"Walaykom Assalam (and with you be peace) little brother." I smiled. The cute little brown haired boy approached me. He had beautiful greyish eyes and he looked kind of nervous. I just wanted to eat him up, he was so cute! I pulled him up onto my lap.

"What's your name little guy?"

"I'm Abdul-Karim and I'm a big boy," he giggled and my heart wrenched as I remembered my love for little kids.

"Of course you are! I bet you take real good care of everyone here, right?" 

"Yeah, that's why I come to thay hi! What's your name?" I noticed his lisp and almost died from his adorableness.

"I'm Zahra. Do you have any family here?" I caressed his head gently. He frowned and his eyes filled with tears.

"No. My mommy left me here. She thaid she'd be right back. But her and Baba never came back." I felt my tears streaming for him. Abdul-Karim wiped my tears away with his little hands.

"It's okay," he smiled weakly. "I'll meet them in Jannah just like Allah promised." My heart skipped a beat. Such a beautiful little boy who had lost everything yet his iman (faith) in Allah was probably stronger than mine.

"How old are you?"

"I'm 5 and three quarters." He smiled proudly, revealing a missing tooth. I chuckled and kissed him on the forehead. He smiled sweetly. He slowly analyzed my face, deep in thought. How could a 5 year old be so wise? The Hunters had taken away his childhood, taken away his family, his sense of safety, and for what?

Abdul-Karim tapped my shoulder. I grinned at him, still completely fascinated by his personality, by his faith. I couldn't believe anyone could have such an understanding at such a young age. He stood up and took my hands into his.

"Will you be my new mommy?"

I gasped in surprise. But there was no turning back now. This little boy had taken grip on my heart in the mere five minutes that I had seen him. Besides, I was 18 I could take care of another person right? I slowly inched his hands onto my lips and kissed them gently.

"Of course." 

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It was dinner time at the safe house and little Abdul-Karim was pulling me towards the large table. Tonight, like most nights they were serving fish. But this stuff looked good! It was some sort of Moroccan dish where the fish was stuffed with all sorts of veggies and it smelled like heaven. It was so nice not having to scavenge for food Alhamdulilah (All thanks to Allah). Abdul-Karim inhaled the delicious scent and I tickled him, making him double over in laughter. I found us a small table and told him to sit while I got us both food. He sat patiently while I dished us out some of the yummy stuff. I couldn't have asked for a better kid. I remembered the ayah in the Quran that said "With all hardship comes ease." I smiled to myself. Thank you Allah for this beautiful five year old blessing.

I set the plates down and Abdul-Karim dug into the food like a hungry monster. I giggled and took a bite.

"Wha'?" he asked with a mouthful of fish.

"Abdul-Karim, did you even say Bismillah (In the name of Allah)?" I raised my eyebrows playfully.

He smiled sheepishly, "No... Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Rahim (In the name of Allah Most Gracious Most Merciful). Oh Allah, thank you for this food and thank you for my new mommy." I looked at him, my heart so full of love, I thought I might just explode into a million pieces. Allah's mercy upon us continues to astonish me. And with that beautiful thought I dug in.

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I took my little angel to one of the small rooms and laid him upon the shabby couch. I grabbed the shawl from around my neck and wrapped him in it. He yawned quietly. I started to get up to walk away.

"Zahra?"

"Yes habibi (my love)?"

"Do you have any family left?"

I smiled at him carefully, "Yes. I have a twin sister. Her name is Malak."

"Where is she?" 

"She should be here by Friday InshAllah. She had to do something before she came." 

"Is she nice?"

"Of course!" I let out a little giggle thinking of Malak's sarcastic attitude. I sat down in a small rocking chair beside the couch.

"Hey Zahra?"

"Mhm?"

"Will you tell me about your family?"

"Ummm..." I looked down at my hands, unsure of how to answer.

"Please? I just want to know what a family is like."

I looked at him in sadness. I guess it couldn't hurt. "Ok... My mother was a beautiful young woman. Her and Baba had gotten married when they were 18 years old. Baba was a doctor and Mama was a teacher. She used to teach Arabic at our little school by Bet Hanina-"

"Where's that?"

"It's a place in Palestine." I smiled sadly, "I don't think it exists anymore. Anywho, we lived a simple life, but a happy one. We spent much time at the masjid and with our other families. And Malak and I were 16, my mommy had a surprise for us. A little baby boy was added to our family by the name of Abdul-Salam. He had strawberry blonde hair and green eyes... But we lost him and our parents on the Day of Ashes." Tears streaked my dirty face as I recollected the images of my family strewn across the soil of my homeland like garbage. Abdul-Karim pulled me into a tight hug. 

"It's okay, Zahra, we can be a new family." I kissed him on the cheek. How had such a precious treasure brought into my life? With this little angel in my arms, we slept.

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"ABDUL-KARIM! ABDUL-KARIM!" I awoke with a start. I looked at the ragged clock on the wall. It was just passed 7:30. Who was calling him? Abdul-Karim sat up, rubbing his eyes.

"ABDUL-KARIM!" the voice called again. My little boy grabbed my hand and he ran, dragging me along until we found the kitchen. 

"Rasheed!" Abdul-Karim exclaimed. "Zahra, this is my new Baba! Rasheed this is Zahra my new Mama!" It looked like he had been out of the safe house. He must have been one of the fisherman. He took off his hat so he could properly introduce himself. It wasn't until that second that I got a good look at his face. I gasped.

No freaking way.