Yasmeen's POV

I wake up with a fever. My face feels hot, maybe because I spent all night crying my eyes out. I'm relieved that he didn't come back to look for me because I knew that I wouldn't have been able to fight him.

I sit up from my bed suddenly feeling nauseous. I grab a bottle of water beside my bed and chugged it down. I still wasn't feeling better. Before I knew what was going on, I run to the bathroom spilling out my guts. My empty stomach feels like it's on fire, my head keeps spinning and the burning in my chest doesn't want to go away.

I stand up but almost fall. I feel so weak. What is happening to me? I remember that I haven't had anything to eat since yesterday's breakfast. I don't feel like going to work today, I think I'll stay home.

I drag myself down to the stairs and into the kitchen. I halt in my tracks. My husband was sitting on the dining table drinking a cup of coffee. Wasn't he supposed to be at work? I purposely do not wake up until I'm sure that he has left and I'm glad that he doesn't try to wake me up.

"Why are you standing there like a zombie? I'm hungry." He barks.

I recover from my trance and without saying a word to him, I started moving around the kitchen. I truly do not have the strength to cook anything, I still feel dizzy.

"I'm sorry I'm not feeling so well today." I say timidly.

"And so?" He raises an eyebrow.

"Can I microwave yesterday's rice for you?"

He drops the mug of coffee he's holding and stares right into my face and says calmly. "Do I look like someone who eats leftovers?"

I shake my head. I'm boiling inside. I truly do not recognize myself anymore. The old Yasmeen would never let a man put his hands on her, the old Yasmeen would never let a man downgrade her but this new Yasmeen was just a coward. The new Yasmeen takes everything that is being dished out to her. The new Yasmeen is broken.

To avoid a confrontation that would lead to him losing his temper and using his fists, I begin to peel some potatoes to fry. I can still feel his gaze on my back and it makes the hairs on my back stand. He terrifies me in a way I cannot begin to explain. I knew he wasn't a good person but I thought he actually liked me.

After Yazeed disappeared and I succumbed to my faith of marrying Salman, I genuinely wanted to give him a chance. And I did. I tried my best and he was loving at first but when I was unresponsive sometimes, or when I became sad thinking about Yazeed, he began to resent me. He began to resent me for not being able to love him, for loving someone else instead of him.

There was a time I mistakenly called him Yazeed and that was the first time he hit me. I wasn't expecting it. I was dumbfounded but I couldn't blame him at that point. I disrespected him by calling another man's name. So I let that slide because he apologized. He told me how would I feel if someone I love loves somebody else? How would I feel if the person I loved called another man's name in her dreams? I felt bad. I apologized to him because I knew I wasn't being fair to him.

Life continued. I tried to forget about Yazeed amd focus on my marriage. What is done is done, Salman was my destiny not Yazeed so I decided to make peace with that but I just couldn't.

The beating started little by little, a shove here, a punch there, a kick to the side, breaking vases. And I took all of it, because I felt like I deserved it but I know that I don't. Nothing justifies a man beating his wife, nothing!

I'm about to start frying the chips when a wave of dizziness hit me and I had to stagger back. The bowl of potatoes fell and made a splash with water pouring everywhere. Salman stands up angrily, shoving the chair so violently I flinch.

"You're such a spoilt little brat! Frying chips has become an extreme sport. Just this small thing you cannot do. What the hell is wrong with you?!"

The veins on his neck were popping, I already knew what was coming next but it still didn't make it any easier. He kicks me hard on my stomach. I fall to the ground holding tightly to my stomach, the pain was excruciating. I raise my hand to tell him to stop but he kept kicking and kicking me. Everywhere hurts. I stop fighting while he continues to unleash his anger on me.

I start to feel my body give out. The darkness is so tempting. My vision begins to blur and before I knew it, everything went black.

***

My eyes flutter open. The white lights are blinding. I raise my hands to shade myself from the light. There's an IV line on my hand. Memories begin to resurface. There's a movement at my side.

"Oh Alhamdullilah, she's awake, call the doctor." It was Ummi. I hear someone rush out but I still could not open my eyes.

"What happened?" I croak. "How long have I been here?"

"Shh, don't talk. You fell down the stairs. Ya Salman said you were feeling dizzy and he told you to stay in bed but you insisted on moving around. And then you fell. Why are you so stubborn Yas? You almost lost the-"

She didn't complete her sentence when the doctor came in followed by Salman. I stiffened when I saw him. I begin to remember how he kicked and kicked me with no remorse. Like he was being possessed by the devil himself. He stood there communicating with his eyes that I should not say anything. I turn my head away from him while the doctor walked towards me.

"How are you feeling today Yasmeen?" She asks with kind eyes. The tag on her labcoat read Dr Abdullahi. She was fair and looked to be not a year or more older than me. I suddenly felt at ease with her.

"Everywhere hurts.." I say.

She nods as if she was expecting that answer. She checks my vitals and writes something down on her notepad.

"That is expected, the fall was quite..damaging, you have a few broken ribs and some bruises, with time you'll be better." The way she said damaging, as if she didn't quite believe the story of me falling down the stairs.

I nod. I remember that Ummi said I almost lost something. I turn to the doctor. "Is there anything else?"

"Yes," She looks blankly at Salman then to me. "You're lucky the baby isn't hurt. You have to be really careful."

I gasp, unable the believe what I just heard. "T-the wh-what?" I stammer.

"Oh I'm sorry, I thought you knew. You're two months pregnant." I look at her in horror. I turn to see Salman's reaction but his face was blank. Ummi was holding a smile. She whispered. "I'm going to be an aunt." My head was starting to spin.

Dr Abdullahi looks at me sadly, like she wants to say something more but she says nothing. "I'll leave you with your family, I'll come check up on you later. You'll have to stay in the hospital for a few more days so we can monitor you and the baby."

I don't answer her. With one blank look at Salman, Dr Abdullahi left.

I'm still in disbelief. "Please I want to be alone." I whisper to them. Ummi looks at me worriedly. "Are you okay?"

"Please?" She nods, squeezes my hand and leaves.

Salman was still standing looking at me. I couldn't decipher the look in his eyes. He leaves without a word, no apology, no reaction. The reality of the news set in. I hold my stomach, thinking of the life that was growing in there. I feel terrified to bring this innocent being into this world. A world where its father had already tried killing it.

A fierce wave of protectiveness hit me. The feeling was so overwhelming. I rub my stomach gently, lovingly. "I'm going to protect you, I promise. No one's going to hurt you in sha Allah. I'll protect you."

I feel determined. This child is going to be my purpose. This child is going to give me hope, the reason to keep going. It's going to be me and my child against the world. I'll protect this baby, no matter what it takes. Salman took my life away, but he's not going to take my baby's life away. Never!

***

A/N: Wheww that was intense! Awaiting your thoughts and reactions. Vote and comment pleaaaseee?🥺

And I'm sorry for the loong wait. Life happened.😅
How are you guys keeping busy in this 'lockdown' ?  Learning anything new? Reading anything interesting? Watching anything new? I'd love to know. See you guys soon,hopefully.❤️