Published: Sunday, September 20 2015 2:55 am

Edited:

        Can you all please check out my other story? (Her Muslim Driver)

Ayah:
August 20th

         New York!

         I wheeled my suitcase out of the airport to wait for a cab. All I'm seeing is the airports surroundings--planes and all that. Nothing too exciting. But, hopefully, when I get to the upper east side I'll have better luck with scenery. I don't really care, I'm just happy to be here. I never thought I would leave. I never thought I would leave the town I cherished my whole life, the place I grew up. I love Riverside, more than I should I suppose. But it's the only home I've ever known. I didn't have everyone I wanted there, like my father and husband. But I was still home.

        No matter how far you travel, home will always be home.

        "Taxi!"

         I heard people hollering all up and down the sidewalk. It seemed so easy for them to do this. Being from a town where you can literally walk everywhere--I've never done this type of thing. I guess it's a first time for everything...

       "Excuse me Taxi!" I called, waving my hand like the other people. I probably look like a sight waving my arms around. Just when I thought one was coming my way, I turned my head to check the time on my watch, and in that little window, someone took the Taxi!

       "You snooze you lose."

       I turned around to the voice, and came to a stop when I saw who it was. A girl with dark brown hair and bright blue eyes sat on a bench, a newspaper in her hand. When she noticed I was looking at her, she raised the newspaper in the air.

        "You would think after all the electronics they wouldn't sell this newspaper anymore, but they do." She then stood up and walked towards me with her hand out to shake.

       "The names Tahlia, but I only answer to Lee. And by the look on your face, you're wondering why I'm so welcoming."

       I nodded slightly.

        "I guess you can say that..."

        Lee let out a low chuckle and stuck two fingers in her mouth and whistled. Seconds later, a taxi appeared in front of us.

      "Okay, Mrs. Ibrahim. This is New York so let's move quickly."

       "Wait!" I stopped her before she could climb in the Taxi. "You know my name... How exactly?"

       "From the information you sent the Academy. I'm your guide for the first couple of weeks. You know, so you won't get lost or something."

        I eyed her warily, wondering if I should trust her. She doesn't look like your personal guide, with her leather attire and carefree bad girl attitude.

         "I'm not gonna kidnap you or anything. But, I would if I wanted a ransom from your sexy husband."

        I was stunned. I wasn't expecting to meet anyone new until at least tomorrow at the Academy, not alone trust the girl in black whom is claiming to be my guide and possible kidnapper.

        "Like I said before. This is New York. Move quickly."

       I snapped out of my questioning thoughts to do something I never would have done before.

        I got in the taxi.

-*-

        "Welcome to the east side," Lee smiled, looking out the window to the place I'll be living for who knows how long.

       "To the left we have the housing for the Academy students, and the right is for the staff."

       "So I will be staying there?" I asked and she nodded, keeping her eyes on the building we just stopped in front of.

       "To make it easier for me to show you around, we will be sharing a housing apartment. You will have to pay a small amount to stay here, only about $150 at most, but it's easier to do it this way. When I first arrived and wanted to live on my own, I had to take a cab forty-five minutes away to come to work."

       Lee then took out some money to pay the guy before getting out. The whole apartment complex took over a huge section of the block. It's a red bricked building with white windows. The pathway is  marble, with people walking up and down. Some reading, some writing and others talking. It's basically college.

        "Anderson!" Lee called to a blonde girl sitting on the stepsً reviewing some paper. She came forward with a smile on her face.

        "Hey, Lee. I see you found the new employee."

       Lee rolled her eyes and pointed to me.

        "Yes, Anderson. Ayah is the new assistant to Elizabeth."

       "How exciting," She smiled and turned towards me, her green eyes sparkling with amusement.

       "Don't worry about Elizabeth. She is a hard-ass when it comes to filing and stuff like that. But she's decent..."

-*-

        After Anderson, AKA Isabella informed me on the does and donts of the Academy, Lee took me to our shared apartment. It's bigger than what I thought I was going to get. I didn't even think I was going to get housing. When I came up with the idea to call the Academy after Jafar...

        Well, after that incident, I didn't even process what I was doing before I picked up the phone and dialed. I just wanted to get away. I wanted to find something other than problems and drama in my life. The Academy was a risk I took because I wanted to know that I could. I wanted to see if they wanted me, and they did. But when certain things happened, this was my only escape.

         "...Ayah are you still there?"

       I shook my head out of my thoughts and continued to put my clothes away.

       "Yes, Mama."

         She let out a low sigh and continued talking.

        How's New York? Did you make it alright? Did you pack everything? Are you--"

        I let out a chuckle.

          "I'm fine, Mama. New York is beautiful and so is the Academy. I start tomorrow morning. I feel like I'm jet lagged."

       She was quiet on the other end, more than likely keeping something from me.

        "Mama what's wrong?"

         She let out a deep sigh. That does not sound good.

         "The doctors say my condition is getting worse."

         That was enough to stop my worrying and have me focus on the task at hand. I can't say this wasn't a thought of mine. It was one thing to leave Mama alone, but another when she has bipolar disorder. She has been doing so well in the last few weeks that I didn't think it was a problem. But now that I think of it, I was the reason why she was okay. The company I mean. But now she's alone with no one there with her.

         Sure she had friends and relatives nearby, but they're not with her all the time to where she doesn't feel alone.

         "Have you been taking your medication? Because the doctor said--"

        "I know what the doctor said," She cut me off. "Even if I take my medication, I still feel like it's not helping. But I don't want to get into this!"

       "Mama..."

         "No!" She exclaimed, and I could imagine her pacing. "We're not talking about me. We're talking about your journey to New York and how excited you are about your first day."

        Even though I didn't want to, I went along with the subject change. I need to figure out a plan, soon.

-*-

Jafar:

         "She just needs to cool off, Jafar. Give it some time before you open up wounds again."

        I don't know how I can do any more damage. After what happened that night, I doubt I'll ever get Ayah to forgive me. I wouldn't forgive me! But her leaving really got me. It made me realize that I broke her. I have hurt her way more than I should have ever thought, made her cry, made her hate me, but never leave. She never left.

       But now she did. Because I put her through so much pain, she had to escape me.

         "Even if I give her years, I don't think she'll ever forgive me."

        He shook his head with a sigh and looked outside to his hotel. We finally arrived about thirty minutes ago, and now it's time for business. So Much for the business we're about to do. Sleep is the first on the list. That and taking some aspirin for the headache I have.

       "Listen, kid. You have made mistakes that seem unforgettable but aren't. Just remember to think before you go ahead and try to fix things. Make sure that you have everything in order before you do and say something you don't mean."

        Despite all of that, I smiled at him.

        "And you say I channel my inner Shakespeare?"

        "Just think before you do," He then got out the car and grabbed his suitcase from the driver. "You heard me right?"

       "Yeah," I nodded. "Think before I do."

        "Perfect. Follow that and you'll be fine. Salaam, Jafar."

        "Wa Alaikum Salaam."

-*-

         Short and boring but I had to give you guys something.

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