I have to live with out you
Chapter 24
They arrived at the hotel unpacking their bags, the first day was the most difficult as Arylan saw the grave of her father. She then met the detective who’s been handling their case for years the descriptions given of the mutilation of her father got to her that day...all of a sudden she felt numb and afraid.
“ do you need anything, ” he said handing her a bottle of water.
“ im okay thank you.”
"Are you okay? How do you feel?"
“you want the truth?”
“ of course…”
“im not okay, I honestly don't understand why im going through so much…I know we not suppose to question it, I thought I could take it but…I don’t know anymore.”
“You don’t have to take it, for once being selfish won’t hurt.”
She nodded taking a walk with him.
“ Eric is your name right?” Aleema says opening a bag of chips
“ And yours?”
“Arylans younger sister,” she says frowning
“oh, he says standing…are you okay after…”
“seeing dad's grave, of course, I am. Unlike Arylan it’s not my first time…besides I wasn’t there to witness it luckily.”
“ True, she’s seen a lot. She doesn’t remember though.”
“I hope it stays that way, mother says grandmother had episodes in the beginning…and stuff like that.”
“ true…by the way how old are you?”
“old enough, ” she says leaving the kitchen
Eric smiled meeting up with Aiden and Arylan in the garden. Arylan asked for some alone time, little did she know that if Abdullah found out about her presence in his so-called hiding space she would be done for. She visited the local masjid, her heartfelt empty without the memory meant to back up her gut feeling.
She sat on the bench nearby, it was still in use except for the area where her father was killed. She didn’t know how to feel looking around her at the area where everything was taken away from her. Blinded by her thoughts she was almost hit by a van, quite similar to the one that ended her memory as a child. Her mother holding her in her arms as she watched her eyes gently close.
She woke up with a drip, her condition stabilized. Grandmother was the fairy in her dreams comforting her…from all the hurt she felt. Everyone standing beside her bed as she sat up grabbing a bottle of water that she instantly finished before rushing to the bathroom.
She was afraid of the clarity she finally got after watching the flashing lights of the van, she remembered everything! After washing her face a few times she rushed back hugging her mother and sister, sharing the good news with everyone. Not much of good news, from now on things would be different, she had the memory of her father being killed in front of her, an image that set a fire on the inside of her.
After speaking to the doctor she was booked out, finally, she understood why grandmother kept everything a secret and choose not to remind her. She now felt this burden weighing her down, pulling her into a dark space, breaking her.
“ your a different woman from now on, how are you feeling?”
“im okay, I’m sorry for keeping everyone here till Wednesday..”
“it's okay me and Aiden are basically unemployed right now!”
Aiden slapped Eric, on his back giving him a terrifying look.
“ I already knew Aiden, you should have spoken to me about it before you made that decision.”
Aiden smiled before grabbing Eric by the neck as Alema rushed over to save them.
“ Arylan, you know you can talk to me. You actually look a lot paler and skinner since recovering your memory.”
“Of course it’ll take a while getting used to something that wasn’t there before, Nothing's going to cure itself overnight especially not my broken heart!"
“ now you don’t only have your father watching over you, you have grandmother to, ” Yasmin said
“mother, im grieving for two people at once. Don’t expect me to be okay…and your right, they have my back.”
They arrived home after the trip and life went on, as usual, They continued working through the works of life, the wedding planning went on and Soon Eric was baking with Arylans sister, a new hobby and stress relieving process.
***
“ you’ve gone too far!”
“ Whatever do you mean Timmy, boy?”
“you wanted to run Arylan over a few days ago?”
“Are you stalking her, not even I knew about that?”
“Abdullah watch it, I will, by all means, protect Arylan even if it means committing murder.”
“Biel wouldn’t have liked you being all aggressive.”
“you don’t even deserve to say her name, behave yourself!”
After smashing the possessions in Abdullah's workspace he left. Was he really willing to go overboard just to fulfill the promise he had made to Biel?
Tim sat outside of the school he attended with his four friends, quietly observing the change. He held an old picture in his hand, as he walked through each feature. It felt strange being alone during such a nostalgic moment. He stopped at the field and remembered how beautiful Biel looked every day as she ran across the field to him, and Abdullah. He saw Abdullah kicking a soccer ball as he graffitied the walls.
Smiling to himself he thought of the love birds in his group Justin and Mariyum who dated since primary and eventually got married after university, then Biel. Returning to the painful memory of Biel walking towards his best friend, looking as beautiful as she was…dressed like a queen, and the bright smile on her face as she looked towards her demise Abdullah. If only she knew, he slaps his cheek for giving up too soon. Crying at the thought of Biel gone.