The afternoon light fell lazily through the curtains of Romi’s room.
The room was quiet except for the slow ticking of the wall clock.
He sat at the edge of his bed, holding a worn photograph — two children in school uniforms, smiling with missing teeth, their hands messy from playing with chalk. One was him. The other was Sara.
He stared at her smile in that photo like it was a wound that never healed.293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1mYozGpNW
His eyes were wet, but the tears stayed where they were — stubborn, quiet, just like the day Sara had told her mother she hated him.
Her voice was still ringing in his ears — the words she’d thrown at her mother that morning when his name came up.
“Mama, you know I don’t like him. I hate him. I hate what his father has done to us. I will never go with him. I’d rather face the pushing and pulling of buses than sit in his car.”
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxVTfetGrf
He remembered every word.293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbbAq2f1GK
"Not because of what he does… but because of what his father did to us."
The memory squeezed his chest until it hurt to breathe. He traced his thumb over her face in the photo.
"Why can’t you see, Sara? I’m not him… I’m me."
At college, the last lecture ended, and the heavy bell rang out across the courtyard. Students poured out in chatter and laughter, but Sara stayed back, gathering her books slowly.
She was almost at the gate when Mikaal appeared in front of her, leaning against the wall, a soft smile pulling at his lips.
“Bus?” he asked, tilting his head toward the road.
“Yes, bus,” Sara replied, already stepping aside.
“No,” Mikaal said simply.293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLeUJnftcn
“I’m dropping you.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Mikaal, you don’t have to—”
“I’m not letting you push through heat and elbows when I have a seat for you,” he interrupted, his voice low but insistent.293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTCQv7ki9k
“It’s not charity, Sara. It’s… me wanting to be the person who makes your day a little less hard.”
She sighed, pretending to be annoyed, but the truth was… she liked when he spoke like that.293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZXgo3mO6L
“Mikaal…”
He leaned closer, his eyes catching hers like they always did.293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQt3pYRow36
“You trust me, right?”
Her chest tightened — that dangerous mix of safety and risk only he brought. She hesitated for a heartbeat, then nodded once.
“Fine… but just to the street near my house.”
His smile deepened. “Street near your house. Got it.”
The drive was quiet, but not empty. The wind moved through her hair as he stole small glances at her — like he was memorizing her in every ray of sunlight.
When they stopped in front of her gate, Sara opened the door and stepped out.
“Bye, Mikaal,” she said softly, giving him a half-smile before turning toward the house.
And then she froze.
Standing just a few steps ahead was her uncle.293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RbYwgFvjY
The smile he’d had for the neighbor seconds ago had vanished — replaced with a cold, sharp anger that sent a shiver down her spine.
Her breath caught.293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvijVEd8WZS
This was not going to end well
and then Add to home screen.