In front of my eyes, I am seeing, my baby sister, Noha in her baby pink pajamas, holding her ballerina bunny tight in her arms.
"What is it, Noha?" I ask her as she gets closer to me.
I moved a little to my side, so she could lay down with me, I pat on the place that I've made space for her and she climbs up on the bed, and gets in the duvet with me.
I placed my head on my hanf and leant in to kiss her nose and cheeks, she giggled and I smiled.
"Mommy is mad, I am scared." She says and I sigh softly.
"It's not like that love, mommy is just, disappointed in me," I say and she sat up on the bed.
"Why do you make mommy sad? It is not good," she says and I smile at her. Even at her age, she knows and understand like a grown up person, sometimes more than me.
"I didn't, Noha, look," I sighed again, How can I explain this to her? I can't tell her everything and fill her still pure and innocent mind with things and problems like these,
"Do you want to sleep with me, tonight?" I asked her and she nodded her head.
"Mommy looks sad, I don't want to make her sad too," she says, I kissed her forehead and caressed her silky golden brown hair,
"You make all of us happy, Noha, you never made us sad." I said and she looks into my eyes, her eyes glossy.
"What happened, why are you crying, love?" I asked, my panic starting to rise. Who tried to do anything to her, to make her cry?
"Someone zaid bad thing to me in school," she says, my heart tightens.
"Tell me," I said and pulled her closer to me.
"When I was playing with my friends, one girl comes and kicks my tower I made for Rapunzel, then she said, 'I hate you,' then I cried. It hurts, Newal."
Oh my beautiful, sweet and innocent sister, why this world is mean to you too?
"Did you tell mom? Or dad?" I asked her, she shook her head.
We sat in silence for a while, how could a young girl at Noha's age be this cruel to her? I hate you is a very strong phrase, I don't even see what Noha did to that girl to say that to her.
"Newal, can you read me a nighty night story?" Noha suddenly asks and I nodded my head a yes.
I got out of the bed and went to my bookshelf. I chose a book, which I am sure Noha would love.
I returned to the bed and scooted her closer to me. I tucked her in on the other side and she laid her head on my chest. I securely wrapped my arm around her small body.
I cleared my throat and opened to the first page of the book,
"Once upon a time, there was a very beautiful and kind princess living in a very beautiful Castle. She was always happy and nothing stopped her from doing the right and loving everyone."
I turned on the next page and glanced down at Noha, her eyes were closed, and she was smiling, probably imaging herself as the Princess, I smiled to myself and continued,
"But one day, a witch came to her, trying to take her soul, Oh no! " I exasperated, "Her family tried to protect her but the witch got through them all, when she reached her room and opened the door," Noha yelped and hid under the covers, showing her face. I chuckled at how easily she would be scared by cliffhangers, my cutie pie.
"Then what happened?" She asked as I flipped to the next page.
"When the witch opened the door, the magical lights blinded her eyes, and shone all around the Princess.
"The witch was carried away by the magical light from the house and went far far away from the Princess." I turned another page.
"The Princess looked at everything, as if she can't belive her eyes, then a the fairy of kindness came up to her and said 'You are a kind princess, and you deserve a reward from me', Oh my my"
I turned another page. Noha rested her head on the pillow and curled up and cuddled next to me.
"But the Princess didn't accept it and replied 'I thank you so much, but I don't need it, I love my life as it is'. The fairy got surprised but respected her choice and with the blink of an eye disappeared into sparkles and glitters.
"The Princess grew up and became a queen, and with her king, they lived happily ever after."
I closed the book and looked again at Noha, she is sleeping, she slept fast. Must had a long day as me today.
I laid down and hugged her closer to me, pulling the duvet more to cover her.
"Good night, baby sis" I whispered in her ear.
"~~~~"
I quickly climbed down the stairs, holding my shoes and my backpack at each hand, heading to the front door.
Mom is at the kitchen, clanking of pots and grilling of food is what I hear. I have freshened and dressed up early, to take the bus to the school, not.
The kitchen doorway is merely beside the front door, making it ten times hard to sneak out. I prayed that I wouldn't be noticed or get caught, and passed the kitchen with no sound. I stood midway to see mom, which her is back is facing me, thank the Lord. I passed and was about to open the door when, "Going out without eating breakfast?" I froze at my spot. How did she know it was me? How did she felt me coming? How did she even knew there was someone?
I slowly turned back and entered the kitchen, her back still facing me! How did she know?! I think it's true when they say mothers know everything about their children.
"Um, I was about to take the bus." I said. Finally she faced me. She looked at me up and down and put a hand on her hip.
"Why take the bus? Your father will take you all togehter, now sit down and eat." She said pointing at the food she placed on the table by the spatula.
"But mom, I promised Nadely to come early." I begged her. She looked as if she is thinking whether to let me go or not.
"Alright, at least take a fatira and eat it on the way." She said. I nodded my head, went to the table and took one fatira, rolled it up and held it with a tissue paper.
I, then went to mom and hugged her, she hugged me back. I kissed her head and looked at her golden brown eyes. "Mom, are you mad at me?" I asked her. She looked at me, smiled and shook her head.
"Not much.", Was all she said, then turned to the stove and continued her cooking. I know she is still mad at me, she just don't want to talk about it.
Without another word spoken, I headed to the door, put my shoes on with one hand and got out of the house.
People looked at me weirdly while I was happily munching on the delicious pastry mom made. I ignored them all and sat on the seating area of the bus station. I looked at my phone, it's one in the morning, meaning the next bus stop would be in thirty minutes. Dang, I went out too early.
While I was waiting for the bus, a little girl came up to me. She had big Blue eyes, with a dirty blonde hair, her clothes were unclean and ruffled. She looked... unhappy.
"I am hungry." She tells me, rubbing her stomach. I looked at my half eaten fatira, then at her. I smiled and handed it to her. She happily took it from me, eating it like she never did. My heart ached for her, at how she looked, how people even looked at her. It is totally fine if people would do anything with me, because praise to the Almighty, I have a roof above me, food to eat and a family to love. But this little girl, who doesn't have a home, or food, or family, should not be treated like she shouldn't deserve to be, the person beside me is even looking at her in disgust, then at me. When he did I smiled a big smile at him, he curtly nodded his head and looked away.
I opened my backpack and took out my water bottle, handing it to her, she looked at me with tear in her eyes, taking it from me and drinking from it. I scooted a little place and made her sit and feed herself. After she is done, she looked at me, smiling brightly, so brightly that could lighten up any moody day.
"Thank you." She said, her voice sweet as honey.
"It is totally fine, what is your name, sweetie?" I asked her.
"Amelia, what about you?" She asked.
"My name is Newal." I tell her. She started swinging her small dangling legs.
"Can we be... friends?" She slowly asked, making me smile. She is a total sweetheart. I pray for her that she would find the perfect place and live a good and full life, Inshallah.
"Of course we can, Amelia." I confirmed her question, she smiled a sad smile.
"I never had a friend before, you are my first friend." She said, melting my heart.
"Don't worry, we will be best friends if you want to." I said.
"Like B.B.BF.F. turned to B.S.B.F.F? " she asked, what?
I scrunched my eyebrows together and asked, "What are they?"
"You don't know My Little Pony??" She asked and I shook my head.
"B.B.B.F.F. stands for big brother best friends forever, when Twighlight Sparkle sang that to her brother, but with you and me, it will be, big sister best friends forever." She explained.
"That is so sweet of you." I said, bringing her to my arms and hugging her. I don't care if people are talking about me, whispering and gossiping anout how I am hugging a poor girl, I dont even care if she is not clean or she isn't wearing a clean cloth, I myself have witnessed that she has a clean and a pure heart.
I hear the rumbling sound of the engine of the bus coming to its stop and opening it's door. "Well, I better go now, Amelia." I said, letting go of her. She nodded and hopped off the seat. I stood up and was about to go but she held my hand and stopped me. "Will you come here often?" She asked. I nodded my head, even though I know it would be a hard task to do. I bent down to her level, "Yes, I will be coming here as I can." I promised and pinched her cheeks. "See you." I said and with that, in left her and got in the bus.
"Sorry, is this seat taken?" Was the question that I asked at least ten times, and also all of them got the same answer. I got tired of asking everyone on the bus asking for a seat, so I stood at my place, holding the handle hanging up on the bus. I closed my eyes for a little while, to get rid off the straining of my eyes. But not long before someone pushed me really roughly, making me move to the side. "Excuse me." The old lady said passing through everyone and landing carefully out of the door.
"What the heck...." I muttered under my breath. But I can't blame her, who cannot be moody in the morning? She is probably mad at her grandchildren dirtying her dear things, or maybe she is late and can't do anything about it. Poor this old lady.
As soon as I get off the bus, I looked at my phone screen, it's quarter untill eight. There is still thirty five minutes untill the classes will start.
I came here this early because, Nadely and I has a secret tree house that we built when we were young, and of course with the help of our siblings. That place became a part of us that, we go there to speak what is in our minds and bring up a solution, even for the simplest thing. The good thing, is that very surprisingly, our old little selfs knew where our future school would be, and built closer to that.
"Newal!" I hear Nadely calling me from the other side of the road, thank God, she wouldn't know own what I would do to her is she was late or didn't come at all.
The crispy cold wind whooshing, making me shiver. I should've brought a jacket.
"Hey Nad, so, let's go?" I asked her as we hug each other.
"Yep." She answered popping the 'p'. We linked our arms to one another's and marched to our very beloved place.
"~~~~"
"I'm going to get some junks from the fridge, want some?" I asked Nadely, she shook her head and patted her stomach.
"I am already full" She said, grinning at me.
"Lucky you, I just age one fatira, and I'm hungry." I said, kneeling down arched mind opening the small fridge. There was pizza! I took out the small box and opened it,
"What the hell?! Ew, it stinks. Nad, when did we brought this??" I asked her, because I don't remember bringing any pizzas here.
"Maybe the boys," she said, shrugging.
"Screw them." I said groaning loudly, I look more in the fridge, there was one can of soda, and a bag of chips, were they okay when they were here?
"At least I got something to be eaten." I muttered to myself and opened ed the bag of chips, eating handful of it at a time.
"So, what is up with you? I will continue after you, because mine is longer..." She trailed off, rubbing her arms.
"Stop acting nervous, Nad. This is our place, don't worry, I understand like I always do." I said, "And since yours is longer, let's start with you."
"I don't know own how to tell you this, but..." She again trailed off. I stayed silent and stared at her, if I kept telling her to talk, she will go zigzags, but this will do.
"Okay fine! I have a crush on somebody!" She yells, making my mouth automatically hang open. What did she just say?
"What do you mean?? You have a boyfriend for fuck's sake!" I cursed. Shit, it slipped. Oops it slipped again.
"I don't know! I just started to like somebody!" She says throwing her hands up in the air.
"And who is that person?" I asked, unsure if I really want to know or not.
"Do you know Marshall?"