Khadijah’s story side
Khadijah’s family slowly walked into the ward to see her.
The moment they stepped in, silence swallowed them.
She lay there… motionless. Tubes attached. Eyes closed. No response. Just a faint rise and fall of her chest that reminded them she was still alive.
Mom1 froze at the door.
Her legs felt heavy. Her chest tightened.
This… this couldn’t be her daughter.
Her siblings broke down immediately, their quiet sobs filling the room.
Dad moved closer, each step slow and heavy, like he was walking into a reality he wasn’t ready to accept. He sat beside her, gently took her hand into his, and held it tight.
Tears slipped down his face.
Dad: My darling daughter… please don’t leave us. You are precious to me… to all of us. Please come back.
The room grew heavier. Even strangers nearby felt the pain.
Mom1 finally gathered the courage to move closer. Her hands trembled as she reached for Khadijah’s other hand.
Mom1: This is all my fault… all of it. If anything happens to you, I will never forgive myself. I hurt you… I pushed you away… but you didn’t deserve any of it.
Her voice broke completely.
Mom1: Please come back. I promise I will change. I will make it up to you. Please… Khadijah…
She collapsed into loud, uncontrollable tears.
At that moment, the door opened.
Aunt walked in with her family. The moment her eyes fell on Khadijah, she stopped in shock.
Aunt: Good evening… what happened to her? How did this happen? How could you let this happen to her?
Mom1: (crying) Aunt… this is all my fault. I am responsible for everything she is going through.
Aunt looked at her, then spoke quietly, but her words struck like thunder.
Aunt: You are hurting her for her father’s mistake.
The room went still.
Everyone stared.
Dad: What… did you just say?
Aunt: Yes… her father is my husband.
Shock spread across every face.
Mansur quickly stood up, sensing the weight of what was about to unfold.
Mansur: Kids… come with me. Let’s step outside.
Mom2: That’s good. Please take Abdullah too.
They all left quietly, giving space for the truth.
Dad turned back slowly, his voice low.
Dad: Aunt… explain what you mean.
Aunt took a deep breath.
Aunt: My husband confessed everything before he died… three months ago.
Mom1: He died? You never told me…
Aunt: I couldn’t face you. I was ashamed… of what we did to you.
Dad: Please… go straight to the point.
Aunt’s voice trembled as she began.
Aunt: You know I was always busy. Your wife lived under my roof back then. I handled her schooling… but I was harsh to her. I won’t lie. I maltreated her.
She paused, guilt filling her eyes.
Aunt: One day, I travelled to Abuja for a meeting. I was away for three days. During that time… my husband…
Her voice cracked.
Aunt: He had been disturbing her before… harassing her. She always refused him. But that day… he forced himself on her.
Mom1’s body stiffened. Tears began to fall silently.
Aunt: He raped her… again the next day…
The room fell into a painful silence.
Aunt: That was how she got pregnant.
Mom1 broke down, her whole body shaking.
Aunt: When he realized what he had done, he threatened her. He told her to lie… to say it was her boyfriend. And I… I didn’t know anything. When I found out she was pregnant, I tortured her. I stopped her education. I insulted her…
She held Mom1’s hand tightly, crying now.
Aunt: And when you came to marry her, I insulted you too… not knowing you were innocent.
Dad lowered his head, his heart heavy.
Aunt: My husband wanted to confess… but he couldn’t face the shame. He died with that regret.
She looked straight at Mom1.
Aunt: I am deeply sorry. For everything we did to you. Please forgive us.
Dad sighed deeply, pain and understanding mixing together.
Dad: All this… and I never knew. I always wondered why you treated Khadijah so harshly.
Mom1 fell to her knees beside the bed.
Mom1: I’m sorry… I’m so sorry. I was broken. Every time I looked at her, I remembered everything… the pain… the shame…
Her voice trembled.
Mom1: But she didn’t deserve it. My daughter didn’t deserve it.
She held Khadijah’s hand tighter.
Mom1: Please forgive me. Please come back to me. I love you… I truly love you. I will change… I swear I will.
Dad gently placed his hand on her shoulder.
Dad: It’s okay. What matters now is Khadijah. She needs us… our prayers… our strength.
Mom1 nodded quickly, wiping her tears.
Mom1: Yes… I will do anything for her. Anything.
Mom2 stood quietly, tears in her eyes, unable to speak.
Aunt: I have settled all her hospital bills. Khadijah is my daughter too. I will come back later.
She paused, then looked toward the door.
Aunt: That young man outside… who is he?
Dad: He is Khadijah’s fiancé.
Aunt: Fiancé? She was about to get married?
Dad: Yes. If it will make her happy, we are ready. That young man truly loves her.
Aunt smiled faintly through her tears.
Aunt: You are a good man. Men like you are rare. You accepted her mother without questioning… you accepted her child… you became a true father to her.
She turned to Mom2.
Aunt: And you… thank you for standing by her when the world turned against her. May Allah reward you.
Mom2: Ameen… and you too.
Aunt: I will take my leave now.
(She exits.)
Dad looked at Mom1 with compassion, his eyes soft.
Dad: I’m sorry… for everything you went through.
Mom1 shook her head.
Mom1: No… I should have trusted you. I should have told you. I’m the one who failed. Please forgive me.
Dad opened his arms.
Dad: Come here.
(He embraced her.)
Dad: You too… come.
(He pulled Mom2 into the embrace as well.)
Dad: When our daughter wakes up… we start again. A new beginning.
Mom1 smiled faintly through tears.
Mom1: Ummu Abdullah… I’m sorry for everything I’ve done to you.
Mom2 didn’t say a word.
She simply held her tighter.
And for the first time in a long while… there was a small, fragile peace in the room.
Comments
Post a Comment