Okay so obviously I haven't started studying yet, bad decision, I know, but it's a double update 💃💃💃💃
There is a chapter before this in case you didn't see the notification, wattpad is acting up.
Happy reading, please vote and comment and share.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you" his voice was calm and held a tinge of guilt, she nodded since he wasn't who she thought it was.

"Why are you out here crying in the dead of the night?" it was like the tears were waiting for a trigger, they returned full force running down her face, ruining the little make up she did, it was only kohl which she was sure was ruined by her tears and smudged around her face.

"I'm sorry, please stop crying okay, can you tell me what happened?" she shook her head, what was she supposed to tell him? Oh I just saw my abusive ex husband and ran like a bat from hell because I'm pathetic for still letting him control me, what a waste right? Isn't the weather lovely tonight?

As tempting as that sounded since he was stranger and she would most likely never see him again, the words couldn't make it past her lips, she found it ironic how her lips weren't producing any words but her eyes were like a flowing river.

"It's late, do you live around here?" since talking wasn't something would do anytime soon he figured, he might as well take her home, it was late and she shouldn't be alone especially in a place like that, there was a brothel a few buildings from where she sat and drunk men trooped the area mostly at night.

"I...no...my car is....." she'd remembered she didn't even know where she was and made her want to cry more but she fought the urge, she felt pathetic enough.

"Can you tell me where it is then I'll drop you off?" she looked unsure when he pointed to his car, seeing her hesitance he sighed and ran his hands down his face.

"I'm a Muslim, I don't know if it changes anything but I won't hurt you, I also have a sister and I wouldn't want her to be helpless in a situation like this" she nodded but was still cautious, she followed him to his car and he opened the door for her, when he was sure she was seated he closed the door and walked to driver's side, she told him the location of the hall where the event was taking place and he nodded, it was a ten minute drive, he'd wondered how she got there on foot since she didn't have her car with her.

A shiver ran down his spine when he thought of how she could've gotten there, and the fact that she was crying wasn't helping matters, he prayed silently for it not to be what he was thinking.

He killed the ignition after parking in an empty space, she said her car was a few feet away, she was about it to open the door when he found his voice.

"Whatever is it that hurt you, remember that Allah is bigger than it and he never burdens a soul more than it can bear" he told her what was on his mind, something his mother tells him whenever he felt like giving up.

He opened the door and got down, helped her out and walked her to her car, when he was sure she was safe, he made to turn when she spoke.

"Thank you, for everything" he only nodded and told her to thank her creator, he was the one that sent him to her "Please what's your name?" she asked in second thought, she wanted to put him in her prayers.

"Farhan" she turned on the ignition of her car and drove out, she saw his car where they'd left it and he stood leaning on it, he wanted to make sure she was safe before going and when he was sure she'd left, he got back into his car and started his journey back home, thanking Allah for sending him out.

Farhan was on a call with his mother when he'd felt the need to leave his apartment, he stayed there whenever he visited Kaduna, he felt suffocated and decided to just drive around, he let his mind control him.

He'd passed the place twice before deciding to get the roadside roasted chicken, his mother would flip when she found out he was eating from a roadside because he had no idea about their hygiene, but he decided he was a thirty five year old and he could eat whatever he wanted, at first he'd disregarded the sobs thinking it was just on the radio, how stupid he'd felt after he saw the lady, what radio station would play a woman crying for God's sake? he decided to check and saw her hunched figure, at first he was cautious to approach her because the world wasn't safe anymore, but she looked too innocent to be harmful, and her cries sounded too genuine to be Fake.

He was thankful he trusted his instincts against better judgement and when he saw her eyes, it had the same effect even with the lack of light, he couldn't help but be thankful that one unhealthy decision brought him to her.

He smiled absentmindedly drumming his fingers on the steering wheel of his car, her scent still lingered and it felt like peace, the peace he didn't know he was craving.

********

Exhausted, debilitated, fatigued and spent, in fact any word that meant tired was what Khadijah felt, the second she got home the first thing she did was take a hot shower and took her sweet time, washing away every negative feeling, she wore her usual over sized Tee and sweats, as tired as she was she knew she couldn't sleep and if she was able, it would be filled with nightmares so she didn't bother going to bed rather she texted Layla, since the time difference between Nigeria and Wales is basically zero and Layla was a night owl she was sure she was awake, and she proved Her right when she called her on face time immediately after.

"Baby boo, I know you missed me" Khadijah sighed thankful when she heard her best friend's voice.

"You wish" the ever dramatic Layla placed her hands on her chest and let out a very dramatic and fake gasp.

"I'm hurt, very hurt" she wiped her fake tears, before Khadijah could reply she said something that made tears gather in her eyes "What made you cry?" she sounded so worried all traces of lark gone.

"It's nothing, I was just-"

"Tell me the truth Khadijah" Layla cut off sternly.

Khadijah couldn't help when her lips trembled and she told Layla everything, she'd wanted to tell Sadiya but she decided against it, she was expecting a child and it would be inconsiderate to dump her problems on her.

"I'm so sorry I'm not there, you'll be fine Insha Allah" Layla offered as much comfort as she could over the phone.

"Sometimes I just want to throw these emotions away because it's just suffocating, I like to think I'm over it but then something like this would happen and then I'm back in his house again, suffering from emotional and physical pain and I just want to get out, but everywhere is locked, It's like I'm fighting a lost battle because there is no winning, I'm not going to win, it won't happen, but what can I do? At home it's Umma and outside its everything and everyone, I just want this suffering to be over, what would it take to be normal? I'm so tired of fighting, I'm tired of being strong, it's draining everything in me and then it's not enough, I'm giving it my all and it's not enough, I have nothing to give more, pretending it doesn't hurt every time I look in the mirror is getting tiring, I can't do it anymore, my body is ugly and I'm trying my hardest to be numb, being strong doesn't cut it and I want to be numb but it doesn't always work, I can't sleep, I can't live, I can't do anything except sit and loathe my fate, Layla I can't do this anymore, I just want to feel less, get over this and just be Normal, normal it's so foreign to me" she let out a laugh with the no mirth at all, she didn't know how she got all those words out, all she wanted to do was cry the pain away but that wasn't satisfying, it only left a horrible headache in its wake and she wasn't in a state to treat both at a time, as it is she was already exhausted only handling one.

She looked up to see Layla who has been quiet throughout her rant with tears running down her face, she loved talking to Layla because as much as she seems chatty, she was a good listener.

"I wish I could just teleport and be with you right now Dee, you don't deserve this, but listen Allah will never burdens a soul more than it can bear, He said he only tests those he love, and this is a test Insha Allah you'll pass, you're already doing great"

"Thank you, it means a lot" Khadijah felt light, she silently asked Allah to forgive her for complaining, she should be grateful, many people probably have it worse, some are still trapped and at least she got out, she thanked Him for all his blessings.

"You had a long night, get some rest okay?" Layla said softly.

"Okay, I think I'll be able to sleep now, before I forget when are you coming back?" Since Layla's birthday was in a few weeks, she decided to surprise her taking her to her Favourite restaurant that just opened a branch in Kaduna, she had complained about missing out on it since they didn't stay in Abuja, and just her luck, the launch of the new branch would be a day before her birthday, she pulled a few strings and rented the place completely a day before the launch party.

"Within the week, probably Wednesday"

"You promise to tell me about all the fun you had in Wales?" Khadijah made puppy dog eyes, her breakdown long forgotten.

"If you promise me Umma's down to earth chocolate cake" Layla bargained, as much as she didn't like how the woman acted, she loved her pastries and food, the woman was blessed.

Contradictory to her traditional and out dated mentality, Hajiya Ladidi was very up to date in the kitchen, maybe it was because she believed 'The way to a man's heart is through his stomach' she enrolled herself in multiple cooking and catering classes just to perfect her knowledge in the kitchen.

Layla had her chocolate cake once in secondary school when Khadijah made her mother bake for her, she's never heard the end of it and Layla claimed, no chocolate cake she ate was worth being compared to that one.

"She would love to bake a cake for you, I know what she'll write on top 'Get married and leave my daughter'" they both laughed at it, she might.

"Cool, I'll be expecting my cake and you'll hear a lot of the accent I heard, in love" she screeched at the end.

They said their goodbyes, she was about to end the when Layla screamed WAIT!

"What's up?"

"Your hero, I want to hear all about him, byeeee" she waved then ended the call.

Way shorter than the first chapter, is it only me that missed physical Layla? she's just a ball of positive energy and our hero, I like him already.

Don't forget to share, see you in November 😢😢😢
I love y'all so much, I don't think I can say that enough.

River of love

Amyrah