Deceived; Chapter 39

"Ghaneya, why didn't you tell me when you found out?" said my father.

-

"I didn't know how to tell you.." I broke the silence five minutes later, "I was ashamed, depressed, angry-"

"But I'm still your father, what happened to our nights where you would just tell me everything?"

"I guess.. I got carried away with the whole situation, I don't know what to do.." I broke down sobbing while running into him for a warm embrace. I missed them.

"Mr. Al-*****, my mother and us, my brothers and sisters, except for Rania, have been suggesting and talking about sending him to an institution, in a month, or two, where he could use some help." spoke Ziyad.

I can't believe his family gave such a suggestion.

Although he could use it, big time.

I looked up into my father's brown eyes, they were filled with agreement.

The two boys left the room, and left my father and I alone.

"Ghaneya, come over here" he said as he held my wrist and walked over to the nearest couch.

The tears from my eyes rolled down my face, incessantly.

He sat and I stood facing him.

He began rubbing my cold cheeks, admiring the eyes that resemble his, as if he was thinking of words to speak of.

"Ghaneya" he told me, still staring.

My eyes began to water up all over again, and this time, my nose turned red, I was trying to hold the tears in.

I failed.

"Don't worry, everything's going to be alright."

"No" I replied with a voice implying a whole new set of tears will soon be visible, "no, it won't!"

"Ever since your mother died, Ghaneya" he said. I could tell he was going to cry, too, "all of us have been going through such a very tough, tough time."

The remembrance of my mother just had me on my knees.

I felt hopeless.

Why me?

Why my family?

Why my mother?

I tried to hold in all the sorrow, and keep my faith in God strong, because he hears us, and hears every single breath, every single voice, and every single heart beat.

No matter how much you pray and wish for stuff, though it hasn't been granted yet, it will, just give it some time. It will happen, at the suitable moment.

"الا بذكر الله تطمئن القلوب"

I kept reminding myself.

"But-" my divine father said, "promise me, you will think twice before acting."

"Because, you don't know how it feels, it hurts, Ghaneya. Having a daughter like you is a gift" my father's tears began to show, "but having a gift opened by someone else is extremely painful!"

"You're my baby girl, Ghaneya, and I love you so much, please-"

I comforted him and ran into his arms.

"Please, just promise me that we'll stay as close as ever, we're in this together, and I will stand by your side no matter what."

"I promise" I cried harder, "I promise!"

-

"Hello, you must be Ghaneya?" the nurse said.

"Yeah, I called twenty minutes ago asking about the visiting hours?" I replied.

"Yes, let me take you to the room" she answered escorting us.

"I can't believe she's become really ill!"

"I just hope she isn't suffering."

"God help her parents."

As we were ushered to hospital room, we saw her, laying in bed, sleeping, with a bunch of tissue papers surrounding her blanket-covered legs, and her hands as skinny as ever, with needles connected to the back of it.

Pain rushed through our veins.

Watching our dear friend Rania sleeping on a hospital bed was heartbreaking.

We walked up to her, and just stared.

Layyan and Munya began tearing, while Mayyar and I were just brushing her hair with our fingers.

Her hair too felt weak, and her face was sallow.

"Excuse me, when will she be able to leave the hospital?" I questioned the nurse as she entered, we all approached her, waiting for an answer, anxiously.

"In a couple of weeks she'll be better, hopefully." she replied.

A few seconds later, we heard a quiet yawn. We turned around and watched Rania, wake up.

"What are you doing here?" she asked smiling.

"How can we not be here, Rania?"

"Yeah, Rania, we have to!"

Each of us replied differently.

"I'm sorry you have to see me this way.." she said.

"Don't worry, the nurse said you'll be out in a couple of weeks." Mayyar assured her.

"I hope so!" Rania answered, "hey, did my parents drop by while I was asleep?"

I was too embarrassed to reply, thank god Munya did.

"We just got here."

Moments later, I felt an eye on me, I was positive it was Rania's.

My eyes wandered around the pale room, watched the girls making themselves comfortable, and lastly, I looked at the sick girl on the white hospital bed.

She was looking at me suspiciously, although she tried to hide it with a slight smile.

I felt as though she knew about my situation.

Her eyes, now, were filled with suspicion, however, her attempt to hide it was unsuccessful.

Rania knew, my mind thought.

With her eyes on me for 2 whole minutes, I was finally adapted to what was going on.

Rania knew..