Zainab opened her eyes, as her blurry vision finally got clear.

She glanced to the ceiling, trying to remember what we last experienced. The floating motion in which the water engulfed her. She looked so weak and helpless as she try to adopt to the vision before her.

"Oh thank God you're awake. Alhamdulillah." Hajia Fati smiled with happiness in her heart. She was grateful that Zainab was responding well at least.

"W..where am I?" She asked as she tried to turn her head to it was so painful.
"Owch!" She clutched her head in pain.

"Don't worry my child. You're with me now. Do you still remember me?" She asked, trying to confirm if her last memory was still intact.

"That's the most ridiculous question ever, mum." She tried to smile but her smile faded immediately.

"Oh, thank God." Tears of joy clouded in Mrs. Maikuddi's eyes. Hearing Zainab saying this made her look like a happy puppy.

"What about me?" Khalid asked as he moved closer.

His mum looked at him annoyingly but he still moved closer with a wide, toothy smile. Zainab gently twisted her head to his direction. Immediately their eyes met, Zainab hide her face, shiving as if she came in contact with a ghost.

"What's it, Aliyah? It's me, Khalid. Your brother." He leaned closer but she started convulsing. Scared and sweaty

"D.. don't touch me! P...please, leave me alone." She cried.

"What? Y..you don't want to see me?" Khalid's heart broke into a thousand more pieces. He couldn't help but to moan out in tears.

"M..mum, p..please save me from him." She cried, holding unto Hajia Fati as if her life depends on her.
"J...just leave me alone." She stammered fearfully as she hurried her scared face into Hajia's clothes with closed eyes.

"Mum, Can you imagine?!" Khalid cried to his mum. "Aliyah don't remember me! She don't even want to see my fucking face!"

"Get out of here, Khalid. You've done enough already!" His mum spat at him faustratedly.

Stunned at the both of them, Khalid couldn't help but to walk out of the ward. He was so angry with himself for pushing her into the pool. Into the damn pool. As if he'd lost everything, Khalid went to meet up with David, his best friend.

As he drove down to David's house, tons of questions started playing on his mind.

'Oh God! Fuck me! Damn! I can't believe Aliya didn't even want to see me. I feel so horrible right now.' the thought pondered on his head as he zoomed into David's compound.

"What's up friend. Why the long face?" David asked, curiously as he walked him into his living room. David and Khalid are family friends but David doesn't resides with his parents any more. He owns his own apartment and he's apparently, 5 years older than Khalid but they treat each other like agemate.

"It's a long story, David. You won't understand."

"Shoot it out buddy, I'm all ears." David gushed as he opened the chilled Coca-Cola can drink in his hand.

"This morning... I angry pushed Aliyah into the pool."

"What? So what happened?!" He asked rather impatiently.

"She couldn't swim, King D! I fucking didn't know that she could swim. She got drawn and lost consciousness." Khalid reported, still feeling emotionally guilty.

"What?!" David looked stunned. It was as if Khalid's words fell on his hears like a slap. How is that even possible?!"

"I don't know, King D, It felt like a dream. I had to rescue and and rush her to the hospital to mum know."

"What?! Who told her?"

"I don't know. Probably Hannatu or hakimi... I know it would be one of the workers that informed her. She looked so disappointed. Infact, she so disappointed in me right now. Mum don't even what to talk to me or hear me out."

"Too bad. David mumbled. What about the girl. How is she?"

Aliyah woke up dude, but she's not okay.

"What do you mean by that?" David quirked an eyebrow, gulping down the last drops if drink left.

"Aliyah don't remember anything at all... Only my mum. She looked so so scared and miserable when she looked at me. For the first time in my life, Dav! I feel so fucking rejected. I know I used to hate Aliyah so much but I didn't mean to cause her so much pain and trouble. She don't want to see or talk to me as well. I just wish I can make it up to her. Damn!" Khalid slaps is palms on his head and clutched to it faustratedly.

"Then make it up to her khalid."
Khalid turned his head to David with a puzzled face.

"What?!"

"Yes... You heard me right. Imagine if Aliyah is the daughter of a minister. Do you think he would take it lightly with you the way you've mentally and physically tortured his daughter? I think you're more than this, Khalid. You don't even need to think twice about it..." David advised, feeling a little bit pissed off about what he just heard.

"How do I even start? Mum is mentally rejected me and Dad is coming back to Nigeria within the week."

"What?!" David gasped. "How could you? How could you put yourself in so much mess. It's just a month now since you stepped into Naija and you've cause do much havoc?! How are you sure your dad is coming?!"

"Yes... He is. Mum told me so. I'm sure he'll get to hear about all of these. I'm so confused right now. I don't even know how to face my own dad!" Khalid cried.

"You don't have to worry, dude. If there's will, there's a way. Al you have to do is pray and hope she gets better. Try to win her over to your side; I mean... Spend more time with her and make her feel happy. You're a guy, I don't have to teach you everything."

"Oh, C'mon! You know I'm not good at winning ladies over. Perhaps I'm not a lady's man." Khalid admitted.

"Sure, I know that already but you can try. Maybe you should start from her first. David suggested with a mysterious smirk over his face. Khalid wore a sad emotionless face. He felt so troubled about Zainab's sickness. As his mind pondered on the thought, confusion and anger clouded in his eyes.

"Maybe it's true... I'm such a jerk.
Khalid scoffed, still confused about how to go about David's advise.

***

The Next Day...

About to be discharged, Doctor Zayn came to into Humaira's ward to check on her.

"Assalam 'Alaikum Humaira. how are you today?" He asked, with a little smile.

"I'm fine doctor." she replied.

"Alright... Ummm, are you feeling any kind of pain?"

"No doctor. But I have headache some times." she complained to him.

"That's okay... It would go gradually. I guess that's happening because you're still thinking and worrying too much. If you adhere to your medication and try not to worry, probably forgetting about the past, you wouldn't feel any more headache. Umm... You'll still need to see the nurse so that she change check your blood pressure." He tool his pen and started scribbling something into her document.

"You'll also have to get these drugs from the pharmacist before leaving. You know that you'll be discharged today, right?" Doctor Zayn asked as he handed her a the scheet if paper.

"Yes. Barrister Edward told me yesterday." She collected it from him as her eyes scrolled through.

"Great so, I guess he'll come and pick up right?"

"Yes. He's on his way already."

"Okay. That's fine then. See you during your check ups, take care." He smiled and walked out of the ward.

Humaira let it a deep breathe as the doctor walked out.

"I planned to die but you saved me, oh Lord. I hope I find a better reason to live this time. I hope you give me the strength to breakthrough all my worries and headaches. Knowing that Zainab is still alive somewhere makes me feel she's with me right now. In this hospital but that's not even possible, right? Going back to that house feels like another sucide mission. Help me through all of these Ya Rabb!" Humaira muttered to her lonely self.

Later that day, barrister Edward came to take her home. He made sure she fell asleep before he left.

***

Words and Translations

-Naija: A short form/word for Nigeria. Also call 9ja.

-Ya Rabb!: Oh Lord!