I don't bother Aaliyah again, even during lunch break, I follow Brianna and her over loud friends to the kiosk. I grab the first snacks my eyes land on, while trying not to be nervous about my plan.

It's pretty straightforward, but I know that Aaliyah will be upset with me. Still, it's for her own good. Just like mommy would do things I didn't like and say it's for my own good.

Once the bells ring for the last time, I quickly grab my bag, say bye to Brianna, and run to the clinic.

Thankfully, the nurse is attending to Aaliyah so there's no way she can drive me away. I stand behind the nurse and watch her scowl at me. She doesn't even flinch when the nurse poked at her bruise.

"Good afternoon, ladies." A male voice greets. I smile, just the person I'm waiting for.

The nurse turns and answers, "And you are?"

Ugly uncle smiles across from me, his teeth too small and too many in his small mouth. I look away, then find Aaliyah's eyes on me. She looks...scared.

"But I asked for her mother." The nurse says.

"Yes, and she asks for me to come instead. She's a very busy woman, you see." He says, still smiling. "And I'm her father."

"Step-father." Aaliyah retorts. We all turn to her. She's now seated at the edge of the bed, still scowling, arms folded across her chest. "Please," she says to the nurse, "I will wait for my mother."

Ugly uncle chuckles like she has cracked a joke. But I see something in his eyes. Anger?

"But you know school is already over and we can't keep you here." The nurse says.

"I will wait." Aaliyah stands and moves to carry her bag at the foot of the bed, but ugly Uncle beats her to it. Shrugging, she says to her, "please can I borrow your phone? Let me call my mother."

Ugly uncle frowns, "Come on Aaliyah, I left my workplace to come and pick you o. Don't be like this ehn." He moves toward her but she quickly stands beside me. I see that thing in his eyes again. I hold her hand tightly.

"Sir, I think you should leave. If she doesn't want to go with you, don't force her." The nurse says, standing before him as if to shield us.

Releasing a deep breath, he nods, "Okay, you will still come back." He leaves, walking faster than I expected his short legs to go.

The nurse sighs, resting a hand across her stomach. To Aaliyah, she says, "If anything happens, come and tell me, you hear?"

Aaliyah nods, looking down. I thank her, and we leave together, holding hands.

But once we step out of the school gate, she pushes my hand away. "This is all your fault!" She cries.

I gasp. "What do you mean?"

She looks away, face scrunched, "He's going to kill me."

"No way," I say, "You need to tell someone."

She glares at me. "No, my mother won't like it. She will..." She shakes her head.

"She will what?" I ask, heart racing. "Or was she the one that hurt you?"

She sighs, deflated. "Let me just go home." Without waiting for me, she crosses the road.

"Wait," I call out but some vehicles are passing so I have to wait. I didn't now Aaliyah to be such a confused person. What is she so afraid of?

By the time I cross, she's nowhere to be found. I look around the semi-empty parking lot. I shake my head, disappointed in my friend.

But just as I look toward my left, I see the back of a car. It looks familiar. Then I see Aaliyah peeking at me from the window, waving.

I hiss. Since she doesn't need my help, so be it.

•••
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Till next week. Do take care of yourself.

Ciao!

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