It's amazing how one day someone walks into your life, and then the next day you wonder how you lived without them.

Khulaid had picked up pace once we were nearing my house. The sun was ready to go down and allow the moon to take over.

It would not have taken so long if we had not been moving slowly. I know Khulaid was being careful and considerate with me by not rushing the horses.

He was not aware of the fact that I did know how to handle a horse running, and I did not bring it to his knowledge either. I cannot let another man figure me out just because of my recklessness.

"There! That's my house." Closing in towards my house, a mysterious ache settles in my heart, and countless thoughts try to play out the next scene.

"It's quiet." Khulaid whispers, taking in the house. I noticed it too. It was indeed very silent, yet I still dismounted my horse.

Khulaid climbs off the horse aswell and walks to the door, knocking loudly.

"Anyone in there!"

Shuffling is heard from inside the house, and after a moment, the door opens. I immediately evert my gaze, unable to look whoever opened the door in the eyes.

"Yes?" It was the voice of my father.

"Khulaid? What are you doing here?" Usman calls out, and my heart clenches again.

"Usman! This is your house?" I squeeze my eyes shut, and my heart, for some reason, drums harder and swells up.

How long has it been since I heard their voices?

"I- I found this girl near the southern bor-"

"Hoor?" My eyes popped open, my heart went silent, and tears started to burn my eyes. I slowly moved my head to face my mother.

In that moment, I realized I cared about none but her.

Dark puffiness rested under her old eyes, and her mouth was agape.

"Ammi." I ran.

My feet had a mind of their own as they carried me over to my mother, who seemed as if she had spent nights crying and praying for me.

Oh Ammi, my dear Ammi! I have put you through a lot! Forgive me.

My mother's warm embrace swallowed me whole, and I could not control the sob that broke out.

My heart was heavy from unshed tears. I have been collecting over the past few days because of the hardships I have faced. The wounds, battles, losing people, and watching people die The last string attached to my vessel of emotions broke free when my eyes took in the sight of Ammi.

"The light of my eyes has returned. Where have you been? I prayed for you day and night. My dear Hoor. Ya Allah, Alhumdulilah! Alhumdulilah! Alhumdulilah!"

Her wet tears dropped on my shoulders, and it only increased the ache in my heart.

"I shall be leaving, Usman. Inshallah, I will visit some other time. Take care of your family, Allahafiz." I had forgotten that Khulaid was still here, and I broke my embrace with Ammi.

"Jazakallah for helping me out." Khulaid nods at me and mounts his horse once again, guiding his men to their destination.

I am engulfed in warm hugs once again, this time from Abu Bakr, Usman, and Saif.

I missed this.

::

"

So you are saying, You were kidnapped. They took you and several other women to the southern border and planned to smuggle you and others out of the borders, but when the war broke out, they left you there and saved themselves." I nodded at Abu Bakr, who interrogated me as if he were a detective from London.

I had washed up - finally! - placed my things away, hidden from everyone in the house and was now in the living room with my family, telling them a story made of lies.

Oh, lies, though they save me right now, they will bite me in the back soon.

"They did not hurt you, right?" Usman asked, and I shook my head.

"Are you sure? Abu Bakr, I think she is lying to us." My eyes widened at Saif, and I quickly shook my head.

"They did not hurt me, truly, but I do have a few scratches here and there from when I fell down a few times. If they were to sell me to a neighboring empire, why would they hurt me if they wanted a good price?"

Baba flinched and gritted his teeth.

"How dare they!" He whispered to himself, but we all heard it.

"Abu Bakr! Why don't you teach me some self-defense? If something like this happens again, I want to be able to do something."

"This will not happen again; we will make sure of that." Abu Bakr grated out, and I sighed.

"What if you all are not here, like this time? You will all leave anyway. So teach me." Abu Bakr is quiet; he doesn't speak, and I raise my brows.

"She is right! Hoor, I will teach you. Your baba was a wrestler in his days, and god forbid, no one will be able to lay a hand on you when you are done learning everything from me."

My eyes glitter, and a smile beams on my face.

"Really!? Thankyou!"

But then my eyes moved to my Ammi, who sat next to Baba. Her pupils were dilated, and she was lost in thought.

Whatever occupied her mind made my sixth sense jittery.

She was just worried about you, Hoor. Do not worry about what she dwells in.

"Hoor, get me water." Giving a stink eye to Saif, I find him smiling already, and there was no way I could say no to that.

I was happy that I returned. Yes, I will be the talk of the town for some time, maybe forever. We lived in a close society; everyone knew everyone here, so I would not be surprised if tomorrow there were a lot of guests here to ask about me.

Fast forward several hours, we had eaten our dinner and now I sat alone in my room. The window was open letting the cool air swish in and play with my hair.

The door of my room creaked open and my Ammi pushed her head through the door.

"Ammi? You have not gone to bed?" Ammi steps inside the room, a candle in her hand and closes the door behind her. Placing the candle on the wooden table, she takes a seat infront of me on my bed.

"Hoor, aziziti. I love you, and trust me when I say that my heart has forgotten to beat since the day you were gone. My eyes had grown too tired to sleep, and my mind has been restless ever since.

"When I finally saw you today, I touched you." Her hand softly touches my cheek. "My heart could beat again, and I could breathe again. You are the light of my eyes, the coolness of my soul, and I would die if something had happened to you."

"I am sorry, Ammi; I worried you." Ammi shook her head, and I lowered my eyes. The orange shadow cast from the candle continued to flicker over her face, and my heart ached.

"Hoor, did they touch you?" Her voice was careful, and I knew that she was not asking me about the simple push or oat on the shoulder. She was asking something else, something deeper.

"No, Ammi, they did not. I am the same Hoor who was taken from this house." A look of relief spans Ammi's face, and a gentle smile takes over my face.

"May Allah keep protecting you, Hoor." She kissed my forehead and my eyes fluttered close.

"I should go back to bed now, your baba must be waiting for me. Allahafiz aziziti."

"Allahafiz Ammi."

I wanted to say more—tell her that my heart felt heavy. My shoulders hurt from carrying the burden of that one sword from the man who was killed protecting me. My hands ached because I killed the people who were only following orders.

Ammi, if only you could hear the voice of my heart.

Ya Allah, you heard me! Forgive me, Ya Allah! Forgive me.

Just her reunion with her family! I hope you all enjoyed this short chapter!

:)