***

It was the thirteenth night of Noor's stay in Kaduna. She lay in bed, listening to Jamila on the phone.

By the third day, Noor had learnt all their routines. She stayed all day in the room and watch tv, away from Jamila and Rabi's paths and when she felt hungry she would tiptoe downstairs and make for herself noodles.

Noor had missed Sa'ad even though she spoke to him on her phone daily. But she missed her mother the most. There has never been a single day in her life that she did not see her mother and now it's been two weeks, two long and terrible weeks without her.

Shr was beginning to feel sick. 'Home sick' was the word. But her mind seeed to constantly remind her that this was also home. They were her family too. She needed to stay there, to form a bond with them.

But then, you can only become a part of someone's life if they let you in right?

Everyone in that house avoided Noor. Like a stinky parasite. Nobody asked her how she was, or if she was hungry, or if something was bothering her. Well except for Fatima and her father.

Faima had been sweet and nice and even with her summer classes, she still finds time to make sure Noor was comfortable. She had helped Noor fix up the tv cable in Jamila's room so she wouldn't stay idle. Noor rarely saw her father. He was busy with the upcoming election.

Noor father's decision to run for governor had driven Halima crazy. Halima was utmost not in support of his decision which had almost created a rift between them. But everyone knew there was nothing they could really do. Once Abubakar Sadiq made up his mind about something, he doesn't rest until he gets it.

Jamila, who was sprawled across the other side of the bed spoke softly into her phone. Noor did not mean to eavesdrop but then the room was quiet and she was still unaccustomed to sleeping in a new place.

"I'll try and make it tomorrow...it's hard to go out that late you know...Yeah...pick me up by midnight...Yeah of course Zee will come too...the new nightclub?...See you soon...I love you too"

Noor lay frozen, trying to digest the words.

It was long into the night, when Jamila snored loudly that she got the text for Sa'ad.

Happy birthday My Nooriy
I just want to let you know
I'll always be here
When you need to speak your mind
I'll be here
When the laughter turns to cries
Through the winning, losing and crying
And The future of unclear storms
I'll be here
When the mirror tells us we're older
I'll hold you
To watch you grow in beauty
I'll be here
Tomorrow morning when you wake up
And the world is throwing stones at you
I'll be your sheild
Cause Your Sa'ad will always be there.

Come back soon.  I miss you:)

It was the last poem Noor recived from Sa'ad.

*

Noor spend her whole morning watching Jamila. The way she combed her hair, the way she walked downstairs to eat, the way she greeted her father when the met at the corridors. Everything was perfect. Jamila clearly wasn't nervous.

That meant it wasn't the first time she was sneaking out.

Noor had watched Jamila stuff a dress and shoe in a bag which she had hidden in the wardrobe. She watched Jamila set out to bed early, pretend to sleep and slyly waiting for Noor to fall asleep.

Some minutes past midnight, Jamila grabbed her bag of clothes and went out the window where a ladder was waiting.

Noor went straight to her dad's bedroom and knocked. Adrenaline was running through her veins when she hear him speak.

"Who's there"

"It's me" Noor bawled

The door opened and Noor's father watched her carefully. She stood awkwardly by the door trying to put her word together.

"Is everything alright?" He questioned

"Um..I."

Noor suddenly couldn't speak. How could she tell her father what Jamila was doing behind his back. And then, she should not stick her nose in Jamila's life.

Maybe I should speak to her first

"I have a headache" Noor lied.

Her father reached out and placed his hand on her forehead feeling her temperature.

"You temperature seems normal...let me give you some aspirin" he walked back to his room and seconds later he was back with the pills. "You should take one tablet and Insha Allah the pain will subside. Okay?"

"Okay" Noor replied taking the pills and rushing back to Jamila's room.

*

Noor left the lights on and sat on the bed, watching the clock tick. It was not until 4:30 am that. Jamila had snuck back in.

Jamila was astonished to see noor awake.

"You! What are you doing awake" Jamila barked.

"Where have you been" Noor countered.

"It is none of your damn business!"

"You went to a night club"

Jamila was taken aback with Noor's statement. She suddenly felt scared Noor had told on her

"I swear if you ever tell anyone, I'll destroy your life" Jamila threatened.

"Your silly threats don't scare me" Noor smirked. "I won't tell anyone on one condition" Noor spoke folding her legs and looking directly into Jamila's frightened eyes. "You won't ever do it again. If you ever sneak out again, I'll be forced to speak"

"Okay" Jamila said. She won't even be here for long. Jamila smiled.

When Noor walked downstairs in the morning, no one had wished her. It was her thirteenth birthday, it was supposed to be special. She brushed off the sadness and went to the kitchen to make oats.

The two maids who worked in the kitchen were nice. The offered to make her a proper breakfast but Noor was adamant. She remembered her mother's technique to make oats in the microwave She was extra careful with the utensils and she made sure to wash her cup and plate before she went back upstairs.

Jamila was in the shower when her phone beeped. Curious, Noor took a peek at the text.

Last night was a blast. You danced like crazy!!! Wanna come along to Marie's birthday party. I'll pick you up, same time. Xoxo

*

It was some minutes past midnight when noor pretended to be asleep. This time Jamila took extra precaution. She placed two pillows on her side of the bed and covered it with the comforter. She waved her palms inches from Noor's face to make sure she was sound asleep. Then she walked to the window and down her ladder.

The guards were dozing off on duty as usual so she did not make much effort to go past them.

When she had returned at her usual time, Noor was awake, sitting at the same spot she had been last time

"You snuck out again? I told you..." Jamila cut her off

"You can do whatever the hell you want"

Noor watched her squarely and then spoke without any equivocation. "I'm going to tell dad"

"He won't believe you" Jamila stated flatly.

The next morning was a Sunday. The weather was lovely and the house was quiet. Abubakar Sadiq sat on his favorite armchair with his Sunday times. His glasses hung at the tip of his nose and he shook his head in dismay of the news.

Noor walked up to him. She was wearing a black leggings and a yellow shirt with a smiling emoji printed on it. She watched as his eyes read the words on the newspaper. She also imagined how hurt those same eyes would look when she told him.

But she had to.

"Baba"

"Noor" her father spoke. He pushed his face down so he could see her properly, not through his reading glasses. "Is everything fine?"

"Jamila snuck out last night to attend her friends birthday party at 1:00 am" she babbled.

Her father placed down his newspaper and glasses. He stared at Noor for seconds before speaking. "Are you sure of what you are saying?"

"Yes"

"Jamila!" His loud voice vibrated through the whole house and within a few seconds Jamila and the rest of the family were standing in the living room.

"Noor told me you went somewhere at 1:00 am last night, is that true?" He yelled

"No daddy" Jamila flatly denied. "Why would you accuse me of such a thing Noor!"

Then there was yelling. Jamila barked ugly words at Noor. Noor barked back.

"Will you stop accusing my daughter of something she never did. You're lying Noor. My child will never do this." Rabi roared.

Noor was taken aback. She stutters before she finally spoke

"Why would lie? What will I gain by doing that. I've been staying in the same room with her for the past fifteen days. I heard all her plans. She goes out at the dread of the night."

"Enough!" Rabi fumed. "I will not stand her and listen to your baseless accusations! And you're not only accusing her of something appalling, you're pointing fingers on her upbringing, you are questioning my daughter's character and I will never allow that!"

"I'm not lying!" Noor screamed. "I caught her red handed, day before yesterday, and last night too!"

"You're lying. Why would you say that Noor?" Jamila spoke. She had a very innocent look on her face. Noor had wanted, that very second, to reach out and wipe off that look of innocence.

Noor wanted to show everyone Jamila's true face.

"Dad..why are you quietly watching her accuse me of something despicable. I was at home last night. I had a migraine so I went to bed early." Jamila sobbed. "I even went to your room to take some pills. You were typing something on your laptop and I asked you if I could take the pills and you nodded!"

Abubakar Sadiq watched them silently before he spoke. "Yes I remember seeing you take the pills from my room last night"

"She could have snuck out afterwards!" Noor half-yelled

"They were sleeping pills Noor! I took sleeping pills to help me sleep away the headache. There was no way I could wake up, talk less of leaving the house!"

Noor watched everyone one in the room. She watched each one of them carefully, hoping to see a look that meant someone believed her. Rabi glared at her as if she wanted to behead her. The twins looked confused and Nuwaira looked bored, like she couldn't wait for the drama to be over and walk away.

But there was fatima. She watched noor with sincerity and fear. She wanted to back Noor up, but then Jamila was her sister, and she could not do that to her. Fatima knew even if she had spoken, even then nobody would believe Noor.

There was silence in the room for a minute.

"I'm not lying" Noor mumbled.

"Do you have any proof Noor?" Her father asked. What he said was supposed to be a question, but there was anger laced in his voice.

A tear fell from Noor's eye but she had a grip on herself. She stood strong and there wasn't any emotion reflecting from her eyes. Suddenly, she remembered Jamila's words from the first night she had caught her stepsister sneaking out.

He won't believe you

He won't believe you

He won't believe you

Noor looked into her father's eyes as she spoke. "Aren't my words true enough? Do you not trust me" were the words she wanted to say but she's did not.

Instead Noor replied him "No"

***