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"How is she?"

"She's getting better. Slower than most but she's getting there" The doctor told Zayn, who stood opposite him. "We'll keep monitoring her and if there's anything, I'll let you know"

"Actually..." Zayn was quick to shake his head, "...if there's anything, call my sister, Sabrina. I will be leaving tomorrow so I'll be out of reach"

The doctor nodded in understanding, offering Zayn a warm smile. "Well, I wish you a safe trip back home then. And worry not, we'll take good care of your mother"

"I was hoping for that" Zayn offered him a small smile.

The doctor parted his lips to say something, hesitating for a while before he finally asked. "Would you like to see her today then? She had been asking about you"

Zayn didn't think about it before he shook his head. "No thank you" He repeated the same words he had told the doctor all those other times he was asked the same thing.

It was always a solid No.

He has visited the hospital more times that he'd like to admit, but not once has he ever made an attempt to see her. He only asks of her wellbeing, then leave. He knew he could do that over the phone but he preferred coming. At least then, he would stare at her from afar without having to talk to her then he leaves.

The doctor nodded again. He didn't know why he kept on asking despite getting the same answer all the time. Maybe, he was hoping the woman's son will finally see her so she could at least be happy.

She asks about him all the time. Whenever someone comes, she asks the same question. "Ahmed? Is that you?"

Of course, she's happy whenever she sees her daughter Sabrina who tries her best to visit her as much as she can. But even she gets the same question. "Where's your brother, Ahmed? Is he with you? When is he coming?"

Their response was always that Ahmed would come. And he does visit, but he never agrees to see her.

He doubts he could look at her without thinking of all the horrid things she had done. It already haunts him every single day and because of that, he had formed a new relationship with his antidepressants. If not for that, he doubted he could still be where he is at the moment.

That is more than he could handle.

Yet he couldn't stand not knowing how she is. She is still his mother despite everything and it won't change the fact that he loved her to no ends. It gave him the littlest bit of peace whenever he came and saw how she is doing.

But he knew he has to return. His time in Nigeria is over, and he couldn't stay longer than that. He's just glad knowing that she's getting better but he couldn't help but think about what would happen when she gets better fully.

If she recovers, then she will undergo trial and will face the consequences of her actions.

Zayn didn't know if he should he happy that justice will finally be served or to be sad that the only woman, the one person he knew as his mother would face the consequences that will, without a doubt be severe.

He tries to not think of the future that much and simply dwell in the present. He'll deal with that then.

"Well then, if you'll excuse me, Mr. Danbatta, I'll get going now" The doctor said, offering Zayn what is supposed to be a warm smile.

Zayn nodded softly, "Thank you for everything" He then slipped his hand into his and pulled out a paper. "Can you give this to her though? This is all I can offer right now"

The doctor's smile widened slightly, but not into a grin but rather in a warm smile. "Of course" He called out a nurse that's about to walk past the, then asked her to give it to Mrs. Danbatta. "It's my pleasure" The doctor added, once the letter is being given to her. He then turned around, then disappeared along with some person he met on his way.

Zayn sighed, turning his head around to glance at the room they stood outside of through the upper part of the door that was made of glass. Apparently, it's made in such a way that the person outside could see the person in but the person inside can't see the person out.

He found himself taking a deep breath and swallowing hard when his gaze fell on her. The nurse had handed the letter over to her and left already. At that moment, she was opening it up with a curious look masking her features. She wasn't completely sane, but she could still read and understand what's going on, sometimes.

And judging from the way her eyes skim the paper, as she read every word; she understood what it meant. And it went like;

Dearest Mama,

I'm sorry I can't bring myself to see you without thinking of the things you've done. I tried to forget it, and meet you but I couldn't. You of all people knew how much it killed me not knowing the truth. And then I found out that you were the one behind it?

I don't know if I can find it in myself to ever forgive you but God...I can't ever stop loving you because you have always been a mother to me. Yes, we've had our differences but I can never change that fact.

But then there will forever be this pain, that's always there consistently in me. How could you do that to us? We're all deeply hurt by the things you've done. Dad, whom you've always believed that he doesn't love you, does honestly. Times without number I found him staring into space whenever I visit him in him home that now seemed all too dull and lifeless.

I doubt he can still call it a home without you.

Sabrina...she isn't any better. Every time she visits you, she always returns home in tears. And I...I don't think I'll ever find it in me to see you again.

I'm sorry to say this but you've lost a son. You've lost your family. You've lost the family you've hurt so much by your actions. And now, you'll miss out on the life of your grandchildren. They still ask about you by the way. They ask about you a lot. "Where's grandmamma?" They always ask, "When is she coming back home?"

Sabrina is running out of excuse to tell them. I don't think she'll ever have an answer for that.

But despite everything, even if I can't ever find it in me to forgive you; I will never stop seeing you as a mother.

This is the last time you will be hearing from me. Take care of yourself.

With Love, Zayn.

He watched as she dropped the letter, a silent sob escaping her parted lips. She buried her face in between her palms, letting the tears cascade down her face like waterfalls.

He couldn't bear to watch her. So, he threw her one last glance for what he felt like is the last time before he turned around and headed out of the hospital. He doesn't know why but somehow he felt like it would be the last time he would come to see her.

So, that was the only goodbye he could offer her.

When he got into his car, he didn't start it. Instead, he rested his head on the steering wheel as he tried to recover from the things that had happened in the past month. Seeing her has always been hard, yet saying goodbye to her was definitely the hardest.

His phone rang. He wanted to ignore it but seeing the caller's ID had him wiping his tears and clearing his throat. He made sure the traces of tears weren't seen on his face before he answered the video call, a smile taking over his features when he saw the person at the other end. "Hey champ"

The little boy grinned, his eyes that reminded Zayn so much of Kulsum squinting slightly. "Uncle Zayn!" His grin faltered a bit, when he noticed the light shade of red which is his Uncle's eyes. "Uncle Zayn...what's wrong with your eyes?" He asked, lips tugged into a frown.

Zayn was quick to shake his head. "It's nothing"

"ADNAN!"

Adnan looked behind him, seeing the woman whom he had always known, and still believe is his mother approach him. Batoulah, approached the boy, then peeked to see who he was on the call with. She offered Zayn a smile.

"Mommy, Uncle Zayn is crying" Adnan stated, making Zayn wince slightly. He was hoping the boy won't say a word about it to his mother or realize that he had been crying to begin with but of course, nothing could get pass him.

He truly is Kulsum's son.

"Is he now?" Batoulah pretended to be surprised but did throw a knowing look at him. She knew he went to visit his mom. That has to be the only reason he cried, even if he will deny it.

Adnan nodded, turning around to look at his mother. "Did his girlfriend break up with him?" He asked, innocently.

Batoulah burst into fits of laughter, but turned it into a cough when Zayn threw her a small glare. But she still couldn't hold it in. Everyone knew that Zayn and girlfriend do not belong in the same sentence. But how funny would it be though if he cried because a girl broke his heart?

"No Champ, none of that happened" Zayn responded, since it doesn't seem like Batoulah would chip in and help. "How about you and I have a day out today, since I'm leaving tomorrow huh?"

Adnan nodded eagerly. "Yes please"

"Alright then, I'll pick you up in an hour. Just you and I so your mother isn't invited"

Batoulah scoffed, then rose her hands up slightly. "I never said I was going totag along" She rolled her eyes.

~*~

The next day, Batoulah was the one who drove Zayn to the airport. Adnan wanted to come with them but he had school. And Kamal, well, Zayn knew he's somewhere being a goofball as usual. He will meet his teammates at the airport. And speaking of them, he doesn't have any idea how they spent the month and he didn't care.He had always said farewell to his father too. Sabrina...he couldn't get a hold of her.

"Thank you" Zayn said, as he and her made their way into the airport. She had parked the car and he has his suitcase dragging it with him.

She turned around to look at him, "What are you thanking me for?" She asked, her brows drawn in.

Zayn stopped in his tracks, right in front of her. "For everything" He offered her a smile. "But most importantly, thank you for taking care of Adnan as your own" Zayn still couldn't believe how close to him the boy is all this while.

Apparently, Laura couldn't kill the boy after Sabrina's mother made her take him. So, she took him to an orphanage where he grew up. She couldn't do that to him or his mother because she personally knew what it felt like to be away from your child. But she couldn't return him either because his life would still be in danger.

When she met Kulsum in rehab, she realized how the action took a toll on her. So, she told her that her son is alive yet she never told her of his whereabouts or the complete truth. She wanted to find someone to trust first before she told him, and that was Alhaji Danbatta right before she passed away.

She told him of his grandson's whereabouts, and the person responsible for it all. He wanted to let Kulsum meet her son at least one last time, but by the time he got the child, she was dead and so, he couldn't bring him back.

So, he left him in the hands of people he trusted and told Aasim and Hanif the truth, because Aasim is the boy's father and Hanif is one of the few people the old man trusted. Aasim obviously was bound to tell his wife Hayra, who in return told her younger sister whom she couldn't hide anything from.

When the people Alhaji Danbatta left Adnan in their care moved away, five years back, Batoulah volunteered to take care of the boy as her own. Obviously, Aasim couldn't take him since that would mean Sabrina's mother would see the boy at one point and know.

They all agree he's safest with Batoulah. He's close, but safe and away from the woman who was after him.

The situation wasn't easy for Batoulah, considering she was young, and in medical school at the time but she had always have a soft spot for the boy. And so, juggled all the tasks at hand and eventually, Adnan recognized her as his mother.

The boy still knows nothing of his birth parents, for as far as he knows, Batoulah is his mother and Aasim is his aunt's husband. His father, he never asked about that though he was curious. He might only be eleven years old, but he has a feeling that he has something to do with the Abdou Husseins, because he uses their last name.

Adnan Abdou Hussein.

How could he not think that way when he shares the same last name as the children who he believed are his cousins, but are truly his half siblings. Besides, as much as he knows, it's his mother and Aasim's wife that are siblings not the other way round.

He hasn't said a word about it, but he knew he is related to the Abdou Husseins in more ways than one. And he couldn't wait for the day when the adults will finally be honest with him.

Zayn wasn't keen on keeping the truth from the boy, but they all believed it would be better to tell him when he's older. And so, they will wait until then to reveal the truth.

"Oh please, don't ever say that" She stated, seriously. "Yes, I did not give birth to the boy and he is not to related to me my blood but it will never change the fact that he is my son Zayn. He will always be my baby boy. I owe your sister that much after she saved my sister, and me in the process" There was no ounce of lark in her tone but fierce determination.

She meant every single word she uttered.

Adnan will always be her son.

Her words had a true, genuine and contented smile making its way on his face for the first time in two weeks. He felt peaceful knowing that Kulsum's son is in safe hands. He wanted to return to the US with the boy when he came but clearly, there's no need for it.

The boy has a life in Nigeria, and he wouldn't take that away from him.

He then briefly glanced at the wrist watch strapped around his wrist, noting that he had about thirty minute before he boards his flight, and he was still yet to spot his teammates. Knowing them, they are probably around somewhere. That made him sigh, "It's almost time" He stated, looking back up at her.

"Oh" Batoulah muttered, running her fingers over her knuckles discreetly. "I guess this is goodbye then?" She couldn't help the pang of sadness she felt, and judging from the look on his face, he felt the same way too.

He nodded, his lips stretching into a small smile. "Goodbye Doc. Take care of Champ and yourself"

She offered him a small grin, "Always, Captain"

He didn't say a word more as he turned around, dragging his suitcase along with him with one hand tucked in his pocket. He didn't spare her another glance, knowing it's for the best.

However, after a couple of feet, he stopped. His fingers curling around the handle of his suitcase, slightly drumming it as he thought of his next words. It wouldn't seem right to just leave like that. He couldn't leave their story hanging like that.

So, he turned around to look at her, rubbing the nape of his neck. "Um...how about that cup of coffee before I go?"

She smiled.