Ammarah's POV

Hollow caves- Blessings

I left school in the morning and grabbed my tea flask and the two rolls of Philadelphia then headed to the hospital. Rayyan is leaving tomorrow and as much as it hurts me to stay behind and not go with them, I know I have to. This is our fight but he's the lead.

I walked into the hospital, greeted Sadeeq and walked to my usual seat keeping the flask and rolls on the table. I looked at the book beside Rayyan and smiled.

"You're done with the book?

He nodded "Boredom might kill me first"

I laughed lightly "How's it?

"As you said. Amazing"

"Exactly. I don't get how A man called Ove is underrated"

He lightly shrugged "It depends on people and their perspective towards life"

I stared at him then grinned "When Sonja said loving someone is like moving into a house"

Rayyan returned my grin and said "Little secrets that make them your home"

We smiled and dwelled in a beautiful silence, almost mirroring each other's thoughts as we go over things that are our own secrets. Our painting session, the river, my love for cinnamon and his for star anise, how we adore Philadelphias, our family, art. Our tradition of reading stories of the prophets"

These are the things, the little drawers that make us, us.

Individually we were houses but we were together a home.

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I left the hospital before Maghreb after assuring them I'll come by in the morning before they leave.

When I reached home, I took a bath, changed and walked down to find Rahma. I searched for her and when I couldn't find her, I went straight to her room and knocked. I heard her voice on the other side and pushed the door open walking in.

I looked around the room taking note of how longs it's been since I sat down with Rahma or even came into her room. I met her on the bed folding clothes.

When she saw me, she shifted for me to sit and continued folding "You're here"

I nodded

"Do you need anything?

I shook my head "I just wanted to sit with you"

She looked up "Ohh. Alright then"

After a few minutes of silence, she said "Rayyan is leaving?

"Yes, tomorrow"

She nodded "Sadiq told me"

I looked at her and grinned and she raised her hands "what?

"I didn't say anything"

She laughed "But you thought something"

I shrugged and looked at her clothes absentmindedly.

"You're sad" she stated

"I want to go with him"

Rahma stopped folding the clothes and clutched my hands "You'll be fine my darling. You have always been. Rayyan will be back and everything will be okay"

I smiled and my heart felt less heavy.

"Sadiq and Binta are following him" I said and she nodded

"Sadiq told me"

I raised a brow "You do talk with Sadiq a lot"

She laughed "No I don't"

"How many times do you two talk?

She looked down, hiding a blush "Two to three times"

When I didn't say anything, she looked up and added "In a day"

"Haa! I exclaimed "I knew it"

Rahma laughed and shook her head "It's not what you think"

I shrugged standing up "It's your life. I don't need an explanation"

I walked to the door then turned to her "If you're cooking dinner, call me"

She nodded and I walked out then headed to the living room that is lightened up by the dim light of the television. My foster mom sat on the couch, beside her a huge bowl of guacamole and a pringles can.

"You're home early" I said sitting on the couch next to her and she turned to me

"Yes"

"Work is less hectic? I asked and she shook her head

"Work has always been less hectic. Some people keep me occupied and I dropped them"

I said nothing and watched her for some seconds "You are not very active on Instagram now"

She sighed "I deactivated the account"

"What! I exclaimed and she turned to look at me. I soften my tone and said "You love Instagram. You're an influencer"

She laughed "It gets exhausting Ammarah. So I removed it"

"Wow" I breathed out

"What? She questioned and I shook my head

"I just never knew there will be a day you'll remove Instagram"

She laughed "well I am tired of it. And my priorities has changed" She held my gaze for a while before she removed her eyes.

I also turned to the television and saw the animation she's watching.

"Encanto? I asked and she nodded

"Saw the trailer before I logged out of Instagram. Decided to watch it"

"I've heard good things about it too. Didn't get time to watch it"

"Well...you were busy"

I turned to her "I've been so busy with school and hospital that I forgot I have a life and things to enjoy"

She smiled at me, her warm one in a lifetime smile and said "Well we are here waiting for you. We won't go anywhere"

My left yet again, felt less heavy and I grinned so wide "Is there anything in the fridge?

"Yes. Salim brought fudge for you when he dropped by hours back. I think Rahma kept it in the fridge"

I rushed to the fridge, grabbed the fudge and a bottle of water then came back to sit next to her. We got comfortable, snuggled in and watched the animation.

An act came up and my foster mom threw her legs up and laughed. She laughed so hard her whole body shook and she struggle for breath. I watched as she wipe tears from her laughter and felt my throat bubbling up too.

She was happy, she was at peace and I could clearly see it.

Life has been moving and we were moving with it. We both didn't take a minute to acknowledge all that has changed around us and even when right now we won't talk about it, we both know it exist. This growth is all around us.

We were growing and evolving. And for that moment everything fell into place. Rayyan will be okay, he'll heal and we'll grow together. The relationship between my foster mom and I will be okay, the relationship between my real parents and I will strengthen and we will be okay.

The hope and growth was strong. So strong that it was the only thing I could perceive in the room.

Growth and chocolate fudge.

Before Isha, we were done with the movie and Rahma and I cooked dinner while dancing to her favorite song in our apron and hats.

We cooked, we laughed, we sang and we dance. These little moments was what add up to a life. These memories I could look back to.

Moments where I feel the most alive and life expresses itself as a gift.

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