'' Okay, fine. I'm calling my mother now. '' Nawal says annoyed, I grin at her as she rolls her eyes. She takes up her phone from her bag and calls her mother. A few seconds later she picks up, '' Alo Mama, I just got out of the hospital. '' She says as she looks down on the table. '' Oh, good because Matthew and I were thinking to come over now. '' She looks up at me as she sticks her tongue at me playfully. I chuckle, I can't believe I'm going to spend my life with this cupcake. '' Good, we'll be there soon, love you. '' She says before she hangs up. She sighs, '' Happy? Now let me finish my noodles. '' She says as she slurps her noddles, I look at her carefully. '' Yes, very happy. Now finish your noddles. '' I grin.

I look at how she eats her noddles, she really loves them. She eats them so roughly, a chuckle escapes my mouth. She looks up at me, '' What? '' She furrows her eyebrows. I shake my head, '' I just wish you could eat my mouth like that. '' I say playfully. She accidentally spits out her noddles, I laugh as I wipe her face. '' Ewwww, now you made me lose my appetite. '' She slaps my arm. I kiss her forehead gently, '' I'm sorry baby. '' I smile at her. '' Forget it, let's go now. '' She smiles back as she takes me by my wrist and we walk towards the parking lot.

We take deep breathes before we walk into my house, I look at Matthew who's already sweating. I slap his arm, '' What? '' He jumps. I laugh, '' What's wrong with you, we haven't even walked in yet. '' I laugh. He looks down at me nervously, '' Your right, I should breathe. '' He says as I shake my head. '' Let's walk in already. '' I drag him into the house. I see my come into the hallway from the living room, '' You're here. '' She grins and looks at Matthew. '' Yes, we're here. '' I say. Matthew takes some steps closer to my mom, '' Hello auntie. '' He says nervously. My mother laughs, '' Don't be nervous, I don't kill. '' She says and we laugh with her. She points at the living room, '' It's the man in there who kills. '' She winks at us. I didn't know if she was joking or not, but all I knew was that she made the situation worse. Matthew looks at me as I look back.

'' Okay then, let's walk in. Your father is waiting for you. '' She says as she walks into the living room, as soon as we get in we see my father sitting on one of the couches. He looks up at us, '' You're here. '' He says. Matthew and my dad greet each other and my father offers Matthew a seat. My father looks at me, '' Are you feeling much better Nawal? '' He asks me, I nod. '' Yes Baba, much better. '' I smile. '' Good. '' He says. '' Just so you now, Sejad escaped, he's still out there. The police failed to catch him, but they are still looking for him. '' He looks at me and Matthew. I look at Matthew who looks straight into my dad's eyes. Matthew nods carefully, '' Oh... '' Matthew sighs.

'' Now let us focus on you, I want you to tell the whole truth. How you met and what happened. '' My dad says with a serious tone. Matthew and I look at each other at first, but then we told them everything. Okay, not everything. I can't tell them that we kissed and that I slept on his bed, I mean my dad would've killed us right away. But we told them almost everything, I told them about how we met, and Matthew told them the rest. He told them about how he fell in love with me, and that he paid off the debt.

My mom's and dad's expressions looked very funny, they were so shocked. They just couldn't believe their ears. They looked at each other for a second, '' So you were the one who paid off the debt? You were the one who paid off the 900.000 dollars? '' My mom asks Matthew confusedly. Matthew shakes his head carefully before he speaks. '' Yes, I didn't tell anyone about it but my assistant. I knew that Nawal would've got angry, that's why I kept it a secret. But everyone found out in the end. '' He says nervously. I see my dad shaking his head carefully. '' And that was all because of Nawal? '' My dad asks Matthew as Matthew looks at me.

'' Yes... '' Matthew nods. My father looks at my mother, he turns around and lays his eyes on Matthew again. '' And now you want to marry my daughter? '' My dad asks, even though he knows the answer. '' I do, I want to marry Nawal. '' He says with a serious tone. My heartttttttt. My father sighs as he looks down. '' Do you know what that means? '' My father looks at Matthew with raised eyebrows. '' Yes I know, and I'm willing to do anything to marry Nawal. Anything. '' my heart flutters as he says it with confidence. We sit there and talk about Islam and what it means to become a Muslim, and It really looks like Matthew is really interested.

'' When you have learned enough about Islam then I think it's time for you to marry, I'll give you a year to learn about Islam. As I said, when you know enough you will get to marry my daughter. '' My dad tells Matthew. A big smile appears on Matthew, he looks really happy and reviled. '' Thank you so much Uncle. '' Matthew as he walks up to my dad and shakes hands like they just made business. I look at my mom who winks at me, I let out a small chuckle.

The rest of the time my mom made dinner and invited Matthew to eat with us, we ate biryani and dolma. Yes, my family really loves dolma. As we ate we talked and joked about a few things, Matthew told my parents about his childhood and his father. My parents were focused on what Matthew told them, It's like they were watching a movie. After we finished eating It was time for Matthew to get back to the hospital because of his father. Matthew over to my father and shook hands with him, '' Thank you so much Uncle. '' He said with a smile on his face. My father laughed and nodded, '' I should thank you for wanting to take Nawal away from us. '' He joked and we all laughed. Never have I ever thought that my family and Matthew would laugh and joke.

'' I'll walk you two to the door. '' My mother said and I nodded. Matthew, me and mother walk to the hallway as my mom joked with Matthew. I could see that she really liked him. '' I can't wait to be your mother in law. '' She said and Matthew and I laughed really loud. '' Don't worry, I already see you as my mother. '' He said and she chuckled. '' I'll leave you two alone then. '' She said and walked away.

I turn my gaze at Matthew who's looking at me. I can't believe it, I'm going to marry the man I love. He caresses my cheek carefully, '' Nawal? '' He almost whispered. '' Yes? '' I looked at him lovingly. He leans over to me and kisses my forehead. '' I love you. '' He says before he looks at me again. '' I love you too. I love you so much, I love love love love love you more than anyone and anything. '' I say and we chuckle. I walked him to his car and we said goodbye with a kiss. I waved him goodbye and he drove off of my sight.

When I was about to walk in again Saja came up on my mind. I need to talk to her! I need to solve everything with her, we need to grow up and solve everything. I ran over to her house and knocked on the door. I waited a few seconds but she still didn't open. I knocked again but still answer. Why isn't she opening the door? Isn't she home or what? But then I noticed that the door was open. Strange? I walked in and there my heart sank. Blood, blood everywhere. I started to panic, '' SAJA!? SAJA WHERE ARE YOU? '' I yelled with my heart pounding. I followed the blood, and there was she laying. Blood flooding out of her body, dried blood on her hands. '' SAJAAA!! '' I screamed as I cried. I ran towards and sat with my knees next to her body, I shook her body as I was panicking. I looked at her stomach. She got shot, she got fucking shot.

''Saja, please, Saja wake up, please. '' I cried really hard, I held her around my arms. '' Saja! Saja! '' I cried more and more but she didn't answer. Suddenly she opened her eyes, '' Saja! Saja, stay awake! I'm calling the ambulance. '' I said, I tried to pick up my phone but she stopped me by shaking her head carefully. '' Don't... It's already too late. '' She said weakly as tears run down her cheeks. I shook my head, '' No please, Saja I can't live without you. Please! Please. '' I said between my sobs '' Nawal, live well. Go have kids, get married and be healthy. '' She says, I cry more and louder.

'' Saja I'm calling the ambulance now. '' I panic and take my phone as I denial the call. '' Nawal, do me a favor. '' She says as she becomes weaker. '' What? Anything. '' I sob really hard. A weak smile appears on her face, '' Forgive me. '' She said before locking her eyes. '' SAJAAAA!!! '' I screamed as I shook her body. '' HELP! SOMEONE PLEASE HELPP! '' I yelled and yelled but no one came.

Then I realized that I lost Saja, forever.

one week later

Everyone was wearing black, everyone was crying and hugging each other. But I don't want to cry, I don't want to hug someone. I want Saja with me here, I want her to be with me and laugh about everything. I haven't lost Saja, she's still there somewhere. She's still alive, she isn't dead. She can't be dead. I see Saja's parents crying on their knees as uncles and aunties try to make them stand up. It can't be, this is a dream. Please ya allah, tell me it's not true. '' Baby. '' I feel Matthew pulling me onto his chest. I freeze, '' I'm so sorry baby. '' He says again. I don't reply, I look at Leila who sitting on the ground as she cries, Jacob hugs her tightly. I cry on Matthew's chest. '' Did she really die? '' I look up at Matthew. I see the pain in his eyes, he sighs as he nods. I fall on my knees and scream.

She's gone, Saja is gone. And it's my fault.

The End