I stood on the sea shore my feet in contact with the wet grainy sand slowly sinking in, standing firm unable to move, not bothered by my stillness. My eyes could not look away from the mesmerizing scene ahead, it was simply breathtaking. The sky was like a curtain of silk, there were no clouds. The ocean is aqua blue, waves rippled gently against my sunken feet. A warm breeze swirls around me, my hijab flying in all different directions. I closed my eyes and breathed in the air that was pregnant with the smell of salt and listened to the sea song of the waves. It was serenity. Could there be anything quite blissful as an amble by the seashore?

I am at the private beach, with Imad. He is busy building sand castles and I was taking in my surroundings and trying to relax. There is no one at the beach just Imad and me. He wanted to spend the day at the beach. Today is the reception, the wedding and to be honest I can't wait for this to be over. I am nervous and also glad that it's going to end soon. "Layla I lost my goggles," Imad said, as he was running towards me.

"Where did you lose them? I saw you holding while we were leaving the villa," I told him.

"I left them on the sand and I think the waves took them," He said, sounding worried.

"That's okay Imad, we can look for them and if we don't find them we can ask Uncle Ahmed to buy for you a new pair. Is that okay?"

"Yes that's okay," he replied and then started walking towards where his toys were. I followed him and started looking for his googles by the shore, even though by now they are probably buried under sand in the sea or floating afar. But we tried to look for it and in the process, Imad started splashing water at me. It was all fun in games until I realized, the bottom of my dress is drenched. We did not find the googles, but it was fun playing with Imad. I walked towards the drier part of the sand and started wringing the bottom part of my dress, that's when I noticed my ring was missing. The one Ahmed gave me on the day we got married.

"Oh no..." I said. It must have slipped out of my finger when I was splashing the water at Imad. I walked towards the shore and started to observe the waves, deep down hoping a miracle happens.

"What's wrong?" Imad asks me.

"My ring fall off my finger, it's nothing to worry about."

"Will uncle Ahmed be mad?" He asked and looked down disappointed.

"No habibi he won't be mad. It's going to be fine..."

"Okay," he said and walked back to the sandcastle he built. How am I going to explain this to Ahmed? I don't know how he'll react. After a while we walked back to the villa. While walking I kept on glancing at my hand that felt quite bare, it's different without the ring on my hand. I am sure Imad could sense how unease I was, we walked side by side and he looked up to me and just stared at me for a while. Probably feeling guilty, when he shouldnt.

When we reached the villa, and we walked in. I notice Ahmed sitting in the living room and he was smiling. I looked at him and for a moment all there was, was him, I just looked at him. It was strange to see him like that, smiling. He rarely smiles and I began to wonder what's going through his mind. I closed the door behind me, Imad ran to his uncle and started talking to him about the beach and how he lost his googles. I greeted him, while I passed him and headed for the stairs. I got to the bedroom, and entered the bathroom for a shower. After showering, I changed into dry clothes, I wore a black skirt and a printed turquoise shirt.

Ahmed walks into the room, as I put on my hijab. "Imad told me that you lost your ring," He said.

"Yes I did, it was by mistake. It slipped off my finger when I was splashing water on him. We were just playing," I explained.

"Okay," he replied and sat on the arm chair. He took out his phone and started typing. "Sarah told me to inform you that she's coming to pick you up in the evening," he said, and looked at me.

"You're not mad?" I asked.

"No I am not," he replied, and continued typing something on his phone. "I lov... I love the venue you picked, it's a great place."

"I am glad you like it," I said and sat on the sofa, that was placed besides the arm-chair.

"Are you nervous?" He asked uncharacteristically.

"Yes I am," I admitted.

"Don't be nervous everything will be okay... My sister booked us a suite at a really nice a hotel for the...wedding night."

"We won't need that," I reply and look at anything besides him.

"I know that, but if we don't go it would look suspicious," he spoke in a low tone.

"I suppose."

"It's just for one night," he said.

"Okay... I think I should go and check up on Imad," I said and stood up. When I walked out the room, I breathed out — that was a discomfiting talk. I went down stairs and got an apple from the fridge. How can Ahmed act like he has done nothing wrong, he probably doesn't remember what he said to me, but the sad thing I do remember - even though I have forgiven him.

I go back upstairs and enter Imad's bedroom, the door was open. He was resting his head on the pillow and playing games on the Ipad. "Hey there," I say and wave the apple in my hand.

"Hi Layla," he smiles at me and continues playing the game.

"Are you okay?" I ask him.

"I am fine. I can't wait for the wedding at night," he says.

"Well you should get some rest, you don't want to be half asleep while being there."

"Okay I will," He replies and switches off his Ipad.

...

It's five o'clock and Sarah should be here any moment from now. After packing a bag with extra clothes in it and all my essentials, I went to see if Imad is ready. He decided to go with me instead of his uncle because of Sarah's daughter, Rayna. They have become close and like to play together, sometimes all Imad talks about is how much fun they have.

Ahmed already left. I walked into the bedroom and Imad was not there, he's backpack was on the floor. I checked the bathroom he wasn't there either and the balcony. He must be downstairs then, I go downstairs and I notice the door wide open. Oh no... Could someone have taken him? No no, that can't happen, no. I would have heard a scream. What if he passed out from the chloroform? What if... I looked in the balcony by the living room, he was not there and that's when my hands started shaking.

I took my phone and thought of calling Ahmed, but I don't have a Dubai simcard. So I texted him on I-message. I could barely text properly, my hands could not stop shaking and the worst part is that Ahmed isn't replying. I asked him if he saw Imad before he left. I am freaking out and I don't where he is, my thoughts are just swirling around my head. I need to look for him. I ran out the of the villa, towards the pool-side. When I got there, nobody was even there. I started running again, I don't know where I was going. Until I saw a sign that was written reception, so I ran there. When I got there I started talking to the receptionist, my voice was high-pitched and tremulous. "Have you seen a little boy, he has curly hair and... and he's six years old. His name is Imad," I spoke tears lingering in my eyes, my voice breaking.

"Sorry Ma'am. I have not seen him," he replied.

"Can you ask around? He is only six... His name is Imad. I told you that right? Okay he is wearing dark-blue shorts and a grey t-shirt." My heart started beating faster, my hands feeling cold.

"Ma'am please calm down. We will take a look in our security footage," he said.

"Okay hurry please," I told him.

"What time did you realize he is missing?"

"About five," I replied. He walked into the back room that was behind the desk. I paced back and forth until he came out again.

"Ma'am we saw him walking towards the private beach at 4:55 pm. He might be there," he said. As soon as he said private beach, I started running not caring who looked or about anything at the moment except for Imad. If anything were to happen to him, I know one thing is for sure — I will never forgive myself. The private beach was not close, and I had to run a lot, until I started panting. When I finally got there... I started to call out Imad's name and keenly search for him.

"Imad! Imad! Imad!" I yelled. I almost knelt down with my frantic thoughts taking over. That's when I realized there was a body on the shoreline and waves gushing on it. A great tremor overtook me, tears raced down my cheek, my vision blurred it was difficult to see. I wiped my eyes and ran to the body. All that was in my heart was a dua, the same dua repeating itself over and over again. I don't want to lose him, I can't. When I got to where the body was, I fell to my knees and turned the body. It's Imad, he is unconscious. I checked for his pulse on his hand, it was there but faint. I put my head on his chest to listen to heartbeats just to assure me he is okay. I carried him, watching him be so still and almost lifeless, broke me.

As I walked out the gates of the private beach, a golf cart pulls up. I got in, holding Imad close, hugging him. "Don't worry Ma'am the ambulance is on it's way," the guy who drove the golf cart says, after talking over a walkie-talkie. When we got to the reception, we were told to wait for five minutes. I felt the hot tears fill up my eyes. When the ambulance arrived, a gurney was brought. I had to keep him on it, and I did. He was wheeled in the back of the ambulance, and the paramedics started doing CPR on him, after they asked where I found him. They also put a blanket on him. I got in the ambulance after they did and sat besides him, holding his hand. They injected him with something. I don't think the paramedics know what's wrong with him yet, they were examining his body.

We got to the the hospital in twenty minutes, he was rushed into the emergency entrance, into the hospital. The doctor approached the gurney, and gave him another injections. I was told to stay at the waiting area and fill in some papers. I still had my phone in my hand, luckily there was WiFi in the hospital. I texted Ahmed and explained to him what happened and which hospital we are at. I didn't know what to fill in on the paper except for his name and the allergies section. I could not think straight and all that were in my thoughts is Imad. I started reciting a dua, quietly. After a while a nurse approached me and started explaining to me what had happened to Imad: "He is going to be fine. Your son was stung by a jelly-fish, and fainted since he was overcomed by emotions. He must have been in pain and frightened," she said in a low tone.

"Can I see him?" I asked.

"Yes you can," she replied. As I walking behind her, I hear my name being called out. I turn around and see Adil.

"Layla," he says and walks towards me. I look at him, my eyebrows knitted together — confused. What is he doing here? Maybe he came to visit someone or for a check-up. I thought to myself.

"Hi Adil," I said.

"How is Imad? Have the doctors told you what's wrong with him?" he asked in a stern tone.

"Ye-yeah he's fine," I stammer. "How did you know..."

"You texted me probably thinking it was Ahmed... I got your messages and I came," He replied.

"I was heading to see him now," I told him.

"Let's go then." He says and starts walking besides the nurse, I walk behind them and start to think of how I hurt him...but he is here. I am sure he came for Imad. The nurse drew the curtains and Imad was still unconscious. The nurse said he was on a sedative, and that he can wake up after an hour or less. I stood besides him and brushed his hair back and kissed him on the forehead. The only way my heart will be assured that he is okay, is if he opens his eyes.

"Thank you for coming," I said, still looking at Imad. "It means alot." I look at Adil and smile limply.

"You don't need to thank me, but you are welcome. Imad is my nephew and he's family," he replied.

"Aren't you suppose to be getting ready for a wedding?" Adil asked me.

"Ha?"

"Your wedding, it's today right?"

"Yes it is... I don't think I'll be going."