" What truth, Hassan, you are freaking me out ?" I yelled at my brother.

" Calm down, Jannah, I knew I had to tell you one day, but before telling you, I want you to know that I'm sorry " Hassan said in regret.

" Tell me what Hassan, and sorry for what, speak, please " I said, trying to lower to voice as we attracted the attention of people around us.

" The dreams you used to have about James were.....were true " he said in hesitance.

" What do you mean were true? " I said in confusion.

" I mean....They.....Took place in real life, they happened...for real " Hassan explained.

" What....what do you mean?....I don't remember this " I said fanatically.

" You don't remember because...you had PTSD " Hassan said.

" Why would I have PTSD? I never did " I asked.

" you don't remember but you were with our father in the car, the night of the accident, it affected you deeply, it messed up your memory for some time, then you started to remember fragments of your life before the accident, you started to see them in your dreams, and the parts you couldn't remember, your brain made up some events to fill in the gaps, I know it's hard to believe this, but this is the truth we hid from you for years" Hassan explained regretfully.

" But the shooting....James didn't die.... " I said.

" I told you, your brain made up some events to fill in the gaps, like a defensive mechanism, that's what the doctors said " Hassan explained.

" You mean....Me and James.....we were in love? " I asked.

" Yes..... " he replied.

" That's why James said that he saw the same dream when he confronted me, because it was real " I said, then looked at my brother,

" And you lied to me all those years...you made me abandon him....maybe if I hadn't abandoned him, he wouldn't have been shot " I said to him, angerily.

" We had to, Jannah, his mother was crazy, she threatened us....she threatened us to..." Hassan, said before stopping mid sentence.

" She threatened us to....what??" I asked.

" She threatened us to send someone to......do horrible things to you....The woman was a lunatic " Hassan spilled it out.

" What????!!!!! " I said in shock.

" When James reverted, she blamed us for it, she believed that we brainwashed him to do so, I'm sorry but we were afraid of her, she said she would do anything to stop that relationship, she couldn't see us as humans, she wanted us to keep you away from him, and promised if we did so, she would pay for your college expenses " Hassan said.

" She paid for my medical school? " I yelled at him.

" And got me a job in the local newspapers " Hassan added.

" And that was the price of lying to your sister? You broke two hearts, two lives....." I yelled at him.

" I told you, she threatened us, she used the carrot and stick strategy with us " Hassan explained.

" I knew there was something wrong, I've always seen those events so vivid, they didn't look like just a dream, I could hear his laugh, smell his scent...." I said.

" We had to carry the burden of lying to you all those years to save you " Hassan said.

" And James.......does he know? " I asked.

" Yes, he knows, he wanted to be with you, but we pushed him away, we asked him to stay away if he loves you, he couldn't do anything about it, he knew how strong and how crazy his mother was " Hassan explained.

" And what about his reversion?" I asked.

" He did take his shahada, but after his mother's threats, he stopped coming to the mosque " Hassan explained.

" Allah will hold us accountable for pushing him away from Islam, Allah only knows if he still practices or not " I said.

" It kept haunting me, but I didn't know what else to do " Hassan said sadly.

" Why now Hassan? why telling me now? " I asked.

" It's Jamilah, I told her this story, I told her that I couldn't do it anymore, I couldn't continue to lie to you anymore, I felt like a fraud, I came back because I wanted to make it up to you for leaving you after my father's death, and lying to you wasn't supposed to be part of it, she told me that I should tell you the truth, it had been ten years already, that crazy woman can't hurt you anymore, you are an adult now, you can protect yourself. And......... " Hassan explained.

"And what....?" I asked.

" And now, that he is here, maybe you two will reconnect...I never thought before that you will ever cross paths again, I was even hesitant about telling you, untill you told me about his accident " Hassan said.

" But it's too late anyway, I told you he is in coma, it's hopeless " I replied, dead inside.

" Never lose hope in Allah, Jannah. And it's your life, do whatever you want with it " Hassan said with a voice full of Hope.

I didn't say anything back, I just smiled at him.

" And also, I came to give you these " Hassan said, taking some envelopes out of his pocket, handing them over to me.

" What are these? " I asked in confusion.

" When James had no other means of contacting you, he kept writing these letters to you and putting them in our mailbox, I used to take them and hide them away from you, you need to read them " Hassan said.

I looked at them trying to control my tears in front of my brother.

" He also gave me this " Hassan said getting out a Ruby ring out of his pocket, then continued " he wanted you to have it, he said he wanted you to carry a piece of him with you, I couldn't give it to you before, because I was afraid you would find out the truth, but here, have it, it's yours " Hassan said, giving me the ring.

" I can remember this ring, I saw it in my dream " I said.

" Jannah, there is one more thing.....our father would have been very proud of you " Hassan said, standing up.

" I miss him " I said.

" I miss him too " Hassan said, then he continued " I won't marry without you " he said, shaking my hand.

" I wouldn't miss your wedding for the world " I said trying to smile.

" You know why I'm marrying Jamilah, because she reminds me of you, she has your heart " Hassan said, blushing.

" I know, she is a good girl, you are lucky to have her " I said.

" Come here you little doc " Hassan said, graping my arm to hug me, as he saw the saddness on my face.

I needed his hug so much, I needed my father's hug too.

Hassan placed a kiss on my forehead then left. I headed back to the residents room. I still didn't start working officially for the hospital, As I had one more day to start.

So I went to James' room, and sat by his bed.

" So, everything was true " I whispered into his ear.

First, I got the ring out of my pocket, and put it on.

Then I got his letters out of my pocket, opened the first one, and started reading them out loud to him.

" Dear Jannah......." the first letter read, with my tears racing down my cheeks.