Inaya's POV

My alarm clock goes off for Fajr nama'az but I've been awake even before it rung. It's been like this for the last few years. I haven't been able to get a full night's sleep because of multiple reasons but every morning when I wake up, I'm grateful to be alive.

I roll over to check the time on my phone,

6:00 AM.

I still have 15 to 20 minutes before Fajr.

I get out of bed and tip-toe to the washroom to freshen up and perform wudhū.

My daily routine has been the same since I moved to my aunt and uncle's home almost two years ago: wake up before Fajr, freshen up/perform wudhū, read nama'az, go downstairs to prepare everyone's breakfast and lunch, then I'm off to either school or work.

I've graduated with an undergraduate degree in social work just last year and I've been working in the foster care system.

I love being able to direct children to safe, warm homes where they will, hopefully, be loved and cared for.

Being an orphan myself, I didn't receive much love and care from my parents. So, being able to provide help to other children is a goal I'm definitely striving for.

"Hey, Inaya!" I hear Mehar calling me from her room door in quiet tone.

Mehar is my aunt and uncle's daughter. She's the same age as me and treats me as if I'm her actual sister. She's helped me through a lot and I'm grateful I had her with me through so much.

I stop in the middle of the stairwell. "Yes? Would you like something specific made for breakfast or lunch?" I ask her.

She shakes her head. "I want to help you!"

"I would love for you to help me but you know how Chachu gets when he sees you helping me. I wouldn't want you to get in trouble."

"That's no fair! How are they going to marry me off if they don't let his daughter learn any of this?" She frowns as she makes her way to me.

I give her a pat on the shoulder and smile, "You're kind and beautiful, you'll have no problem finding a groom. Besides, nowadays, husbands should know how to cook as well." I wink.

Chaachi and Chaachu have been kind enough to provide me with a roof over my head and food on my plate when I had nothing. I have never taken their kindness for granted. So, when Chaachu tells me to keep my distance from their children, I abide without arguing.

I've tried to distance Mehar from myself in the friendliest way possible in the beginning but she never gave up on me. So, much to my uncle's dismay, Mehar and I do hang out.

Her brother, Haraz, is someone I tend to stay away from... he isn't very, uh, friendly.

Around 8:30 AM, I begin to put on my scarf to head out.

"I'm heading out!" I let everyone know.

My aunt rushes towards me to let me know what she needs from the grocery store for tonight. I quickly type it down in my notes.

"Have a good day." She says to be polite.

"Don't do anything to dishonour our name." My uncle mumbles.

It's something he's been saying to me every single day since I've moved in a few years ago but it's understandable, I'm his responsibility now. If I do anything out of line, it'll be on his name.

I say bye to Mehar and I didn't see Haraz, so I start my way to the bus stop.

Luckily, the bus stop from the house is an easy 10 minute walk and it drops me off close enough to my work.

Alhamdulillah!

• • •

"How is that you can always find the best homes for kids?" Caterina groans as she rests her head on her work table. "You even constantly get letters from the kids. I'm jealous."

Meet Caterina: my beautiful best, who's been stuck with me since elementary school. No matter what I've gone through, she's basically been there for everything.

She's given me a shoulder to cry on, she's made me laugh countless times, she's given me the gift of a wonderful friendship.

"Maybe it's the tattoos?" She examines her arms.

Did I mention she's a tattoo addict? She's 90% covered in them but I've given up on trying to tell her she might regret at least 30% of it.

People refuse to believe we're even acquaintances, let alone best friends.

I guess in a world like ours, differences are something people don't like to accept. They would prefer people to be with others who have the same differences.

"It's not the tattoos." I assure her. "Maybe you should try to be a little more gentle."

"But some of those foster parents are assholes! I can't help but to give them a piece of my mind." She frowns. "I don't know how you just make them go away by being nice."

I let out a small laugh. "You know its not that I want to be nice, I don't know how to handle rude people."

"Yes, I know, I know. That's what I'm here for."

"You won't always be there... I should probably learn how to take care of myself at one point." I say.

"I'll always be there." She assures me. "But you should learn anyways."

"Let's start going through some of the cases. We have tons of work to do today." I tap our folders full of documents.

She nods.

• • •

"Get in the car, idiot!" Caterina says.

"No! I'm really okay taking the bus. It's literally right here." I argue with her.

"I don't like saying it but you know how the area can get after dark. Plus, it being Fall, the sun sets too quickly." She makes a good point.

"I'll be fine. You live on the opposite end from my house, there's no way I'm letting you waste your gas at times like this. Our economy isn't getting better, which means gas prices are skyrocketing." I try to sound reasonable.

"I can't believe the economy is your excuse this time for not letting me drop you off." She rolls her eyes. "Fine. I'm dropping you off tomorrow. No excuses."

I smile and wave at her as I get on bus. She waits for my bus to leave before she drives off for home.

To tell you the truth, I enjoy bus rides alone with my music and my thoughts as the only things accompanying me. It's not that I don't love car rides with Caterina, it's just a different type of peace when it's just me sometimes.

"Good evening, Ms. Inaya." The bus driver greets me.

I've had the same bus driver for about two years now so it's comforting to have someone I trust drop me off.

"Good evening, Ms. Rachel." I greet her back with a smile.

"You're as jolly as always." She chuckles.

I take a seat in my usual spot. Usually, when I get on from the stop at my work, the bus is empty until the third or fourth stop.

"You know what I don't understand? Why the first two stops are literally a minute away from each other! What's the point?" Rachel mumbles to herself.

I seem to agree but maybe there's some sort of explanation.

As the bus stops at the second stop, which is literally a 60 second drive, Rachel asks if it's okay if she quickly grabs a cup of tea from the store in the front since we're a few minutes ahead of schedule.

"Yes! It's totally fine! I'm in no hurry." I tell her.

"Thank you! You're the best!" She grins as she quickly hops off the bus and jogs to the coffee shop.

As I look out the window, enjoying the the sky burst with multiple colours. The reds, oranges, yellows, pinks, purples, and blues all mixing into a large canvas to make a breathtaking painting.

Looking at this makes me think about how I want to keep fighting to live everyday because I want to be able to see the beauty this world has to offer.

As I scan the area, my eyes fall on something happening near the corner of the building that falls in between my office building and the coffee shop.

As I squint my eyes to focus on the scene unfolding before my eyes, my heart stops beating.

What the—

- - -

A/N: (to the readers who have read my previous works) don't you just love how I end chapters? What pretty cliffs(-hangers). 😂😆

Would you guys like a picture of reoccurring characters? I'll update the "[ ! ]" page with pictures of certain characters when they start appearing more, if you like!

Next Update: Tuesday, September 10, 2019.