Screaming In Silence: A Short Story

Screaming in Silence

It was a Sunday evening, and it was chilly, odd for summer weather. The skies were crying tears as if though it had been holding back pain for years and today it had reached its breaking point. The leaves were dancing in circles while the wind angrily blew them everywhere. My family members were watching the Simpsons, our favorite family show, while I was looking out the window, surprised for such a change in the weather today. I kept looking outside, while swirling in my past memories to which made me furious for a second and smile to my next memory.

While I was lost in my memories, the drop of the phone woke me out of it. I looked around and I saw that my mom’s hands were trembling and her face looked as if though she

Hayat was my best friend, someone who I had immense respect and admiration for. Why her all of a sudden? I was feeling confused, upset, depressed, angry, defeated and impatient. I wanted answers and I wanted them now! My father asked me to take charge and take care of my younger siblings, since I am the oldest, while he and my mother went to the emergency.

I didn’t know whether to cry or to scream. I didn’t know who to point fingers at nor who to cry to. I felt numb, with my throat heavy and my head spinning fast. I grabbed onto the sofa and sat, while my siblings looked terrified and upset. I hugged them and I said, “Do not worry little ones, Hayat will be fine. She will be fine.”

I put my younger siblings to bed and I kept looking at the watch, wondering why the clock is ticking so slowly. I wanted to hear my mother’s voice and for her to tell me that Hayat is alright, she will recover. I had a geography test to study for, but that was the last thing on my mind right now. Surprisingly, I still had not cried. I was confused, hence, I considered myself a horrible friend who isn’t crying while my best friend is on the death bed, in

I saw her face, all swollen up while she had tubes all around her. I fell to my knees while tucking my head into my shoulder, and I wept. Oh, how I wept in woe. My shoulders were shaking, as I was grasping for air. Tears were rushing down as if they were kept in hostage for years and today were the day they were all released. I just kept on crying, while feeling a complete void inside.

Eventually, I put myself together and I spoke to Hayat while looking at her. I told her that she cannot leave us halfway, killing us all inside and destroying us mentally and scarring us forever, wishing she never left us so early. I had a one on one session with God and I asked him to bring back Hayat, our life (translation of Hayat in Arabic), and to grant her ease through recovery. She cannot be done now. She has much more to offer this world. She was the missing piece of the puzzle that makes it a whole. She cannot leave. No. Not now. Not without