I had no control over my body-none.
It was like my muscles knew what to do before I even thought. I didn't stop to question it. I didn't want to. All I knew was that I was beating the hell out of him.
Every second was a blur of fists and fire. Blow after blow, I knew-it wouldn't take more than a minute for him to die by my hands.
When I finally stopped, he was a mangled mess-purple blood smeared across the walls, his body scorched and twitching.
The room around us was wrecked.
"My turn," I said, walking toward him slowly, my voice calm but deadly.
"Who are you? What's happening? Why are you in Dreck's body-and where is he now?"
He looked up, smiling weakly. "You have a destiny to fulfill, Tafukt... and it's time."
"Who are you?" I repeated, firmer this time.
His eyes widened suddenly, like he saw something behind me. Fear. Real fear.
"No, please-I wasn't go-" His hands clawed at his neck.
"Wait! No-don't!" I yelled.
But it was too late. He exploded into glittering dust before my eyes.
"No, no, no, no! WHO ARE YOU, YOU COWARD!" I screamed.
"I KNOW YOU'RE HIDING SOMETHING FROM ME-SHOW YOURSELF! NOW!"
My tattoos began burning again. Still glowing.
Then I felt it.
Behind me.
And this time... my heart trembled.
Fear.
I turned.
A shadow stood there, silent, with glowing purple eyes.
It was then I realized: no one had come. No doctors, no nurses. With all the noise, the whole hospital should've been here by now. But no one came.
I was still trapped in the dream.
"Good job. I knew you were smart," the voice said.
"Who are you?" I asked, breath shaking.
"You ask too many questions, Tafukt. Find me-and you'll understand everything."
"How? How do I find you?"
"Find the door. Unlock it."
"And how do I know I'm not unleashing some god-knows-what into the real world? If this even is real? Where am I?" I snapped.
"Still talkative, I see," the voice replied softly.
"What? How do you know me? I've never seen you before-do you know me?"
The shadow started to fade.
"Wait! Answer me!" I shouted.
"We'll meet again," it said. But this time, the voice echoed-like a thousand voices speaking in one.
I ran toward the shadow, reaching out-But it vanished into smoke between my fingers.Then I jolted upright, gasping for air.
The room wasn't dark. Morning light poured through the window, warm and reassuring. The door opened and Mom and Dad walked in, arguing as usual.
"Hakim! She's awake. Hi honey, how do you feel?" Mom asked while walking into the room
"Mama?" My vision blurred as tears filled my eyes. I yanked the IVs from my arms and tore off the oxygen mask, stumbling off the bed. "I love you-I love you so much," I cried, collapsing into her arms.
My knees gave out, and she held me tightly.We were right on the spot where, in the dream, her body had lain.I sobbed like a child-like I'd kept every scream locked inside and finally let them loose.
"Baba," I gasped, looking at my father. "I'm sorry... about what I said about Adam."
"It's okay, honey. Come here," he said gently, taking my hand and trying to help me back into bed.
But I clung to Mom with my other hand. I needed to feel her warm skin-to erase the cold memory from the dream.
Dad stepped out, swearing and yelling for help. "Please... don't leave me alone," I whispered.
"We're here, sweetheart. Don't worry," Mom said, cupping my cheeks.
"What happened?" Dad asked from the door expecting a nurse or a doctor.
Then Dreck walked in-with flowers and a worried face.
I couldn't look at him.
His presence in the same room with Mom and Dad... I still didn't know if I was awake, or if this was another trap meant to shatter me.
"Taty, you are awake" he asked gently with a smile
I turned my face away. I couldn't meet his eyes.
"Dreck," mom said flatly. "We appreciate you stopping by, but you'll be late for school. And Tat needs rest."
"Tafukt," dad corrected firmly. Mom shot him a death glare.
Dreck looked at me long enough to understand-I didn't want him here.
"Alright. Please let me know if you need anything," he said softly, handing the flowers to Mom before walking out.
Dad closed the door and sat at the edge of the bed.
"Daughter... tell me. What happened?" he asked gently.
"A nightmare," I whispered. "I just want to go home." Tears spilled again.
"Okay, honey. We'll take you home," Mom said, brushing my hair from my face.
Just then, a nurse entered. Dad gave her a glare that could burn through steel.
"Why did it take you so long to show up?"
"Sir, please-I need space to do my job," the nurse said politely.
"Yeah? I called not once, not twice-THREE times-and no one came! I'm a taxpayer! My daughter needed help-you should've been here!" he snapped.
"Hakim, please. Let's not cause a scene," Mom whispered, trying to pull him back.
"Hell yeah I'll cause a scene! I pay your salary and when my daughter needs help, you will show up-understood?"
"Y-yes, sir. My apologies," the nurse stammered.
"If you need anything, I'll be outside. I'll be here on time, don't worry," Dad growled before storming out.
"I'm sorry. He's just... on edge," Mom said.
"It's okay. I understand," the nurse replied kindly. "And I'm sorry I didn't come sooner."
She got to work checking my vitals and preparing medication.I caught her staring at me. "What?" I asked.
"You're just... kind of famous," she said with a laugh.
"Famous? How?" I sat up straighter.
"You sleepwalked for a whole week. Opened every door in the hospital. The nurses were freaking out. One night, they locked your door after the last patrol... and still found every door open again. You were sitting in the garden, crying. You told one of the nurses you needed to find a door."
"I slept for a week?"
"Either sleepwalking or just standing still. It was creepy," she laughed awkwardly. "Sorry, I didn't mean to-"
"No, I get it. I'd be scared too. Please, go on."
She hesitated, then added, "The weirdest part? The door of your room was locked from the outside. The nurse on duty swore she had the only key."
She handed me a small cup of pills and a glass of water."What's this?" I asked.
"Something to help you rest."
I took them-but didn't swallow. I hid them under my pillow. No way was I falling asleep again.
"cool tattoo. What is it?"
"I..." I hesitated.
"It's okay," she smiled. "I'll leave you to rest. If you need me, push the call button on your left."
"Thank you," I said. She nodded and left with a smile.
Mom returned just as Dad was talking to a nurse and a doctor in the hallway-probably arguing about whether I could go home.
She sat by my side, stroking my hand gently.
"Hi honey. How do you feel now?"
"Okay." I looked at her, but her expression was off. Concerned.
"What?" I asked.
"Your eyes..."
Before she could finish, Dad burst in.
"Good news! You're going home!" he said cheerfully.
I wasn't sure if it was me he was happy for, or if it was just relief over the hospital bill.
"Come on, Zahra. Help your daughter change from that bag of potato.We need to leave before they bankrupt me. Come on, kitten-nothing better than home for a nap!" he said, already on his way out the door.
Yup. Definitely the bill.
I collapsed back into the pillow, overwhelmed but grounded.
That was my dad.
This was my mom.
This... was real.
Mom looked at me gently and whispered, "He stayed by your side every morning, waiting for you to wake up. He even fought every hospital staff who wouldn't let him stay overnight. He left his job... because they wouldn't give him a week off to be with you."
"Come on, sleepy-ass, let's get going," Dad said from the door.
The nurse came back, gently removing whatever had just been freshly plugged into me, and helped me out of the bed. Mom helped me change while the nurse brought in a wheelchair.
"I can walk," I mumbled, my voice faint.
"Yeah, I bet the chair's just another addition to the bill you people are slamming in my hand," Dad grumbled. "You Americans charge for everything. Wouldn't be surprised if I get an air bill for breathing inside the facility."
"She hasn't walked in a week-it's not good for her to-" the nurse began, trying to explain.
"Who said anything about her walking?" Dad cut her off.
He stepped forward and scooped me into his arms without warning. I instinctively wrapped my arms around his back. We hadn't been this close since Adam died. I buried my face into his shoulder and cried.
"Are you okay? Does something hurt?" he asked, pausing.
"Baba..." I choked out between sobs.
"Yes, kitten?" he stopped, looking down at me.
"I'm sorry. I love you."
He didn't say anything for a moment-just looked at me quietly, then started walking again.
"You're my strong girl. Stubborn-just like your father."
That was his way of saying I love you too.
"You'll get through this. Now let's get you home, have some harira, and you'll be perfectly fine."
He carried me out while everyone stared strangely.
But I didn't care.
I felt like a princess.
Like I was five again.