The blaring honk of a car shattered the silence in Zuhra's room. Lying on her bed, she opened her eyes slowly and stepped down. Peeking through the curtain, she saw a black Jeep parked right in front of their house — the one vehicle that never failed to stir her deepest anxieties.
"Daddy's back."
Her heart thumped like a warning drum. She shut the curtain quickly and leaned against the wall, releasing a heavy, shaky breath. Her phone lit up. She glanced at it and saw a message from an unknown number:
> "I know you don't have time to talk now. But I have no intention of hurting you. I see your pain. Take care of yourself."
Zuhra stared at the message, her heart pounding. She didn't even know who had sent it — yet it felt as if someone had read her soul.
She was about to switch off her phone when she heard:
BANG!
The living room door slammed open. The sound of military boots and his thunderous voice filled the house.
Brigadier (yelling):
"Zuhra! Where are you?!"
Startled, Zuhra jumped away from the wall like someone jolted awake. She quickly fixed her scarf, tears already forming in her eyes. Then she walked out slowly — as if heading toward a sentence.
In the living room, her mother sat on the couch, clutching an apple and a cup, both trembling in her hands.
Mummy (nervously):
"You're back safely...?"
Brigadier (without looking at her):
"My safety depends on the answer I'm about to get. Where's Zuhra?"
Zuhra stepped into view, her body trembling, eyes lowered.
Zuhra (softly):
"Yes… Daddy."
Brigadier (stepping closer to her):
"Why didn't you submit your lab assignment today?"
Zuhra closed her eyes, feeling her heart sink. She didn't know that Usman and John had told him everything.
Zuhra (quietly):
"I didn't know it was due today…"
Brigadier (raising his voice):
"I don't tolerate disrespect, Zuhra! And I won't stand by while you drag the name of this military household through the mud. Some boy approached you at school — who gave him the right? Or have you forgotten you're the daughter of a soldier?"
Zuhra panicked. She shook her head quickly.
Zuhra:
"I don't know him… he didn't speak to me directly. I just got a text from an unknown number… I don't even know who it was…"
Brigadier (fuming):
"Don't you dare let any boy speak to you again — not even look at you! Stop bringing me shame from the outside. I might bend in other things — but never on honor!"
Mummy (stepping forward in fear):
"Please, lower your voice. Zuhra said she doesn't know him…"
Brigadier (snapping at her):
"Stay out of this! Or I'll get stricter with everyone."
Zuhra held her breath as tears poured like rain. She slowly turned and walked back to her room without another word. Once inside, she shut the door quickly, leaned on it, and burst into uncontrollable sobs.
She glanced at her phone again. The message was still there.
And then her heart whispered:
"Oh God… who is this person? And why does his message shake me more than anything else in the world?"
Her life seemed to be drowning in darkness. But somehow — this message… this voice in writing… it might just be a light from beyond