18~Words like therapy
"Just my luck..." Hanan muttered as she hurried out of the house, only to be swallowed by the heavy rain pouring.
Within seconds, her clothes were soaked through.
She ran down the driveway, searching desperately for somewhere to take cover, but there was nothing except a few trees lining the quiet street and the dim glow of streetlights stretching into the distance.
The neighborhood was too silent.
Only the relentless drumming of rain against the pavement and the constant chirping of crickets filled the night.
A shiver crawled down her spine.
Not because of the cold alone...
But because she suddenly realized how vulnerable she was.
She was stranded.
Alone.
And completely defenseless.
Breathing heavily, she rushed beneath the largest tree she could find before pulling out her phone.
"Please don't fail me now..."
She pressed the power button.
It didn't respond.
Again.
Nothing.
"My God..." She whispered, staring helplessly at the black screen. "You had to run out of battery at this crucial moment? What am I supposed to do now?"
She hugged herself tightly, rubbing her freezing arms.
For a brief moment, her eyes drifted toward the road leading back to Faruk's house.
"Should I just go back?"
The thought barely lasted a second.
"No..."
She shook her head firmly.
"I can't."
Not after everything that had happened tonight.
"I'll just wait until the rain stops."
Tilting her head upward, she whispered a silent prayer.
"Ya Allah Please... keep me safe."
She waited.
Five minutes passed.
Then ten.
Then thirty.
The rain only grew heavier.
Cold seeped into her bones until her teeth began to chatter uncontrollably.
Her soaked abaya clung to her body while the fierce wind whipped violently through the trees above her, making their branches sway and creak.
"I can't stay here anymore."
She inhaled sharply.
"If I can just make it to the main road... I would get a cab."
Gathering the little strength she had left, Hanan stepped back into the rain and began running.
She waved frantically at every passing vehicle.
None of them stopped.
Some sped past.
Others ignored her completely.
Each rejection made her heart sink a little more.
The freezing wind lashed against her skin.
Her legs were beginning to ache.
Then.
HONK! HONK!
A loud horn pierced through the storm.
Bright headlights flashed across the darkness, speeding straight toward her.
Hanan froze.
Her breathing stopped.
The roaring engine...
The blinding lights...
The rain...
Everything around her disappeared.
In their place came memories.
Painful memories of three years ago.
The car that ran her over.
The unbearable loss it cost her.
The day her world shattered.
The day she lost her little one.
The day she hated the most
"No..."
She whispered weakly.
"No..."
Before she realized it, her knees gave way beneath her.
She collapsed onto the wet road, squeezing her eyes shut as terror consumed every part of her.
The car screeched to a halt only inches away from her.
A terrified scream escaped her lips.
"Arghhh!"
The driver's door flew open.
"Hanan!"
Nanny Ann rushed through the rain toward her without a second thought.
She immediately helped her up from the wet ground, holding her shoulders, she searched Hanan's face, only to find it drained and pale as her terrified eyes remained fixed on the car.
"T...that car..." Hanan whispered, pointing with trembling fingers. "It's the same car..."
"Hanan."
Nanny Ann gently cupped her cheeks, forcing her to look at her.
"It's me."
Recognition slowly replaced the fear in Hanan's eyes.
"Nanny Ann?" She breathed out.
"Yes." She smiled softly. "Come on, let's get into the car. You're freezing."
She reached for Hanan's hand, but Hanan instinctively stepped back.
"That car belongs to him." She murmured, unable to tear her gaze away from it.
"What?"
"That's Najib's car... the same one that ran me over."
Nanny Ann let out a weary sigh.
"Hanan, this isn't the time for this. It's raining heavily and you're soaked. This is an Uber, not Najib's car."
Without giving her another chance to protest, she gently but firmly guided Hanan into the back seat.
A few moments later, they were on their way home.
Even inside the warm car, Hanan couldn't relax.
Every time she looked at the vehicle's interior, memories threatened to consume her.
Was it the exact same car?
Or just the same design?
She couldn't tell.
Unable to bear the sight of the driver, she quietly rested her head on Nanny Ann's lap.
Still...
Curiosity got the better of her.
She lifted her eyes ever so slightly.
The driver was almost impossible to recognize.
A black hoodie.
Black trousers.
A black face cap.
A nose mask.
Even dark glasses.
"What kind of person dresses like that at night?" She wondered silently.
Nanny Ann noticed her staring.
She simply smiled.
Feeling embarrassed, Hanan lifted her head away.
"How did you know I was here?" She asked quietly.
"Faruk informed us."
"Oh..."
"And where's Abdul?"
"He's away on a business trip."
Hanan nodded thoughtfully before speaking again.
"I would like to be dropped off at my apartment."
"My apartment?" Nanny Ann repeated, staring at her.
"Which apartment do you have besides the one in our house?"
She folded her arms.
"You're coming home. End of discussion."
For a brief second, Hanan wanted to argue.
Instead...
She simply lowered her eyes.
"Okay."
Nanny Ann softened her voice.
"And when we get home..."
"We're going to have a serious talk."
The rest of the journey passed in silence.
Not long after, the car pulled into the compound.
As Hanan stepped out, she glanced toward the driver's seat one last time, hoping to catch a proper look at the mysterious driver.
All she saw was darkness.
"Go inside." Nanny Ann said. "I'll settle the Uber."
"Okay."
Hanan quietly entered the house.
The familiar scent instantly wrapped around her.
When she entered her room, she couldn't help but smile as everything was exactly as she left it.
Her mother's framed photograph still hung proudly on the wall.
A bigger smile found its way onto her lips.
"Uma..."
She exhaled softly.
"I should get changed."
Inside her bathroom, a warm, steamy bathtub was already waiting.
"Samira?" She called with surprise seeing her preparing the bath.
The maid smiled politely.
"Welcome back, Aunty Hanan. I prepared your bath."
"Thank you."
Hanan returned the smile.
"And... thank you for helping me the other day."
"It's my duty."
"I hope you didn't get into trouble for letting me leave that night."
Samira shook her head.
"They were worried and upset... but everything settled down."
"I'm glad."
"You may go and rest."
"Good night."
As the maid left, Hanan stepped into the bathroom.
"This..."
She sighed contentedly.
"...is exactly what I needed."
The heat from the bathroom slowly chased away the night's freezing cold.
After undressing, she got into the steaming water and closed her eyes.
For the first time that night...
She relaxed.
But only for a moment.
Her thoughts drifted back to Faruk's house.
To the chaotic dinner.
To the arguments.
To... Najib.
She looked down at the cut on her finger.
When she dipped it into the warm water, a sharp sting made her flinch.
"So what if I got hurt?" She muttered bitterly.
"So what if I was bleeding?"
"What gave him the right to touch me?"
Her jaw tightened.
Without realizing it, her fingers slowly touched her lips.
The instant they brushed against them...
Her heart skipped.
The memory of their kiss flashed before her eyes.
She jerked her hand away as though she had been burned.
"No... I hate him."
"I hate his face."
"I hate his guts."
"I hate his existence."
"And I especially hate that ridiculous twisted hair of his that looks like a bunch of earthworms."
She yelled out the last sentence loud enough for Nanny Ann who was outside to hear.
"Hanan?"
Nanny Ann knocked gently on the door.
"Did you say something?"
Hanan froze.
"N... No."
"I'll be out in a minute."
"Take your time." Nanny Ann replied. "I heard you yelling, so I wanted to make sure you were alright."
"I'm fine."
The footsteps faded away.
Hanan let out a relieved sigh before quickly finishing her bath.
A few minutes later, wrapped in a soft bathrobe, she stepped back into the room.
She found Nanny Ann neatly making her bed.
"Please leave it. I'll do it."
Nanny Ann didn't even look up.
"Go and change into something warm."
"The weather is cold."
"There are still a few dresses in your wardrobe."
"Get dressed and come downstairs for dinner."
She continued smoothing the bedsheets as though nothing had happened between them.
Hanan stood frozen.
Her chest tightened.
After everything...
After the way she angrily left...
Refusing to pick their calls...
Making them worry...
Nanny Ann was still taking care of her.
A wave of guilt washed over her.
Maybe...
She had been an ungrateful brat far more than she wanted to admit.
Without another thought, Hanan rushed into Nanny Ann's arms and hugged her tightly.
"I'm sorry..." She cried.
Nanny Ann sighed softly.
"Are you?"
Hanan nodded repeatedly.
"Yes... I truly am."
"Then listen to me."
She gently patted Hanan's back.
"Go and get dressed first. We have a long conversation ahead of us tonight."
"Okay."
Within minutes, Hanan returned wearing a thick sweater and warm trousers.
She climbed onto the bed while Nanny Ann placed a tray of dinner before her.
Instead of letting Hanan eat by herself, she scooped a spoonful and fed her like she used to.
Looking closely at her face, Nanny Ann frowned.
"Look at you."
"You've become so thin."
"Have you been eating properly?"
"Yes..."
"Are you sure?" Nanny Ann raised an eyebrow. "Three meals every day? Don't lie to me."
Hanan looked away. "Sometimes."
"I knew it."
A heavy silence settled between them.
Hanan slowly reached for Nanny Ann's hand.
"I owe you an apology."