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Rashad: A Short Story

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Rayyan puts Rashad down. Fat tear droplets spill from mossy green eyes. “Fucking hell.”
“Eshgham.” Marah slaps Rayyan’s bicep. “Not in front of your son.”
“Pedar,” Rashad bemoans even louder.
His simple term of endearment exposes the wound fatally.
I lick the distaste off my lips. That’s where I heard its meaning. Father.
Rayyan tugs on my hand. “Let’s go, we’re leaving.” His basic instinct is coming out. He wants to protect me, even more, shelter me, that’s how we got into this mess in the first place. In Iran we can runaway together. Those words left his mouth exactly a week ago.
My hands ball into fist. His last ditch effort has failed. I yank every part of myself away from his grasp. A mask of horror infiltrates his eyes. The laughter …show more content…

Surprise shines in black beady eyes. She rushes past Arman’s broad shoulders. The cape of her curve-clinging-chador glides behind her. Excitement splits her grimace in two. The way she walks knowingly around the family room, walking toward Rayyan, smiling at him in familiarity, infuriates me on fire.
He is her destination. Her broad shoulders straighten. Rayyan’s eyes scan hers, almost if he can’t believe she is standing in the flesh. Her labored breaths show even with her back turn toward me. I stand a good distance away. Acting as background noise. My anger shone through as she wraps her arms around his neck to pull him into a lock gripping hug.
Malika gasp and covers her mouth. A kiss is laid upon slack lips. Rayyan’s lips. From that cheap, frumpy …show more content…

Try what I’m seeing.” I spat. “Who are you?”
A smile distracts her from the revolving world. “Dalal al Bahari and you?” she introduces. “A wife was simply greeting her husband.”
I want to slap the smirk off her rosacea struck face.
I tighten the fists already formed for her. I bump Marah’s hand off my shoulder forcefully.
The soft glow of light emulating from the tiffany lamps on the two end tables catch a glint of sparkle neither belonging to me or Marah. A diamond almost identical in size as mine dangles on a thick sausage finger caressing patterns into Rayyan’s cream-colored cardigan. The Armani cardigan I bought handmade for him. Although, he half likes the faded thing, it is the only garment he will wear more than once, because I beg him to. He reminds me of home when he wears it. I am allowed to be vulnerable, to snuggle under his chin and feel his warmth radiate through the fabric onto mine. Now on to her.
It’s not fair.
My watered vision finds Rayyan’s lost expression, eyes crossing from wife to son.
My heart beats unhinged the closer I take dreaded steps toward the family. A portrait I would give anything to be back in.
“Eshgham, stop. Do not do this.” Rayyan takes a step

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