Can you not lie?

Chapter 19

I sat across my patient who felt like the only escape she had in this world was through food. Which is very understanding since food is such a comforting thing, not only do these people use it to fill up their empty bellies but also the void they harbored throughout their childhood. It’s normal to feel like you can’t live without something and that majority of your problems can be solved through an outlet that you’ve created or can create for yourself… but the best outlet should be running to your lord.

Of course, my job isn’t based on giving religious advice but it’s always good to remind a patient that if your spirituality is suffering then everything around you won’t do well….i try to include this into a session as much as I can, and islaam is what I make sure they end up Turing to unless the patient really needs medication. There’s food therapy as well but I stopped after watching people die from overeating or undereating, now we just roll with the religion and comfort.

After a long day at work I went out for a drive, the city I lived in wasn’t the most dangerous in South Africa but also wasn’t the safest so a drive at 10 pm isn’t suggested… of course, the only reason I made it home safe was that my lord Allah was watching over me… everyone asleep at home… soon the house will have one less person before I disappear as well. Maybe then our mother will be able to rest well trough out the upcoming days.

*****

She sat across Basaam plating the curry they had spent hours making together with his sister.

“did you tell your parents about where we want to have the wedding?”

“ I informed them,” he says, “ they said they have no problem with it as long as we have the nikkah at home…”

“that’s reasonable…”

“So what’s our plan afterward do we come back home and settle down.”

“no, we traveling around the world for at least 3years...”

He sighed placing his plate aside, “ if it’ll make you happy then okay, but promise me after we come back… you accept the springbok offer.”

“I promise… “

A sacrifice made on both ends…

***

I woke up with a headache, a warm cloth placed on my forehead… and the house filled with a delicious aroma. After taking a shower I rush over to the kitchen remembering that I had arrived home drunk.

“how was the business trip?” she asks placing a plate in front of me… an empty plate

“it was good… and tiring.”

She placed a full plate in front of herself as she began to eat…

“where’s mine? “I ask looking at her

“ I have no idea, why don’t you rush over to the casino and take back all the money you waisted. Or go over to the woman you drank and slept with.”

I was aware of the drinking and gambling, but I had never touched a woman in my entire life in fear of STDs… she looked like she had been crying for hours.

“I admit to the drinking and gambling… but a woman?”

She pulled out my shirt showing me the lipstick stain on my collar, “ this was when the female representative from the other company bumped into me… I promise.”

“you broke my trust, I don’t believe you. You’ll be In liyahs rehab facility starting from tomorrow… I see that you’ve been up to this for a while. I’m not asking you for much if you can’t do this… then divorce me for I am a woman that is near and in fear of Allah.”

She left the table after finishing her food, I knew that I was hurting myself. But now I was hurting her too… rehab isn’t something that’s come crossed my mind though…