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We were all still in the ladies bathroom, standing in silence. A nurse walked in the bathroom, and asked to talk to Khalaf. They went out of the bathroom to talk privately. A few minutes later he came back inside with watery eyes. "I have to tell you the truth Layla,” “But I want you to keep calm please" Khalaf stated with a calm voice. I nodded. "Hamdan might be in a coma, but they're not sure yet." "He was hit on his head very hard and it affected his brain" I was in complete shock. I walked out of the bathroom in silence and kept walking through the hospital. Nayef and Khalaf followed me in silence too. "He felt your hand on his, that means he's not that bad" Nayef said. “They’ll have some check ups to check if anything in his body is broken, or if he has any internal bleeding” Khalaf mentioned with concern. I walked out of the hospital, to take a breath of fresh air. This was a lot to take in, having a coma meant that he wouldn’t wake up till only God knows when. He was still too young for this to happen. His siblings were all younger than him and he was their role model. He still had a lot more to experience in life before such a thing. Marriage, graduation, university, and work. Was he going to miss it all?

My phone rang and Shamsa’s name appeared on the screen, I didn’t want to reply. I realized that it was her 10^th time calling. “Hello” I replied. “Layla, how are you?” “Are you still in the hospital?” “What did they say is wrong with him?” Shamsa said at once. I began to cry and she kept quiet. “Layla, you should go home and rest you’ve been in the hospital for the whole day” She said. “I’m going to come now do you want me to get you something to eat?” I didn’t reply, I couldn’t stop the tears from running out. “Please stop crying, it’s not good for you I swear” Shamsa mentioned with a comforting tone. “Please come, I can’t deal with this on my own” I said. “I’m coming now don’t worry” she replied quickly. Shamsa always had her way of comforting me with her words, made life seem like a better place. Minutes later, Shamsa’s grey Armada stops in front of the hospital where I was sitting. She stepped out of the car and ran to hug me. “It’s going to be okay Layla,” she said. Khalaf came out and greeted Shamsa with a smile and a fly kiss. She smiled back and looked at me. “They told me to go to Hamdan’s house and tell his parents what happened and get him some clothes,” Khalaf stated. “Layla since his mom loves you, can you come with me please?” He asked. Shamsa looked at Khalaf and shook her head in disagreement.

Khalaf and I walked towards his black land cruiser. He opened the door for me and buckled me in. He opened his door, buckled up, and then started the engine. He turned the radio on to break the silence and Hamdan’s favorite song was playing. I held myself not to burst into tears, then I looked at Khalaf and saw tears rolling down his face. I looked at him, looking so sad and hurt. “We’ll help each other and stay strong for him” I said with a fake smile. “It’s really hard Layla, I’m trying my best to stay strong for you and the other, but Hamdan’s my brother” “We eat from the same food, drink from the same water, and live together,” He said with pain. We reached his house, and couldn’t manage to go out of the car. Too scared from his parent’s reaction, we didn’t want to go in. We finally got out of the big car and walked to wards the huge lavish villa. Walking towards the door, Khalaf rang the bell. His little sister opened the door and smiled, I began to cry. “Layla, calm down please” Khalaf said. He carried the little girl and walked in the house. As soon as I walked in his house, memories rushed through my head. The days we used to go to his house to work on projects and then spend it playing truth or dare and watching Indian movies. His other sister who I loved most, hugged me from my leg till I carried her. She wiped the tears from my face, “why’re you crying Layla?” she said. “I’m just happy to see you” I lied. “Where’s Hamdan?” she asked. I looked at Khalaf, “He’s in school” he spilled out. His mom walked down the stairs and welcomed us to the living room. “What a lovely surprise” she said with a smile. That smile wouldn’t last for long I thought. “Where’s Hamdan, he’s usually with you” she said while walking towards us. Khalaf kissed her on her forehead, and I kissed her three times on her cheek. “You two look very tired, Layla have you been crying?” she asked. I just looked at her and smiled. “Auntie we have to talk to you about Hamdan” Khalaf interrupted. “Ughh what did he do this time, he’s always getting in trouble” she laughed out. “He’s in the hospital, he got hit when we went karting yesterday” he continued. She began to cry hysterically. “Hamdaaaaaaan!!” “My soooon!”  We got her water and tried calming her down, but she was going mad and we didn’t blame her. “Take me to him” she managed to break out. His mother grabbed her abaya and walked with us to the car. We held her from her arms; she could barely walk from the shock. She sat in the car, and Khalaf drove her back to the hospital, while I stayed at his house to pack his stuff with the maids.