Vulnerability

Fahmeen's POV:

I've been thinking about it all day.

Xiomora

River

The Yakuza

"Hey, what's going on up there?"
The movie plays on the wide screen and Rolf watches me, a little concerned as I guess I haven't been concentrating. As soon as the house filled up again, which I was thankful for, we decided to have a movie night. We're all camped in the living room but I've been noticeably distracted. After Sandra left, it felt suddenly colder and lonelier since the morning.

"Just thinking." I whisper back without looking at him. I didn't want to be a cause for concern. Nor did I feel right sharing what I learnt this afternoon. Rolf pulls me into him, with the blanket on top of us. I rest my head on his chest, my mind running through a million different thoughts.
I feel so sad. My fist grips onto his shirt a little tighter and he notices.
"What's the matter, baby?" He asks a little louder. This time the rest of the family look our way. I see a mixture of confusion and concern on their faces. I gulp, this isn't what I wanted. But before I could say anything there's a knock on the door. The rain was still going, thunder and all.

"I'll get it."
I immediately miss the warmth as Rolf leaves to answer the door.
"I wander who that could be?" Elizabeth looks a little curious. Her husband on the other hand, suspicious as it was late at night and I guess they didn't usually receive such late guests. Thomas sat up straighter, his eyes turned focused as he tried to listen in on the interaction from the front door.
I wasn't too worried, it's not as if I would know who it could be seeing as I was in a different country.
But then the voices got louder and the door slammed with an almighty force. I jump a little and so did Angie. Raven stayed very still, her face masked off like a defence.

We hear loud footsteps and Rolf shouting,
"Do not come near the door Fahmeen."
This made my heart stop for a second and everyone in the room stared at me. I was so confused and mildly scared.

Who was this person and why where they here for me?

Thomas hurries onto his feet and goes to find Rolf as I stay put.
"Come here, sweetheart." Elizabeth puts her hand out and I find myself wanting to be close to her. I was missing my mum.
"I'm going to see-
"No you're not."
Elizabeth cuts her off and so Angie sits down with a frown. Her lips stick out in a pout and I see Raven roll her eyes at her sister.

"Alright calm down, son. She'll be alright, he won't get anywhere near her."
We watch Rolf and his father enter the room and Rolf is wet? His shoes almost glide across the floor as he hurriedly walks towards me. His face is set in a hard frown and I sense his anger.
"He won't, I'll make sure of that. No matter what." Rolf crouches down in front of me, and my eyes search his for answers. He cups my cheek and I see him look there for a moment, a painful memory flashing though his mind.
"He won't hurt you again."

As the gentle strokes of his fingers caress my skin, I remember the sting of that slap. It was my father. He was here.

...

*Flashback*

Susan's POV:

"You won't find her, she's far away from here. From you." I was alone with him. The kids were out and I planned on having an evening alone at home. That was until I received a knock on the door. Unfortunately for me, I opened it and wasn't able to shut it as George barged in. He noticed how empty the house still was since his last visit and proceeded to question me on our children's whereabouts as if he ever cared for them. When it came to Fahmeen, things took a dark turn as he reminded himself of the last time he saw her. And the last thing he did.

For the sake of your daughter I will leave your head on your body. If you ever touch her again, I won't fucking stop till it's gone.


"I'm still her father and I demand to know where she is. If she's not here, she must be with that man. I still can't believe you've allowed our daughter to run away with someone you barely know. And above all, pregnant!"
I reminded myself not to flinch at his raised voice, as it had been years since he last touched me. Not in the way you think. Terrible memories always surface when he's near and make me feel weak.

"Why do our children concern you, George? You never cared for them when you had them, why now? Is it a power thing, do you have a power issue, George?"
He's aware I'm mocking him, and I see the ugly turn in his facial expression. He won't hit me, I won't allow it.

He chuckles, a sinister sound in this lonely house.
"Is it so strange for me to care for the whereabouts of my kid? And my grandchild? What, she must be big now, not too long aye?"
I stay still for a second, the bitter reality he reminded me of. That we no longer have a grandchild. George stops pacing and regards me suspiciously.
"What? What is it?"
I won't tell him, he has no right and besides, this would be Fahmeen's decision to say. This might sound crazy but there's a flicker of worry in his eyes.

"She lost the baby."
His voice is a whisper.
My head drops as I stare at the floor. No words.

"Aw shit. No, no no."
I'm uncomfortable with his reaction, as it was completely surprising.
George sits on the sofa, his head in his hands. Is he genuinely upset at this or is he acting, like he always did? George was a very good actor. He made me believe he loved me, for instance but you don't hurt the people you love.

"Why?" He asks me. We share eye contact for a good few seconds, which is the first since he's stepped foot inside this house.
I sigh, shifting the pain in between my ribs and I sit almost close to him.
"There's no reason. It just wasn't meant to be."

It's quiet and we sit there in silence, together. Both in our own thoughts, lost in our own worlds which kind of reminded me of our marriage.
"You do realise this only makes me want to know where she is even more?! Tell me, Susan. Where... is she?"
He's pissing me off, I feel torn.
"There's nothing you can say that will-
"Please? Look, I came back for this." He holds my hand and looks me straight in the eye.
"For us. I still love you, Susan. Always have. Sorry to say I always will." He looks guilty as he says those last words. I don't move my hands. They feel strangely familiar. I'm trying to stop him from entering this cold heart once again.

"What happens when you know? What will you do?" Will he try to hurt them? Separate her from Rolf?
George heavily sighs.
"I will never hurt her, have I ever laid a hand on our daughter?"

No, just me.

I shake my head no and he seems a little satisfied at my answer.
"I want to say sorry, for how I acted when... you know. And if she is serious about this guy then I ought to know he's good enough for her."
All these old feelings between us are toying with my brain as the only man in my life who I ever loved stares back at me, and I honestly couldn't tell if he was lying.
"They're in America, New England." I blurt out. I want everything to just be peaceful and that can't happen when he'll continue to interfere in our lives like a ghost. It's better the devil you know.

George is taken aback and I know that's the last thing he expected to hear.
"America." He wanders off in his own thoughts and I'm just hoping I don't regret this.