LOGINHASSANI stormed into Azeena’s room, turning off the music and folding my arms across my chest.She was at it again with her new friend, Rachael pretending to not have a care in the world and honestly it was starting to piss me off.Two weeks since I came back from the hospital after her mother’s death and Azeena had never asked about Kimberly.“What do you think you are doing?” she regarded me with anger in her eyes.“Hey Hassan” Rachael waved in my direction, batting her lashes at me.She must think I was stupid.I knew why she had befriended my sister.Rachael had been trying to get me to fuck her since we were in high school.“What is wrong with you, Zee?”“What are you talking about?”“You know damn well what I am talking about. Kimberly!” I snapped. “I just got off the phone with her and…”“I do not give a fuck what you or Kimberly are up to, Hassan. I do not give a flying fuck if Kimberly drops dead. Now can you get the fuck out of my room and let me fucking be?”“You cannot be
KIMBERLY“Why did you think it was a good idea to bring that woman’s child here?” The woman asked, her voice furious.I froze, my hand tightening around the strap of my purse as anxiety crawled up my spine.Her raised voice had drawn curious glances our way and now people were staring open at us, wanting to know what was going on.I wished the floor would open up and swallow me whole.“It has been years,” Aunt Catherina shot at her. “Matteo is dead and long gone, Sofia. Don’t you think that it is time to fucking let it go. The child’s mother just died for Christ’s sake and she has no one.”The woman scoffed like she could not believe what she was hearing.“Time to let it go? That is very easy for you to say, Catherina. He was your brother and this is his child so you can let it go. But when your husband comes home and requests a divorce because he found some whore someplace else that fucked him so well that wants to go be with her, start a life with her and abandon his own family then
KIMBERLY“Happy Birthday”I stared at Hassan’s Instagram message one more time before I turned off my phone and slipped it into my pocket.It had been two weeks since my mother died and her body was cremated per her wishes.Aunt Catherina had been so helpful with the details of everything while I just floated in a haze of self loathing and anger.After my mother’s farewell, we packed up and left to Italy.I was yet to meet my father’s family. Aunt Catherina had mentioned they were excited to me and were only getting things in order but the truth is, I did not think they wanted to.From what I had been able to gather from sneaking around and eavesdropping on her phone conversation, they hated me. In fact she was the only one who thought it was a great idea to bring the unacknowledged daughter of Matteo Massimo to Italy.Today however, she did mention I would meet my grandfather.Surprisingly, we shared a birthday and he was hosting a party so I was going with her as a plus one. I had a
KIMBERLYMy palms were pressed against one another, clammy and twisting in my lap.The doctor was watching me, his eyes soft in a way I hated. I did not want his pity and who the hell was the woman anyways.“Kimberly,” he said “How are you doing?”How am I doing?I almost laughed. A bitter sound caught in my throat, but no air came out. How could he ask me that when my world had been split apart only minutes ago?“I…” My throat burned, and I shook my head quickly. “I don’t know. I just…” My words caught in my throat. “Where is my mother? I would like to see her.”“That can be arranged,” he said gently. “And I am so very sorry for your loss, Kimberly.”I swallowed hard, my eyes stinging. “You said… that can be arranged?” I repeated. “So she is here? Where is she?”“Yes.” The doctor nodded, but then his gaze flicked to the woman seated in the corner, the one I had not wanted to acknowledge. “That is why she is here as well.”“What do you mean?”The doctor folded his hands on the desk.“
HASSAN“What did you say?” I askedAzeena stared me down, her lips curling in disgust.“You heard me, brother,” she spat. “While you were up here in your little cave, fucking my best friend, her mother was dying in the hospital while the doctor rung her up.”I could feel my body run cold. This was not happening… this had to be some sort of bad dream.I turned to Kimberly, who was still frozen in place, her face pale as death. Her lips were parted but no sound came from them. She looked like she was stuck between horror, disbelief and grief and she wasn’t sure where to begin.Azeena’s gaze snapped to her next.“I hope whatever this is with my brother was worth it,” she said “Because Kimberly, you are dead to me.”With that she spun around and stormed out, the slam of the door shaking the walls.There was silence in that nanosecond as Kimberly’s ragged breathing filled the air.I rushed forward attempting to touch her but when I did, she jerked back violently, her eyes wild.“Kim…”“Don
KIMBERLYI asked myself what the hell I was doing for the umpteenth time that day as I kissed Hassan right back.His lips were so demanding, hungry and full of a need that both terrified and thrilled me. I should have pulled away, I should have thought about Azeena and Asif… even my mother. I should have considered everything this could unravel but instead, I let him reach for the corset ropes of my dress and loosen them, my breath hitching as his fingers trailed down my spine.The fabric gave way easily, sliding from my shoulders like it had been waiting for this moment.“God, Kimberly…” he whispered against my mouth, his forehead pressing to mine as his hands rested at the small of my back. “Do you have any idea what you are doing to me?”I swallowed, my throat dry.“What am I doing?” I croaked.His laugh was low and laced with disbelief.“Everything” He said as he kissed me again, deeper this time, as though he was trying to consume me, to make me forget every thought but him and f
KIMBERLYThe bell had just rung, signaling the end of lunch, but I barely heard it over the pounding in my ears. I spotted Azeena near the lockers, slamming her books into her bag with more force than necessary.I hesitated, my palms damp with nerves. This was not the place for a conversation like
ASIF“You are home early” I commented as soon as Azeena walked in.“Kimberly has some animal charity thing to help out with at school to do with the proprietor so yeah”She did not seem happy about it but what was even more concerning was Kimberly had not mentioned anything about an animal charity.
ASIFAzeena informed me that Kimberly had returned home the minute I asked for her.I tried not to make it obvious how disappointed I was with that information but it would seem I did not do a very good job because my daughter asked immediately why I was looking so forlorn.“I wanted to add somethi
KIMBERLYAfter Hassan left the dinner table, I peered towards Asif to gauge his thoughts but his face revealed nothing and Azeena chatted away oblivious to the obvious tension at the table and while I chewed away at my food which tasted like paper, I wondered why Asif would not look at me.Was he a







