Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Walking down the streets of Chicago, a beautiful young lady was on her way to work like she was five days a week at the same time. She dragged her way across the street, as fatigue and lethargy kept her inactive. While she felt particularly low most days, she felt even lower today. That is because today is family day and Nawal Noor has been dreading this day ever since she got separated from her family 14 years ago. She is not fond of seeing so many families enjoying their days when she had hers cruelly taken away from her.
Nawal made her way to work and imploded into her chair. The cheerful faces all around her were beaming with joy. Some people were proudly introducing colleagues to their children that they brought along with them. Parents would bring their children to work on Family Day, and others would gush at the pictures of their loved ones that they would show to their workmates. All this made Nawal so blue that she felt sick.
“What’s with the long face, Nawal? Today is Family Day, surely you would be happy celebrating today. Are you feeling alright,” Steve, one of her colleagues, asked, displaying his ignorance to Nawal’s woes.
“No, I’m feeling a bit under the weather actually,” Nawal said, telling Steve a white lie.
“That’s a shame, because we have some reports we need to write by tomorrow morning. It’s a bit of a bummer, today being Family Day and all,” Steve revealed to Nawal.
“That’s all right, I don’t have anything planned for today,” Nawal blankly shared with Steve.
“No, aren’t you going to the local family day show in the city hall?” Steve was surprised by Nawal’s lack of cheer and gloomy demeanor on what was a festive day. Nawal had forgotten about the annual show, which families would go to see on Family Day.
“No, I’m not going to the show, so I can write the reports.” Nawal murmured.
“Okay then, great, can you possibly take up some of my work so I can go,” Steve asked hopingly. Nawal day took a turn for the worse, just when she thought it could not get any worse.
“Yeah, sure, I can do all the reports.” Nawal murmured, again, feeling even lower than before.
“That’s wonderful! Thanks so much Nawal, I’ll pay you back,” Steve exclaimed, while leaving the workload on her desk and walking away.
“I’m sure you will,” Nawal projected, as Steve walked away.
Nawal preceded to start her work, but her thoughts kept on coming back to her family. She longed to have them around and feel like she did when she was younger. She was only a child then, but she remembered vividly and fondly how it was like to have a warm, loving family. These days, she lives alone having no family in her life. What she would give to have her mother, father and brother back.
