SHADOWS OF SORROW
Oyih Joy@joyoyih936684
11 days ago
CHAPTER THREE: FRAGMENTATION.
As Zahira's grief deepened, the once close-knit fabric of her life began to unravel in subtle, disturbing ways. The woman who had been a pillar of strength in her community now felt herself cracking under the weight of an unseen force. The days after Ahmed's death became a blur of sorrow and confusion, and Zahira found herself haunted by nightmares that tore through the fragile peace of her sleep.
In her dreams, she would often find herself back in her childhood home, a place she had long tried to forget. The echoes of her father's harsh words and the dark corridors where she would hide to escape his wrath replayed in her mind, each detail more vivid than the last. The monster of her past, it seemed, had followed her into her present.
One night, Zahira awoke with a start, drenched in sweat, her heart pounding in her chest. She sat up in bed, struggling to catch her breath. The room around her was shrouded in darkness, but in the corners of her mind, shadows began to take form. Zahira shook her head, trying to rid herself of the lingering images, but they clung to her like a second skin.
As she moved through her home, the memories of Ahmed and her father's abuse intertwined, creating a labyrinth of emotions that she couldn't navigate. The house, once a sanctuary, now felt like a prison, its walls closing in on her. Every creak of the floorboards, every flicker of candlelight seemed to harbor a hidden menace, as if the house itself was alive, watching her, judging her.
Zahira's family continued to worry, their concern growing with each passing day. Fatima, her mother, tried to bridge the widening gap, but Zahira remained distant, her eyes filled with a haunted look that sent chills down her mother's spine. Fatima prayed for her daughter, hoping that time would heal the wounds that seemed to fester within her.
One evening, Zahira's sister, Halima, decided to confront her. She found her sitting by the window, staring out into the night with vacant eyes. The moonlight cast a ghostly pallor on her face, making her look almost otherworldly.
"Zahira," Halima began softly, "you need to talk to someone. This isn't healthy. We're all worried about you."
Zahira turned to her slowly, her expression unreadable. For a moment, Halima thought she saw something dark flicker in her eyes, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared.
"There's nothing to say," Zahira replied, her voice a hollow echo of its former self.
"That's not true," Halima pressed gently. "Ahmed wouldn't want you to suffer like this. You need to find a way to heal."
At the mention of Ahmed's name, Zahira's face twisted with pain, and she looked away. "You don't understand," she whispered. "There's something inside me... something I can't control."
Halima felt a chill run down her spine at Zahira's words. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice tinged with fear.
Zahira didn't answer. Instead, she rose from her seat and walked toward the door. "Leave me alone, Halie," she said, her tone final.
As she left the room, Halima stood there, shaken. She knew her sister was suffering, but there was something else, something far more sinister lurking beneath the surface. And for the first time, she felt truly afraid for her.
The days that followed brought more strange occurrences. Zahira would disappear for hours, only to return with no memory of where she had been. Objects in the house moved or went missing, only to reappear in odd places. Once, Fatima found Zahira standing in front of a mirror, her reflection showing a twisted smile that didn't match the expression on her face.
Fatima, deeply unsettled, sought the advice of the village elder, an old woman named Amina, who was known for her wisdom and insight. Amina listened carefully as Fatima recounted Zahira's strange behavior.
"Grief can do terrible things to a person," Amina said, her voice grave. "But what you describe is more than just grief. There are forces at work here that we do not understand."
Fatima's eyes widened in fear. "What should I do?"
Amina took a deep breath. "Watch her closely, but do not confront her directly. Sometimes, the truth reveals itself in the most unexpected ways. And when it does, you must be ready."
As Zahira's family kept a wary eye on her, she continued to spiral deeper into her own darkness. The nightmares grew more intense, and the boundaries between her waking life and her dreams began to blur. She heard voices, whispers in the dark that told her things she didn't want to hear, things she was desperate to forget.
And all the while, the truth about what was really happening to Zahira lingered just out of reach, like a shadow at the edge of her vision. Zahira knew she was losing control, but she couldn't stop the descent. Something inside her was awakening, something she had long tried to suppress.
The monster within her was stirring, and soon, it would be unleashed.
Photo- Credit: Pinterest
#NircleStories.
