The Bends : Chapter Twenty

The cloudless sky spread vast beneath the dried land, together with the warm sunny afternoon bringing down it's zealous heat upon the barren road. The journey was roughly around ten minutes, however Umyrah decides to take this long route instead just to clear her thoughts. It has been almost a month now Maya has been under her constant care....and seeing her emerge from her hollowness bends into something extraordinary remarkable person in such a short period of time was something that had really sparks more courage into Umyrah's soul, uplifting her determination to continue guiding and inject strong sense of hope into Maya's new found life. Umyrah was thankful Nadia and Zaharah for their constant support of making these unfortunate woman to breath and live a better lives. However Umyrah can't deny the fact for the first two weeks of handling Maya's case was such an agonizing and challenging moment for all of them. All those horrifying nightmares, keeps coming back to haunt Maya, during her very beginning of her stay at the welfare home. For almost a week, Maya begins to get restless and behave in such a hysteria manner much to Umyrah's and Nadia's dismay, but they never give up hope. As Maya begins her hypnothesis treatment, by God's Grace, Maya was able to control her tormented emotion, even though it was not easy during the very begining of the treatment.

"Maya, stay focus on the sound of the flowing water of that fountain and relax." utter Umyrah as she sat across Maya nearby the lake which was located behind their shelter home. Maya begins to comply and stared hard towards the lake as she begins to focus on the sound of the slow flowing of the mini fountain. "Take in four breath, blow out four breath, stay focus." Maya did as what was instructed by Umyrah. Umyrah remains silence for a while until she could sense that Maya unconcious mind was not with her but was taken aback to her past as she realised the pupil of Maya, ash brown eyes begins to stays numb on the sight of the fountain and her breathing becomes heavier. A moment which Umyrah knew things can gets out of hands, therefore she had Nadia by her side.

"Maya, who stand with you right now?" asked Umyrah.

Maya who still had her eyes stared intensly towards the fountain begins to open up her hidden thoughts. "Reena,Ilhan and Aden." utters Maya shortly.

"Do they meant something to you, a significant someone?" asked Umyrah again while Nadia busy jotting down the details of the treatment.

"Reena, she's smiling towards me, telling me she will be home soon...her pain and suffering is gone." cried Maya softly sending some chilling moment towards Umyrah and Nadia. And then she remains silence for a while. "Ilhan..he's behind me....coming closer....stay away from me...!" yelled Maya in her still sub-concious state. Her breathing gets heavier by now as cold sweats begins to form on her body and then she begins to tremble. "Aden, his hands coming to take me....his taking me away." exclaimed Maya as she draws out her hand as she begins to visualise Aden's was there bringing her away from her sorrow. "But..he's in pain. Aden." cried Maya as she wakes up from her unconcious state however she can't recall all the things which she had mention towards Umyrah and Nadia. Few more therapies were then carried out on her and yet again it was the same episode of such visualise scenario came into her mind. Nadia then decides on group therapy session however, Umyrah was not keen to start Maya on that, cause she knew Maya seems to keep her fear and whirling emotion within herself.

"Talk to me about your nightmare." requested Umyrah during one of the hypnothesis session.

Maya who was already being put under sub-concious state flickers her eyelids several times and then the aries of her ash brown eyes begins to stare blankly towards the ticking clock which was hang on the white wall in her room. "There were so many flicking lights...the glaring rays hurting my eyes, I'm all alone...in this open space...too many lights but I can't see a thing...the strong rays seems..ironically had blinded me." and then she stops for a moment but her brows were frowning as she seems to be lost within the lights.

"Are you afraid Maya?" asked Umyrah.

Maya remains silence. "It's colourless...where is the ground? I'm falling....fast..my hands searching for something to grip to hang on too...!" gasped Maya in desperation. "Something had caught my hands...it was Ilhan." trailed Maya. "Where's all the compassion and gracious attributes which you used to have..gone too?" yelled Maya. "I love you." whispered Maya with tears in her eyes. Umyrah and Nadia was shocked after hearing those words from Maya's unconscious state however as professionals they remain status co. "The blazing fumes engulfing us, Ilhan don't let go..come back. The pain is unbearable..the fire has touch me..Ilhan safe me." screamed Maya and then she begins to become restless.

"Umyrah, bring her back." exclaimed Nadia as she fears things might be out of control.

"No. We need to assess her further on these." utters Umyrah as she insisted to carry on with Maya's therapy.

Maya begins to swing her arms all around her as it seems she was struggling to get away or trying to hang on to something. "I'm losing him among this thick smoke. The torny branches emerging from the groundless surface...tangling me...all over me...piecing right through my skin." Maya's breathing gets heavier by now much to Nadia's fear.

"Umyrah, we've got to bring her back." ordered Nadia.

"If you can't bear to watch this, just leave us alone then." said Umyrah sternly. Nadia sat back on her stool as she clench on her pencil more tightly now.

"What is your hope now?" utters Umyrah towards Maya who was still struggling within her own thought. "Are you fighting hard enough Maya?" demands Umyrah.

Maya screamed and cries, deafening the room. "Marsha, my hope. Let the fire burn me, releasing me from this entwine branches." yelled Maya.

"Are you released now Maya?" asked Umyrah again.

"The branches has been burn together along with me, but I'm released..I'm free." gasped Maya but from her features the tormenting pain has been replace with courage.

"You have fought well, Maya. You had used the weapon which is against you to release yourself, from your fear and your pain." exclamied Umyrah. "What can you see next?" asked Umyrah.

"Marsha..my source of hope and courage." utters Maya with a smile.

"Is that all?" asked Umyrah again.

"The white garment of faith and the glaring light..seems to dim out ....evolve into something beautiful..it is colourless but amazingly soothing to my heart." continue Maya.

"All right, I'm going to bring you back. Be ready." exclaimed Umyrah as she snap her fingers towards Maya's right ear.

Maya wakes up from her sub-conscious state and blinks her eyes several times. "I'm sensing something, thoughts and uncertain emotion all at once. I don't know...but it's beautiful." utters Maya and from there Umyrah knew Maya emotional state has beginning to heal.

"Can you recall back what you have been through just now, cause for the past few session you were not able to?" asked Umyrah as she held on Maya's hand.

Maya remains silence for a moment and then she sat up straight on her stool as she bites her lower lips.

"Betrayed, battered and bruised.....by him." utters Maya with tears in her eyes.

"Maya, do you still love him despite all the terrible things which he had done to you?" asked Nadia.

"I guess, I've been to bind with his mind games of controlling me." said Maya. "Not a single day I've not pray and ask God to change him back to what he used to be..but I guess God Gracious has plan something more worth the waiting then just been bind with him." continues Maya. "I can be someone worthy cause God has laid a new path for me, a new direction to start all over again and never to fall back...and feel trap again...being buried with my own fears and broken soul. By God's Grace, Aden came into the picture and I feel so deeply grateful to all the help which he and his family had given me..only God could Blessed them with his Divine Love and Compassion."

"I'm sure they will be pleased knowing that you are recovering sooner or later." utters Nadia with a smile of enlightment.

"Miss you are here." cried the cab driver bringing Umyrah back from her daze. Umyrah paid the cab driver the fair and then she steps out of the vehicle. Umyrah took her case notes with her as she enters the welfare home which was located at Maya's country origin. After placing the case notes on the desk, she headed towards Maya's room, however she was not around.

"Where's Maya?" asked Umyrah towards one of the attendance of the shelter home.

"She's still at the mosque." the attendant replies.

"Thank you." utters Umyrah with a smile as she looks at her clock and it shows prayer time is over, but she went straight ahead towards the mosque which was located just behind the home itself. As she enters into the prayer room, and there she saw Maya dressed in her prayer garment was sitting on the prayer mat with her eyes close. From there, Umyrah saw Maya's features were beaming with the glow of contentment and courage. Umyrah sat on the prayer mat five feet away from Maya when suddenly Maya realised she was not alone.

"I'm sorry Madam, I'm just to immerse with my prayers I did not realised you are coming." said Maya with a sweet gentle smile.

"It's okay." utters Umyrah with a smile. "It's been a month now, and from what me and Nadia had assess, you have fought well. This is new you. Praise to God."

"I've made up my mind on these." utters Maya as she hands her a seal envelope.

Umyrah took the envelope from her hand and unseal it as she begins to read the content and then she smile. "Finally." cried Umyrah as she nods her head.

"It's about time..I should have done that long time ago...but I'm too afraid. But now, things are different now. Ilhan is history." utters Maya as she had sign the divorce declaration cert and with that, Maya is free.

"Oh! By the way someone has given me something to hand it over to you." exclaimed Umyrah as she hand the paper bag which she had bring along with her before she came into the mosque. Maya took the paper bag and slowly opens it. She saw a small gift box tied with a pastel pink ribbon. Maya untie the ribbon and open the box...and she saw a beautiful pair of baby blue with some silver lining butterfly pendant with a silver chain all around it. And then there was a note that comes along with it. Maya begins to flip the note side to side and then she smile meekly, "I....I..can't read." utters Maya meekly as she smile sheepishly. "Please can you read it to me?" requested Maya politely.

Umyrah took the note from Maya's hand. "This note is from Aden. Okay then..even if it's some kind of more personal note?" asked Umyrah with a smile. Maya blushed as she looks at her prayer mat.

"Maya, It has been almost a month now ,I've not seen you but I've heard so much about you and Praise to God, you have beginning to show some positive signs of healing. This butterfly pendant it some short of represent you, a caterpillar which has emerged from it's cocoon has found it's wing as it had transit itself into a butterfly...with so much beauty, grace and courage. Maya, I have been thinking a lot about you..lately. I don't know why. One day, I shall be there to meet you. I shall remember you in my prayers. Your Friend Aden." Umyrah fold the note and place it into Maya's hand. Maya took the note with tears in her eyes..those beautiful words which has been written just meant for her had really touches her heart.

"Maya, I'm sure you know about Zaharah's planning of wanting you to be part of their family? Have you come to that decision yet?" asked Umyrah with concerned in her voice.

Maya remains silence for a while as she held the pendant in her hands. She can't deny the fact that she has been thinking about Aden too..however she was afraid...whenever she thinks about her broken life...she becomes remoseful. "Aden and his family had done so much for me...too much and I feel that I have been imposing too much on them. I just.." trailed Maya speechless.

"Maya, it's not that you are not fit to be place in our home..but you have a bright future ahead of you...and sadly, our home can't provide you and some of the girls around here the adequate education and skills which all of you deserve, due to our shortage of volunteers and funds. Therefore this is your best chance to move ahead with your life." exclaimed Umyrah. Maya held the pendant close to her chest however her tears fall softly on her cheeks. "Maya, they were bunch of nice people, trust me. Please don't dissapoint Zaharah on this..cause I know why. Late Ana had taught her well. Zaharah she came from a broken family too. After her mother gave birth to her in jail, she and her brother was cared by their ruthless aunt. Things got worst when her brother was accused of raping their daughter and he was sent away to the town area. Apparently, Zaharah's mum and Ana were good friends...therefore before anything bad happen towards Zaharah, Ana took her in as her daughter in law. And I guess that's what she's been trying to do right now." explained Umyrah.

"What have Zaharah's mother did, that she was sent to jail?" asked Maya.

"Zaharah's father was an abuser...she suffered in silence so much within his hands. Until one day, she shot him dead." replies Umyrah. Maya becomes numb and remains silence again. "That's why, she does not want this kind of thing happens to you. Maya, it's never too late for you...to gain the happiness which you have been always wanting..to have a proper family to guide you along with your dreams." utters Umyrah again as she held out her hands and wipe the falling tears off Maya's face.

"Mum, what do you think?" asked Aleeya ethusiatically as she show her the new setting of her room. "Maya can have that potion of my room..while I can still do my paintings in daddy's working room." cried Aleeya.

"It's lovely Aleeya." replies Zaharah proudly as she phase around Aleeya's room. Aleeya's work place has been transform into another part of the room. A new single bed which Aden and Aleeya together had managed to fix despite all the arguements which they both had about fixing the right screw into the right bolt. And they even had to dismantle the whole bed as Aleeya had fixed the head board at the end of the bed. There was a two door closet has been place against the wall that comes in together with a dressing table. The light pastel violet bed spread and curtains that match along with it has been used. "Aleeya I'm so proud of you..Thank you." exclaimed Zaharah with tears in her eyes.

"Mum, please don't cry...we should be happy by doing this. At last, I had a sister..even though she's well two years older than me but...better than nothing." utters Aleeya with a smile. Suddenly she recalls back the moment when her mum was having a baby after a year their father had came back, however things were not meant to be...her mum lost her baby and the doctor had told her the chances for her to have anymore children is very slim. Aleeya knew her mum's hope and dream to have more children has been dashed..but she was glad her dad remain loving and supportive towards her mum. And since then Zaharah and Adam begins to care and volunteer themselves with the foster home for the orphanage despite they being tight with their own schedule.

Suddenly ,there was a car came in by their front garden porch. Zaharah and Aleeya step out from the room and opens the front door. And there standing by the garden were, Adam, Aden and Maya. Aden took the luggage from Maya's hand as Adam enters into their home.

"Welcome to our home Maya." said Adam. Maya clench on to her palms as she feels so nervous and not knowing what she's supposed to do next. Apparently she becomes dumbfounded as she remains standing by the porch. Aden looks at her with a smile as he nods his head. And slowly she moves ahead towards Zaharah..and without second thought she embrace Zaharah as she begins to sob.

"Stop crying now dear, all right, you are safe now in our home." utters Zaharah as she held on to Maya's trembling body. Aleeya can't contain her tears, too however she remains calm.

"Thank you." cried Maya softly as she let Zaharah wipe the falling tears of her cheeks.

"Maya, come let me show you our room." exclamied Aleeya as she took Maya's hand and slowly brings her into their home. Maya looked around the house and she could feel so much love and warm in their home. As Maya step into the room which she needs to share with Aleeya, she walks in slowly as she begins to touch the surface of the smooth cupboard and the texture of the curtain.

"I hope you like the choice of the bed and curtains which I have choose for you." exclaimed Aleeya. "That bed, Aden seems to be confused about the screws but thankfully I was around to help him with that." utter Aleeya with a grin as she looks at Aden who begins to frown at her. Maya giggle upon hearing those comments from Aleeya and she knew Aleeya was such a humourous and bubbly person.

"What more can I asked for. They are lovely. Thank you..all of you for bringging me into your family." said Maya with a smile...a smile of new found courage, hope and love.