Sarima lay on the cold marbled floor, curled up like a ball. She had looked for a chair but realized the room was only filled with empty wine barrels. Her hand gripped her knees and the other was on the floor in a loose fist. She didn't know how long she had stayed in there without food and water. She had still not gotten used to the darkness as she continuously imagined shapes moving beyond her sight.
The cold had seeped into her bones and she shook terribly from the cold. Her lips had gone pale, her eyes were closed shut and her thoughts drifted away from the present, slipping into something softer.... something she could survive.
The cold faded.
Not completely,just enough for warmth to creep in around her. The crackle of fire replaced the silence of the wine room
A woman sat on a chair in the living room. The fireplace crackled as the woods gave way to ashes, sending a warm orange glow across the room.The house looked humble, with just the basic things needed to fill it.
The woman detangled the girl's coily hair gently with a wide tooth comb, pausing every few strokes to apply oil from a small bottle beside her.
The little girl had a smile on her face as her mother attended to her hair. Her big brown eyes shimmered and her light brown skin glowed softly from the light of the fireplace. She looked content as she sat on the floor with her legs folded beneath her.
"Mummy, Hannah wouldn't talk to me today because she said I ruined her boots with snow...but she steps on this snow every time and at times would kick it at me too" The girl's tiny voice cut through the silence of the night in their little cabin.
Leilah's hands didn't stop moving through her daughter's hair.
"Well" she said gently "not all your friends see you as a friend Sarima and not everyone you talk to should be your friend. This is a tough world. If you have so many friends, you won't be able to tell who is really backstabbing you as they'd hide in the midst of the many friends unlike when there are few friends"
The little girl turned and tilted her head up to her, trying to process the information her mother related to her. "So friends are bad?" She asked inquisitively.
Leilah gave a small knowing smile."Not all though, I and your dad were good friends before we got married. I still have some of my good friends I talk to." Her mother told her calmly.
"Hmmm" The girl nodded slowly, as if storing the words carefully somewhere deep inside her then turned back to face the fireplace as her mother continued detangling her hair.
"Mummy?" Sarima's voice came out happier than the last. "Mhmmm" Her mum hummed to answer. "Could we play snow clash with daddy tomorrow since it's his free day?" She asked as her smile widened. "Daddy needs to rest tomorrow Sarima, he's been working too much these days and he needs to rest" Leilah told her and covered her hair in a bonnet.
The door opened with a creak and Sarima's dad walked in. "Dad!!!" Sarima screamed his name happily and ran to hug him. "My baby..."Her father embraced her tightly with a smile and spun her around. Leilah walked to them with a gentle smile on her face and pouted as she folded her arms childishly.
"And to my first baby" He dropped Sarima and walked to his wife with a smile. He lowered himself and left a soft kiss on her lips. Leilah flung her arms open and he carried her bridal style then spun her around. She screamed happily and clung to his shirt tightly with her eyes shut.
"Me too...me too" Sarima chimed in happily with open arms as she jumped. He squatted a little and she climbed his back like a little koala. He carried them to the bedroom and crashed on the bed with them. Giggles and laughter erupted and Sarima's cheek hurt from it.
"Well I'm happy to be home" he said with his hands resting either side on his wife and daughter. "How was work?" Leilah asked still smiling and pushed her elbow to raise her point of view on his face.
"You know, the usual squabbling and daily razzle" he said, turning his head to look at his wife properly and his smile lingered. He turned towards Sarima and saw that she had dozed off."She has slept" he said and turned back to his wife.
She held his gaze "I love you Sullivan...I love you so much that I don't think I need a reason to" she said in a soft whisper. A smile tugged at his lips before he leaned forward and kissed her gently. His hand rested against her cheek while she melted into him quietly.
"I'm too fortunate to be your husband," he murmured before pressing a kiss to her temple, breathing in the familiar vanilla scent lingering on her skin.
"I think I should take Sarima to her room" he whispered to her and she nodded. He picked his daughter up, his hand patted her back lightly as he carried his five year old daughter to her room.
He returned to his wife with a soft click from the door behind him. Strolling to the bed and laying beside her, he intertwined his fingers in hers. Her other hand weaved through his hair gently with a soft smile on her lips.
"It's like the Harringtons do something behind all these facade" his voice came in calmly. "Every family of such standard tend to have something nasty underneath" leilah replied, her Arabian accent coating her words.
He snuggled deeper into her arms, his hand wrapped around her. "You're my safe haven Leilah...I can't do anything without you" He whispered to her. She leaned in and kissed his forehead. "You're my life" she replied as a smile grazed her lips. "Thank you for giving me a bright future with our daughter, you make me a complete man" He said as he inhaled loudly.