The Friendship Bond [Fiction]

Fatima couldn't stop the flow of tears.

The echo of the announcer's voice boomed around the crowdy station. It was almost departure time.

Her best friend, Zahra, was moving to another country, thousands of miles away. The possibility of seeing each other again was slim.

Slimmer because she couldn't afford to travel out of the country.

"I'll miss you," Fatima muttered into Zahra's ears and tightened her arms around her neck. Like she would never let go.

"And I'll miss you too, dearest friend. It's been a great ride, yea?"

Fatima chuckled, remembering the troubles and mischiefs they got into in school, and how they took sleepover turns at each others' houses.

As soon as they turned eighteen, they were betrothed.

They believed they would always be together but fate had a different plan—Zahra's husband, a young and handsome man, had US citizenship and chose to leave Riyadh with his wife.

Immediately, Zahra's family fixed a date for the Al-Zaffa ceremony and the couple were joined. Fatima was unhappy that her best friend would not be at her wedding.

The girls cried in each other's arms. Fatima sniffed. "A great ride indeed. I don't think I can survive this city without you."

"Come now, of course, you will. I'm just sad I won't be here for your Al-Zaffa. Have you seen the man chosen for you?" Zahra asked.

Fatima curled her lips in distaste. "At this point, I don't care." Zahra laughed. Her friend always had a good sense of humour.

Just then the train arrived.

Zahra and her husband waved goodbye to Fatima as they took their place in the first-class coach.

While passengers were still boarding, Fatima, with a determined look, went to the ticket counter and bought an economy-class ticket.

An impulsive move.

She checked her purse. Her identity cards and other necessary documents were with her.

It was time to start a new life away from Riyadh.

She left the city for good on the same train with her best friend.

A short piece written in honour of @mariannewest's last daily prompt. Indeed it's been a great ride participating daily and weekly in these freewrites. Thanks so much for the prompts.

Thank you for visiting my blog.