“Wait!” cried a voice. I slowly turned my head to see my cousin ambling up the stairs. I managed a wide smile. I knew what he was about to say.
“So,” he said with a smile even bigger than mine.
“You think you can beat me?”
We rushed to my room boasting each other on the way. You see, my cousin Ahmed was my nemesis. We competed in everything. From strength, to videogames to football. Life was competition. We opened the door to my bedroom. I took a deep breath in lifting my chest up.
“What do you smell, Ahmed?” I asked. He looked at me in a confused way.
“Nothing in particular.” He replied.
“I smell some beating,” I joked.
I looked at my Playstation, and looked back at him. I had just noticed that he had grown taller than. The gap was noticeable. I was embarrassed. I knew I had to stay away from standing next to him. He would be boasting about his height all summer. I quickly sat on my bed. The murmuring and laughter downstairs continued. I had just remembered that I hadn’t greeted my auntie. I dashed downstairs.
“Hey where’re you going,” asked Ahmed.
I couldn’t reply. I quickly ran down the 6-case stairways, through the hallway and into the living room. I ran to my auntie and gave her a hug. I stood a metre away from where she was sitting. I had a broad smile on my face.
“Well?” I asked.
My aunt looked at me in a strange way, and then she nodded her head like she had remembered something.
“Sorry, Ismail. I don’t have it with me this time.” I couldn’t believe what she had just said. You see, my aunt always used to bring me a massive bag of sweets every time she came to visit. She had never once forgot to bring me some. She gave me a wink.
“Cheer up,” she said to me. That’s easy for you to say, I thought.
I went slowly up the stairs wondering what had just happened. I received a bolt from the blue. A lump formed at my throat and tears started forming at my eyes. I fought back the tears and ran upstairs. I walked into my bedroom to see Ahmed fast asleep.
“Boo!” He yelled. I jolted a little. This was enough satisfaction for him. He was laughing so hard he started to cry. I didn’t feel embarrassed. I had too much on my mind. I decided to play some videogames to cheer me up a little. I stood up on the computer chair. To look up on the shelf for a good game. Hmm, I thought. I looked at Ahmed, rubbing my chin. What game will be perfect for him. The chair began to move a little.
“Hey Ahmed, hold my chair while I’m standing here,” I asked. He began to mumble under his breath. Suddenly, my heel slipped of the chair. My heart contracted. I stopped breathing. Everything was quiet. I was falling in a forward motion. I stuck my hands out in front of me thinking that I will be safe. Makes sense right? WRONG!
CRACK! Extreme pain shot up through my whole body. Agony. Total agony. To this day I don’t know how loud I shouted that day. I glanced at my right wrist. I can’t remember what happened after that moment.
“I think he’s waking up.” Who was that?
I looked at my wrist. Something hard was wrapped around it. A picture was on the wall. I blinked hard to focus. It as an X-ray picture.
“What’s that?” I asked the doctor.
“Your wrist.”
What!? My childhood, was over.
