He was late, and that meant a pay cut. On any other occasion, Abdullah would be dejected at the thought but later, after going to the small pharmacy run by Ismail bhai and finding out that they still didn’t have anti-biotics all the anger was squeezed out of his body like he was a wet cloth.

“It’s been months,” Abdullah said, running a hand over his face. “They’re just basic anti-biotics. My sister needs them badly.”

“Blame the prime minister and his tariffs,” Ismail said. “Those Americans he likes to pretend to a hate so much sell this same medicine for two dollars while we’re struggling to even find them.”

Abdullah just let out an exhausted breath. The sun was starting to set and Abdullah’s muscles were sore from all his work at the flour mill. Before he could even consider getting some rest before taking the long walk home, he got a call from Hasan.

Abdullah picked up. “Don’t tell me you got into trouble with Rayhana’s father again.”

Hasan sounded out of breath. His voice was high pitched. “Abdullah, it’s Aliyah… she’s collapsed.”

Hasan didn’t need to say anymore, Abdullah got up and running through the traffic and throng of people, he made his way home. He could barely hear Hasan’s voice over the sounds of the city and his heart pounding but eventually he made it. Those 30 minutes were too much. Hasan was clutching the phone, his cheeks shining with tears. Aliyah had been turned around clumsily by Hasan. She had a blood running down her mouth and hand. On her side was a broken cup of honey water, the mixture seeping into the carpets.

“When I came home, I found her like this,” Hasan cried. “Abdullah, do something.”

 Abdullah rushed to his sister’s side, she was breathing, thank Allah, but her body was burning up. She was mumbling something, and whenever she coughed, she spluttered up some blood.

“Get the fever medicine, or panado or something!” Abdullah yelled at Hasan, he got up and started stumbling through the kitchen cabinets. Abdullah picked up his sister and took her back to her room setting her on the bed. It made his heart sink to realise just how light she was. Hasan came rushing in with the fever tablets. Abdullah had to crush them into powder and place them in Aliyah’s mouth. He took the bottle of water on her pink desk and placed it gently by her mouth. He was glad to hear her gulp and see her face twist up in disgust. Abdullah covered her in a blanket and her breathing started to stabilise. Her fever started to go down.

Both Abdullah and Hasan waited anxiously, Hasan on the floor by the door and Abdullah sitting by her side on the bed. Eventually the hours passed late into the night, Hasan fell off to sleep, meanwhile Abdullah felt someone tug his sleeves.

Abdullah stirred and got up immediately when he heard Aliyah’s whispers, placing his palm on her forehead when she got up.

He breathed a sigh of relief. “Fever’s down but…”

“Yeah, I just started coughing up blood…”

Abdullah stopped her. “Before he fell off to sleep Hasan told me something. He told me he saw old tissues when he was taking out the trash. Tissues with blood on them.”

Aliyah stuttered for excuses but Abdullah stopped her. “Why are you lying to us?”

“I didn’t want to worry you,” Aliyah said.

“That’s our job Aliyah,” Abdullah said. “We’re your brothers. We have to worry about you.”

Aliyah started to sob. “I’m just scared Abdullah. I’m so sick and if I die, I don’t want you remember me like this.”

Abdullah immediately hugged her. “Shh you won’t die. I’ll get the medicine, I promise.”

Aliyah cried into his shoulders, Abdullah started to cry too. Their parents had died going on strike when their ‘honourable’ prime minister had announced mandatory wage cuts. Trampled after the police started to use real bullets. After that, they were all they had. Abdullah did everything in his power to keep them safe but Aliyah had a weak immune system and she was way too smart for her own good.

He knew, they both knew his reassurances were fake but where there was a will, there was a way. Abdullah would get that medicine, if it was the last thing he did.

Aliyah sobbed herself to sleep, her body still warm from her fever. They all slept in separate rooms but Abdullah wondered how many nights she had cried herself to sleep without either of them knowing, burdened by the body that was betraying her.

Eventually sleep took them both, his arms still around Aliyah, feeling her warm breath on his arms. In the deep dark hours of the night, Abdullah was enveloped by a green fog and whisked away.

“Into the tournament he goes,” Ifrit said with a grin before disappearing into the fog.