Do what you need to do, but ...
Hamizah AdzmiPublished: Jan 11, 2015 3:10 PM | Updated: Jan 11, 2015 4:48 PM
Do what you need to do, but come home when you're done.
She had read the text message on the bus on the way to Kuala Kangsar multiple times, and she read it now as she stood in the middle of the hallway of the dilapidated flat.
FICTION Do what you need to do, but come home when you're done.
She had read the text message on the bus on the way to Kuala Kangsar multiple times, and she read it now as she stood in the middle of the hallway of the dilapidated flat.
Afifah wasn't used to this kind of surroundings, and her nose wrinkled instinctively as the stench of rubbish entered her nostrils.
Come on, she told herself, taking a deep breath and willing herself to take another step forward. But her feet didn't move. She stayed rooted there.
Fortunately, there was no one around to notice this strange lady who looked out of place in her jeans, long-sleeved black shirt and green headscarf.
She had to do this, she knew that. Why she was doing this - Afifah wasn't entirely sure. To make herself feel better? Maybe. To erase the guilt? Definitely.
Her father told her once that she bears a heavy responsibility now that she was a journalist. She had to tell the truth to the people.
She wanted to laugh now. How ironic. The man who she had looked up to had caused so much suffering with a single verdict.
I had to make the ruling to protect our family. His words sneaked back into her ears like venom, even though it was said by a father – her father – who bore this burden on his shoulders wordlessly for so many years.
Afifah steeled herself.
She had to do this - apologise, make things right, whatever it was, she had to make things right somehow.
If no one else was going to atone her father's mistakes, then she would be the one doing it.
Come home when you're done. She took a step forward.
This piece was written by Hamizah Adzmi during a session of UnRepresented:KL, a home-grown writing programme on exploring less represented stories and experiences in Kuala Lumpur.
Hear more Kuala Lumpur stories from Hamizah and other writers from the second cohort of UnRepresented:KL at Galeri Chandan, Publika Mall on Jan 18, 2pm. Admission is free.
Applications are now open for the third installment of the program. Visit the Facebook page or email unrepresented.kl@gmail.com for more details.
She had read the text message on the bus on the way to Kuala Kangsar multiple times, and she read it now as she stood in the middle of the hallway of the dilapidated flat.
Afifah wasn't used to this kind of surroundings, and her nose wrinkled instinctively as the stench of rubbish entered her nostrils.
Come on, she told herself, taking a deep breath and willing herself to take another step forward. But her feet didn't move. She stayed rooted there.
Fortunately, there was no one around to notice this strange lady who looked out of place in her jeans, long-sleeved black shirt and green headscarf.
She had to do this, she knew that. Why she was doing this - Afifah wasn't entirely sure. To make herself feel better? Maybe. To erase the guilt? Definitely.
Her father told her once that she bears a heavy responsibility now that she was a journalist. She had to tell the truth to the people.
She wanted to laugh now. How ironic. The man who she had looked up to had caused so much suffering with a single verdict.
I had to make the ruling to protect our family. His words sneaked back into her ears like venom, even though it was said by a father – her father – who bore this burden on his shoulders wordlessly for so many years.
Afifah steeled herself.
She had to do this - apologise, make things right, whatever it was, she had to make things right somehow.
If no one else was going to atone her father's mistakes, then she would be the one doing it.
Come home when you're done. She took a step forward.
This piece was written by Hamizah Adzmi during a session of UnRepresented:KL, a home-grown writing programme on exploring less represented stories and experiences in Kuala Lumpur.
Hear more Kuala Lumpur stories from Hamizah and other writers from the second cohort of UnRepresented:KL at Galeri Chandan, Publika Mall on Jan 18, 2pm. Admission is free.
Applications are now open for the third installment of the program. Visit the Facebook page or email unrepresented.kl@gmail.com for more details.
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