Almost Surely Dead

by Amina Akhtar

I was single now, and fantasies were the safest way to date.

But Dunia? That was because I was my dad’s world. Ammi hated that.

Being jealous of your child and teaching their sibling to hate them is nasty work

“At least she knows her skin is bad. That’s good. Easier to work with.”

Jesus Jeremy christ

Adnan told me once that he played pranks on Jamal, so much so that his brother was terrified of the dark. He’d hide under his bed and shake it while Jamal slept.

He should have died, but I didn’t tell them that. I didn’t say that’s what Adnan was going for when he pushed him. I just cheered it all on.

I hated that reporter. I wish she knew how I felt.

“Yes, she does!” I yelled. I loved Baba, but Ammi was Ammi. And she could do no wrong. It was me who was wrong.

“Baba said to ask you what you did before I was born.” She stared at me in confusion. “What?” I shrugged. “He said to ask you what you did.” Her face went white. “Go to your room,”

Baba is a ghost!!!!

Only Baba did, but no one listened to him.

I knew it

“You can play with her.” I was being a good host. I held out the doll to Adnan. “Who are you talking to?” Jamal asked. His voice sounded mean.

“I’m not! Adnan says Uncle is mean to Auntie and that they need to divorce. He says that Jamal is going to die for all the bad things he does!”

Adnan—Nadia told me—was Jamal’s brother, but he’d died when he was born.

The few times people came over for dinner, I had to ask Nadia who I could play with, in case any weren’t real.

Anyone else I saw, I ignored until they stopped shouting at me for attention.

“Did I give you keys?” I couldn’t remember. “I made copies while you were convalescing.

Oh hell no!!!

Adnan told me they weren’t coming back because they died, but I didn’t tell anyone.

“I’m just glad I finally got you here! I’ve wanted to lure you here since we met! This is my safe space, you know?”

Ummm the fuck

“She’s free of anything not from God. But you know, if the story you’ve told me is true, you have a price to pay still. And nothing will save you from that.” “I know,” Ammi said. “I’ll do what’s necessary.”

“None of what happened is your fault. It’s your mother’s. Remember that.”

So you believe that her jinn stopped you from killing her. LIZ SMALL: He’s coming for us. For all of us. Until he finds her, we’re all dead. He’s coming! He’s coming! He’s going to kill us all!

“He tried to separate us. You’re my family. We belong together. Anyone who gets in the way has to go.”

He was the reason I didn’t have my father anymore. I couldn’t forgive that. Baba and I might have been family, but family sucked.

That your death was so interesting, white women wanted to make money off you.

Ok this cause fuck them