Chapter FOURTEEN

Chapter 14: Parents

2003 Summer, Jeddah.

Rafee finally gathered his courage to tell his parents one day. He flew into Jeddah from the UK for his summer break. He met his mom and dad at the airport. He was torn whether he should tell them now or the next summer break. The ride home was awkward, and his mom asked him what the matter was. Rafee lied and told them that nothing was the matter.

Rafee was in turmoil. He did not know if he should tell now or not. He battled with his previous thoughts of shame and fear. What if my parents don’t like me? What if I am rejected? What if they blame me? Rafee was so distracted he did not even realize they got home.

Entering the living room, his mom finally asked him what the matter was. Mothers always have the instinct to know when things are not right with their children.

Before anything, Rafee just sat in silence. He then spoke up as his parents were wondering with anxiety. He asked them if they remembered the house they shifted to which had the swimming pool. His mom nodded. He then told them directly: I was sexually abused in that house.

What followed were a roller coaster of emotions and feelings as Rafee poured out his story to his mom and dad. His dad however could not bear to listen to the whole thing and left mid way. Rafee noticed that, and as much as he wanted for his dad to listen to his story, he understood that his dad doesn't know how to deal with such a situation. His mom heard the whole thing and was confronted with a mix of feelings: denial, anger, outrage, sympathy and confusion. His dad came back in later, and gave Rafee a huge hug and told Rafee how much he loved him no matter what. This was a double surprise, a bonus, for Rafee. All his life he longed for that hug from his dad. All his life he wanted this acknowledment from his dad. Today his dad gave him a genuine, heartfelt hug and told him directly how much he loved him.

If anything, Rafee was so relieved to have told his parents. His mom believed every single part of the story, and the only thing she said was: “Rafee we love you. If you had told us earlier, we would have sent that man to jail for such a crime. We could have arrested him and had him jailed!” Rafee asked himself in his heart, “why didn’t I tell my parents before?

The next day and for the rest of the summer, his parents made every effort to help Rafee heal. They talked to him, consoled him, and made him feel loved. They took him to counselors and doctors. Rafee had been suffering from severe depression. Rafee was just glad he shared with his parents, and realized then that his parents’ love for him was unconditional. Rafee again began seeing Hope.