The ride home was silent.
It also happened that all of us lived in New Cairo—a place made up of several districts. I lived in a decent apartment there, one that overlooked a green park. It was one of the few places where people truly minded their own business.
Very different from where I used to live with my grandparents.
Tonight is going to be a sleepless night, I thought to myself as the car sped through the lanes.
Adel remained silent beside me. Not even a single glance was spared in my direction.
He was probably still thinking about the case.
After all, the victim had been close to him… and every suspect seemed more suspicious than the last.
I flipped open my journal.
Each page was dedicated to a specific suspect.
The first was Sameh.
He had a strong motive—inheritance. He might even be connected to his younger brother's tragedy. Or, given his earlier breakdown, he could be someone being framed.
But then again—Mansour and Haitham both indirectly pointed toward him.
And yet… he had an alibi. He claimed he wasn't in charge of the glass renovation.
On the other hand, there was Haitham.
Composed. Controlled.
He was responsible for the glass renovation. If he were the killer, what would his motive be? From what I gathered, he was loyal to the victim—seeing him almost like a father.
And he had an alibi as well—he said he went out for lunch.
Then… there was Mansour.
The most suspicious of them all.
How did he immediately assume it was murder?
His explanation had been vague. He seemed to avoid the question at all costs. And during the interrogation, his breakdown could have been triggered by Adel's pressure—or perhaps something else entirely.
I didn't realize I had been biting the cap of my pen until Adel suddenly took it away from me.
"Bad habit, rascal," he said.
His tone carried a hint of sarcasm.
"You might damage your teeth… and we can't have a toothless detective, can we?"
" i can be a first " i retored
" fine by me , toothless "
o gritted my teeth as i immediatily regreted my earlier retored
" oh you are speeding up the process "
are we sure that this man in mourning period or which stage of grievness is that
oh i know egoistic brat stage
but i wanted to make peace with him for now he is my mentor after all
so i decide to go polite
"thank you for your advise "
he nodded in response with a nod
then he remarked
" i see you are checking your agenda "
" ph yea just reviewing what i have gathered "
"mm i see an improvment here" he smiled more proud of himself than at me
" i am truly a great teacher "
" aren't you gonna say i am fast lerner "
he thought for a moment
" on another though no "
he got closer so he was able to get A BETTER VIEW OF my pages
" the improvment i see that after you bought the agenda you started writing word for word interrgation "
" yea i did but i didn't quite get why "
" good girl for following instruction "
my eyes sparkled as a hope in compliment but he quickly ruined
" bad girl for not questioning don't be mindless , toothless "
i huffed " i am not toothless i have fully perfect grown teeth "
" you will be soon "
" gosh can't you utter a fully nice senctence without making fun of me "
" maybe "
i looked at the not so familiar neighbourhood then i said to the driver whom was taking us all die long around cairo and its lively streets
" around the corner please " i said politely
" so polite , rascal "
that irratating voice i surely heard his murmured loud and clear
"thanks for the drop off mr adel "
" see you soon , charles "
adel raised an eyebrow but before i turned
" good night ... both of you "
then i walk to my block climbing up to my apartment
I took a deep breath as i juggle through my keys finding the right key and sliding it in i opened the door to my peaceful apartment my safe place it was srly dark but thn=en i turned the soft light giving it that calm hue i went to the bathroom the only voice is heard is the sound of my inner voice
suerly tonigh took a rather sharp turn
and i might have made reckless move
but i think i have pleased my grand parent throuout my life
i walked to the kitchen opening the fridget as i fetch my self a pineapple drink i felt an ache through my body tho i did not do any physicall excersie my the mental one was hella heavy i swayned my arm a little before stopping to pour myself a glass i added some soda to the drink watching the bubbles forming around as i took my steps towards the balcony i rested on the wooden chair i rested my chin on my palm as i looked at the horozion
the stars hugging the moon
then i got drown again with my thoughts
is it wrong to live a bit
should i even inform my grandparents anyway
i am sure they would not be happy at all
i took a glup of the drink though the drink was sweet it left a burning after taste and it wasn't because of it it wasbecause of the overwhelming feeling of lost and torn
i am tired of pleasing people i know they love me but that's enough
it's time to call on my own shots
i have an apartment i am no longer the orphan teen girl who lost her parents in an acidnet
and i know if i continue as a journalist i will regret it soon enough
i have always loved being a detective so what is stopping me
then adel appeared in my mind clear as a day his chrasmitc aura imprinted in my brain
i was like a gift god perpared for me to take
like a door being reopend after the flam had died
he was the fuse who ignite the flame again
and this time it won't die i will make sure of it