《Ibrahim: A Tale of Two Worlds》


 Heartfelt - A Festival of Lights

    I''m no fan of apologies, but I''d be a liar if I said I wasn''t guilty for what happened a month ago. I''ve had more than enough chances to apologize. Opportune moments were a dime a dozen. It''s just¨C¨Cit''d be too awkward if I came out and said it. Plus, I couldn¡¯t stand the humility of those two silly little words¨C¨Cthey made my tongue curl over itself.


    I hated to leave Wino there, alone in his empty room. The lamp was always on because of his blackout curtains, and his phone practically lived atop its charging pad next to it. He stepped out only for work, the bathroom, and the kitchen. Then he retracted like a turtle into his shell. The door closed and another situation ripe for an apology rotted.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    It''s like a slot machine, my coins voluntarily leaping inside one after another, jingling into a pile, but the lever never moves. The part that dug into me was: I didn¡¯t know how many coins remained. I¡¯d seen his phone. Cheryl barely responded to his texts anymore, and she hadn¡¯t been here for the past two weeks. That must¡¯ve bummed him out. She really made him happy, didn¡¯t she? I just didn¡¯t know how he¡¯d react once he heard it from me, but what kind of a friend was I without saying it? Maybe it''s the magician in me, too great to stoop down and apologize. But if it made him feel any better¨C¨CWino, I''m sorry.

 For Me? Cheryl & The Underground Railway

    With his peripheral still set on Wino, Ibrahim saw his best friend¡¯s familiar smile returning. The sight soothed him. Despite Wino¡¯s phone addiction, things were coming together. The new normal that Ibrahim had awakened from hibernation into was finding its way back. And although he waged war upon it, Ibrahim cherished the uneventful stability it offered. He slid his arm down the couch, turning away. The volume of the TV rose. Splattering bubbles of oil sang to the tantalizing aroma of grilled onions and saut¨¦ed tomatoes. Wino¡¯s phone shivered.


    Three knocks sounded at the door. Wino and Ibrahim turned to it like cautious deer in a meadow. Ibrahim glanced back, meeting Wino with pursed brows. They said nothing. Ibrahim rose to answer.


    The door opened. Ibrahim retracted. His feet shuffled to gain some distance.


    ¡°Ibrahim.¡± Wino hunched over the counter. He poked some digital keys using his index finger. ¡°Who is it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Cheryl,¡± Ibrahim responded.


    Wino rose and flew around the kitchen counter to respond. ¡°What? Cheryl?¡±


    True to Ibrahim¡¯s word, Cheryl stood in the doorframe. She wore a stern expression like a mother returning to scold her unruly children. Wino scanned her head to toe as if confirming she was real. She glared back at him with unwavering conviction. For but a moment, her gaze slipped beyond Wino but snapped back into place immediately.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    ¡°I knew it,¡± she mumbled.


    Wino started, ¡°What¡¯re you doing? You didn¡¯t tell me you were coming?¡±


    ¡°Can I come in?¡± she asked almost authoritatively.


    The men parted. Cheryl entered with her head held high and stepped with a fire in her belly. She paused between them.


    Ibrahim closed the door as Wino asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me you were coming?¡±


    ¡°I just wanted to check up on you.¡± Cheryl¡¯s hand sat on her purse like it was a holstered firearm. A fragile golden chain slung over her shoulder strung it.


    ¡°Check up? B¡¯cus of what?¡±


    She snapped to Ibrahim. He reeled back defensively.


    ¡°Wh-What?¡± Ibrahim asked.


    She paused¨C¨Cdead set on him like he was a convicted criminal. Ibrahim¡¯s confused gaze bounced between the couple.


    Wino intervened, ¡°Sherry, what¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°You have it, don¡¯t you?¡± She ignored Wino.


    ¡°Have what?¡± Ibrahim answered.


    She squinted. ¡°Magic.¡±


    Ibrahim was speechless. His arms fell to his sides.


    ¡°Sherry,¡± Wino snagged her attention. ¡°Ibrahim doesn¡¯t have magic anymore.¡± He instinctively gestured for the countertop as evidence.


    ¡°Then where¡¯s his wand?¡± she asked.


    Wino glanced back. The gray-cored wand had snuck away undetected. He fell silent and followed Cheryl, returning to Ibrahim.


    Dumbfounded, Ibrahim¡¯s lips were sealed shut. Ibrahim ping-ponged between them, jutting violet speckles over his retina. These shards hovered like suspended astronauts in zero gravity.


    ¡°Ibrahim.¡± Wino inched forward. ¡°You have it? You have your wand again?¡±

 A Night To Remember

    As Ibrahim squatted, Cheryl inquired, ¡°So, Ibrahim.¡± He flinched, nearly propping back onto his feet but slumped into his seat. ¡°What¡¯s the plan tonight?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s game night,¡± Seneca answered. ¡°You wanna join? Ibrahim is DM¡¯ing.¡± She giggled.


    ¡°What¡¯s DM?¡± Cheryl inquired.


    ¡°Dungeon Master¨C¨Cit means he¡¯s telling the story, and we role-play.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Cheryl sang. ¡°You¡¯re not playing it like last time?¡±


    ¡°Sherry,¡± Wino whispered. His address warranted discretion. She was toying with fire, and it was Ibrahim to be burned.


    Seneca asked, ¡°You played together? You never told me, Ibrahim.¡± She turned to Cheryl. ¡°What happened last time?¡±This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°He didn¡¯t tell you?¡± Cheryl asked with piqued interest.


    ¡°Sherry,¡± Wino called with a rising inflection. He glanced pitifully at Ibrahim.


    Ibrahim watched them pass the speculative parcel like a criminal caught on film. This wasn¡¯t for Seneca to hear, but Cheryl and her spontaneous courage toiled for some unspoken agenda. To her, Ibrahim toed the line between two worlds¨C¨Cshe was right. Now, she sought to sever this interstitial relationship and pursue him into a single camp. He was a magician and deserved treatment as one.


    Seneca smiled giddily at Ibrahim, cognizant of an unnerving secret coming to light. ¡°Tell me what, Ibrahim?¡±


    Cheryl¡¯s brows settled as her palms clasped one another. She grinned from ear to ear as she angled towards Ibrahim as well. The spotlight was on him. His lips pursed, retracting into his mouth. He ruffled his robes between his fingers and sought refuge from Wino.


    ¡°Either you tell her, or I will,¡± Cheryl warned.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± Wino calmly intervened.


    Cheryl sat unfettered by Wino¡¯s comment. Her fangs latched onto Ibrahim.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Seneca curiously asked.


    ¡°Fine. Senny,¡± Cheryl started. ¡°There¡¯s something you need to know.¡±


    ¡°Cheryl,¡± Wino warned.


    ¡°What?¡± Seneca asked.


    ¡°Ibrahim is a¡ª¡±