Layla wal-Dubb

Layla was sitting in a clearing thinking about her upcoming wedding to Albus when daisies began raining down upon her head. She looked up to find Zadie flying overhead.

‘Hi, Zadie,’ Layla said with a sigh.

Zadie swooped down and sat on a rock beside her. ‘What’s wrong, Layla?”

Nothing, I guess.

Didn’t you like the daisies? I thought they were your favorite.

They are my favorite and they’re beautiful. I love the small ones. Shukran.

Are there problems with Albus or the wedding plans?

No. Not really. Everyone seems to like Albus and they’re handling all of the wedding plans. There’s nothing for me to do but await my fate and hope that Albus and I are happy together wherever he takes me. Anything would be better than this hostile, uncaring wilderness.

You don’t know where you’ll be living? Do you love him?

They haven’t told me anything. I don’t even know him. I’m not even sure if I like him. He terrifies me. I’d rather not go.

Then why are you doing this?

I have no choice.

Zadie and Layla sat together as Layla mourned her fate. Houb felt his sister’s cries of sorrow for Layla as he flew with all speed towards her. He observed from a nearby tree and fell instantly in love with her.

It took a few screeches from Zadie to bring him back to reality. He soon gathered the ingredients for a sleeping potion and prepared it for Layla. When it was ready, he put it in Layla’s tea cup. Layla drank in the soothing tea as Zadie comforted her.

Don’t worry, Layla. Albus isn’t for you. You will know joy yet. You will be so pleased with your partner that you will reply to them with two yeses because one simply won’t do. I am sure of it. Just rest for now. I will be back before the wedding.

With that Layla smiled a drowsy smile of contentment as Zadie flew away. She was soon fast asleep. When she awoke again it was dark. Nothing looked familiar. She put her back against a tree and trembled at the shadows moving around her and the low growls. She was  terrified and scared stiff. She couldn’t even shout to scare them away. She closed her eyes and prayed for a quick death.

There were growls and shrieks that came so fast and furious that she passed out from the shock and terror of it all. She wasn’t aware but she was soon smiling and sleeping peacefully for the first time in years.

When she awoke again, she was so well rested and happy. She yawned, squinted at the sunrise and stretched with a massive smile. Her worries about Albus were far away. She decided to curl up as she watched the sunrise.

Layla oooed and aaaaahed at the beautiful display while thanking the gods. Suddenly Layla felt herself being moved from her position and placed in another. She looked up to find out the cause and was greeted by an enormous bear.

Al-Dubb gave her a dopey smile and said hello. She knew that she should be scared of him but she wasn’t.

‘Are you hungry? I can get you some nearby fruit.’

Maybe in a bit. Ana Layla. Min Enti?

Ana Si-Si.

Salam, Si-Si. I’m sorry to have somehow fallen asleep on you.

It’s okay. I didn’t mind. You were sleeping so peacefully. I hope that you slept well.

I did. It was the first time in so long. Shukran, sadiqi.

It was my pleasure. Ma’salam .

Oh, ca va. Ma’salam.

Layla looked sad that her new friend was leaving so soon. He noticed and gave her another dopey smile, a hug that felt as if it healed every bit of sorrow and a promise to return. He made her feel so much at home and safe in the wilderness that she shouted, “Ahaybuk!’ as he was leaving. She hoped that the winds in this hostile country covered her shameful words. He was not for her. Her fate was with Albus.

Layla returned to Albus’s Palace with such sadness and a heavy heart. As the plans were becoming clearer, she longed for her friend Al-Dubb to return. She had forgotten everything about him but wrote about him with such love and happiness. Al-Dubb was soon the only happiness she knew. A myth more than a reality.

When Si-Si returned, she was upset. He tried to comfort her as before but she was inconsolable and lashed out at him in anger, threatening to kill him. It felt as if the entire world was trying to destroy her but refused to kill her. He flew to Zadie who said that she would try to help Layla.

He kept his distance as Zadie tried to help her. Layla was being tortured by her fate and absolutely nothing could console her. The date of the wedding was set for the winter solstice. The perfect night for Albus and his bride. They could only sit and wait.

Zadie took Layla to register her name for the wedding. Layla could barely stand or speak as she told the judge and witnesses that she agreed to marry Albus in sound mind. She made sure to remind all in attendance that this was the only choice that she was given. There were no other options for her. The crowd sat in silence as if approving of her miserable fate, attached to Albus for eternity.

Zadie helped Layla out and tried to leave her with the young doorman as she got the carriage but she couldn’t get far enough away from there fast enough. She would try to crawl away if she had to. Zadie assisted and tried to keep her calm. It was no use though.

A week later Layla ran from the palace trying desperately to get away from her fate with Albus. The guards found her and took her to the doctor to make sure that she was okay and still fit to marry Albus. Several days later they declared her fit for her new master, her groom, Albus.

Zadie took Layla back to the palace. She alternated between trying to push past the hell that awaited her and some fairytale of a knight in shining armor coming to rescue her. She gave one last attempt to free herself from her fate by appealing to the king but he refused her request.

Layla is Al-Mejnoona. There is no Qays. She longed for her freedom from Albus and to sleep peacefully in the arms of Al-Dubb, Si-Si but her fate was decided long ago. She must marry Albus so that there will be peace for the people of Wahid.

This fate is so horrific that she is known forever more simply as Al-Mejnoona, The Crazy Woman. You can still see her on the winter solstice walking to the palace to marry Albus, Zadie and Houb watching mournfully while circling above.

What observers don’t know is her fate once the palace doors close. Most assume that Albus continues to torture Layla throughout the night and every night for eternity. Her mysterious, mournful cries of, “Free the slaves!” are still heard at the palace every night during the months before and after the winter solstice.

We can only heed her mournful request and Free the slaves.

Hear this story and more, as well as learn about and join the discussion about slavery, human trafficking and abuse at Drsy.org. Nobody should be left alone in the darkness nor only given the choice of a marriage to Albus, Misery.

Humanity deserves better. Stop the cycle of abuse.

Ma’salam. With Peace.

Min Sadiqatuk, Drsy.

From your friend, Darcy.