I looked at the demon, his tall frame towering over my room. It was a modest size, perfect for myself. Not a godzilla like the demon. His black expensive suit contrasted heavily against the cream setting of my room.

Thank God my undergarments were tucked away in the drawers. I stood there, wondering about my life and what has happened in the last month.

The demon looked at me expectantly, and then I suddenly remembered what he was here for. He turned around towards the pictures hung up on the wall of me and my family back home and the new ones I took recently on my birthday.

Anxiety washed over me in grey clouds as I realised the demon would potentially have new victims. By new victims I meant my family in the UK.

I walked over to my mattress, as a smokey smell erupted into my nose. Did I burn something unknowingly? Was someone awake downstairs? Was my candle on?

I turned to the demon, my gaze going to his right hand. He held a cigarette in between his fingers, occasionally smoking out of the death stick. I held my hand in front of my mouth, trying to hold in my gag reflexes.

I rushed to the window and calmed down when the breeze attacked my face. I would take cold wind any day over cigarette smoke.

The demon glanced my way briefly, holding my gaze for the remaining time it took him to take a drag at the cigarette. His eyes never leaving mine. I shuddered from the aftermath of his sinister gaze. Definitely not the cold.

It felt as if time seemed to freeze.

Why are you prolonging this Laila? Just hurry and give him the file and hell be on his way. My brain chastised.

Pushing the mattress up I take out the red file holding it infront of me and wondering what is so special about this. Looks like I'll never know.

The demon began pacing around, his one step covering at least half the rooms length. Behind him a trail of cigarette toxic mingled with the air. He looked like he had all the time in the world, unlike what he said In the park.

Not once did he say anything and neither did his face give away the thoughts in his head. They say how the eyes were a window to your soul. Well the demon i'm sure had no soul. His eyes gave nothing away, as if he'd pulled a blind down his eyes, covering all emotions. Well that was if he had any in the first place.

"Here's the file" I said shortly breaking the silence.

The demon took his sweet time taking a deep drag of the cigarette. I watched on as the smoke danced around his face, giving him a much more rigged and sinister look. I patiently waited at the side of him, stood next to the window whilst he was away in nightmare land.

Suddenly his eyes met mine. Did he hear my thoughts? I immediately stood up from my slouched position, feeling alarmed. He walked forward, stopping right infront of me. I could no longer keep the eye contact and looked down at my hands in front of me tightly holding the file.

My vision fogged up as the smoke entered my lungs, rendering me in a coughing fit. Just when I was able to breath again the demon found it amusing, judging by the smirk on his lips, and exhaled the cigarette one more time in my face.

I closed my eyes tightly and didn't breath, fanning the smoke away from my face with my hands. It wasn't helping the demon was in such close proximity.

These lingering particles of the smoke left a bitter taste in my mouth. I frowned, eyeing the demon drop the cigarette on my floor and shattering it under his boot clad feet.

The nerve of this guy!

I was tempted to say something, anything to rid this anger, but if I did, I would wake the entire residence. And that I didn't want. I tried controlling myself, not wanting to give the arrogant demon the benefit of the doubt.

"You were saying" if possible, his voice became much more deeper, and his accent equally as deep. I shuffled on my feet, taking a healthy amount of air in my lungs before giving him the file.

He snatched it from me and made sure nothing was missing. I mentally rolled my eyes. Just then, I hard a knocking outside my door.

Oh to the bloody no!

Someone must've heard me.

"Laila, habibti. Is that you?" Auntie slowly called. I opened my mouth like a fish breathing air. The demon looked up from the file, amused at my state. Without thinking I walked to the door, making sure if auntie walked in she would only see me.

"Uh y-yes auntie. I just needed to do some work, I'll be off to sleep now. Khuda hafiz" I stammered and shut the lights off for extra effect. This seemed to satisfy her as she bid me good night before I could hear her waking away, hopefully to her room.

I sighed out loudly, happy for this slip.

But then my thoughts shifted to the demon. I put the lights on, turning around. To my surprise, he wasn't where I left him standing next to the window. I looked out of the window and still no sign of him.

Where could he have gone in such a short amount of time. My heart grew in fear.

Just then I heard the rumble of a car. Looking out my window, as it was situated towards the front of the house, I could make out the demon revving the engine. With no care in the world of who was asleep and who he could wake up.

With shocked eyes I watched on as he revved the car one more time, very loudly before speeding off. And with a blink of an eye, the car was gone.

I stared at the end of the road still rooted to my position. What. How was that possible. Did he jump out the window.

Although I was perplexed I was equally as tired from the outcome of today. I did my night time routine and went to bed. Withing seconds I dosed off and entered dream land.

***

The next morning was no different than any other day. The same old routine at the hospital. It was drawing to a Saturday and Marissa had raised the option of going out to dinner with her. She said there was a new cafe opening on Saturday and she would love to be one of the first customers.

I nodded my head seemingly happy to go out and about after everything that's already happened.

"Great" she grinned.

"Ill pick you up at four" she raised her hands as an objection to my rejection.

"You don't listen to me so I shall also do the same. Make sure you wear something warm though, you know how bad the weather's been thus far" she exclaimed in distaste. Not once did she ever fail to mention her hate for the winter.

Whether is be the cold nipping at her face, or the extra layer of clothing. Whatever the reason, she disliked the cold. With a passion.

I chuckled at her mood before accepting her proposition. She seemed content and put on her coat. We both readied ourselves for the end of the day.

We were both deep in thought till Marissa spoke up.

"You're so lucky you know" I stared at her confused.

"Lucky in what way"

"Your hijab" she exclaimed all of a sudden, reeling me back in shock. I didn't know with what to respond as this was the first time someone saw the hijab as a lucky prospect. Marissa seemed to contemplate her words but I nudged her to go on.

"Well it's just when people see you they tend to have a lot more respect for you-"

"Not necessarily" I mumbled cutting her off, but shut up due to her stink eye. I giggled before mumbling a sorry.

"Don't get me wrong, people see it as a symbol of oppression, which it isn't, yet on the other hand, I feel like it grounds you. Like I bet guys don't flirt with you or hit on you because of your hijab" all these points were things which I didn't realise until now.

It was amazing to hear them from someone who has never experienced wearing the hijab. It truly did make me realise what the hijab really means to me. And with Marissas' words, I felt a feeling of belonging and happiness.

"And also can I just mention how much I hate the cold. Your hijab keeps you warm from the cold... So jealous" she states, frowning like a big toddler. I couldn't help chuckling at her statement.

"True. I'm impressed Marissa. If you're so keen on fighting the cold I could lend you some of my scarves. That way you can protect yourself from the cold. Though I doubt it'd help that much" I said light-heartedly but didn't expect Marissa to agree with me.

"You would do that? I'd like to see what I look like if I wore the hijab. It wouldn't be wrong to wear it despite my beliefs would it?"

I shook my head "Of course not Marissa. You see it's not just muslim females who wear the scarf, it's also Christian nuns and Christian women who go to the church and cover their hair as a sign of respect. Married jewish women also cover their hair too" I explained.

She nodded along to my words, her mouth forming an O shape.

"Oh interesting. I wasn't that aware of such topics before, and neither did I bother, but now I know and I'm intrigued" she stated staring deep at the path ahead of her as if she was teleported to another world. I hummed in agreement.

We both lapsed in comfortable silence for a couple of minutes until a phone call ringed. Marissa hurriedly answered it, conversing in rapid spanish. She ended the call soon after.

"I'm so sorry Laila. That was my sister's teacher informing me of her attitude. She's such a naughty child you'd think I'd have gotten used to these calls" Marissa somberly looked at me. I totally understood her situation and shooed her to get to the school. She smiled, hugging me.

"Thank you for understanding Laila. I'll see you tomorrow. I'll text you the rest. Adios chica" she exclaimed blowing me a kiss before wandering off in the dark towards her car. I waved back.

I walked to the bus stop, paying for my ticket and sitting at the back of the bus. My eyes shifted towards a man wearing a beanie and a longline coat. That's not what surprised me though, it was his voice.

From where did I hear it before?

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