It was a week later, things were very tense around the house. A few weeks ago, Kazima had had an age assessment and she had failed it. They had just found out. Farah didn't fully understand what it meant but she knew that it wasn't good. They had to find a way to help Kazima. Although Farah wasn't really close with Kazima she still lived with the girl. They spoke and hung out occasionally.
Farah had managed well this week. She had actually found that since telling Mike and May-Li about the murder her nightmares had stopped. She hadn't spoken to them since the reveal, yet found occasional thoughts entering her head. Not always negative, often memories of her mother but she felt reluctant to share them. She wasn't sure if she was allowed.
Farah watched as May-Li walked past her room with an upset Kazima. As Farah's room was next to Carmen and Kazima, she listened to them. She could tell that Carmen wasn't happy and wanted to save Kazima.
"I can't go back there" Kazima said. Suddenly, Farah's mind starting racing. Go back there. Go back from the country she came from. Can they just do that? Can the government just make you go back? Again, Farah was sucked into her own thoughts.
"Earth to Farah" Carmen said waving her hand in front of Farah's face.
"House meeting now" Carmen said and Farah jumped out of her trance and nodded. May-Li caught the girl on her way down the stairs.
"You okay?" She asked and Farah flashed a fake smile before nodding. May-Li could see through that look.
Down the stairs, they spoke about the plan, that Carmen had managed to get a film crew to come to the house tomorrow. They were going to save Kazima, stop her being deported. Mike and May-Li then disappeared to the office to make phone calls. Farah hung back after the meeting and watched the confrontation between Mike and Ryan.
May-Li noticed Farah hanging about and went over to her.
"I've noticed that you usually hang around when something is on your mind. When you are worried about something. Do you want to speak about it?" May-Li asked softly.
"It's silly" Farah said trying to push away.
"Nothing is silly if it's worrying you" May-Li said.
"But you are busy with Kazima" Farah admitted.
"That's why we have two of us, so we can deal with more than one issue at a time. Even if there are a range of children having issues, we will find time to include everyone" May-Li explained. That did make Farah feel a bit better. Farah allowed May-Li to guide her into the office but still Farah sat nervously. She felt stupid now.
"Take your time" May-Li said.
"Why does Kazima have to return to Somalia? Can the government send anyone back?" She asked.
"Kazima gave to the country as a refugee which means she ran away from her country because it was dangerous" May-Li tried to explain. It now became noticeable that due to Farah's hidden life after the passing of her mother, there was many things she was unaware of.
"Can I get sent back because my mum is from Thailand" She asked.
"No because you were born in the UK and your father is a British citizen" May-Li explained, and Farah nodded.
"My mum came to the UK just before I was born" She explained.
"Did she come over and then meet you Dad?" May-li asked and Farah shook her head.
"No, Dad saved up money and then went to Australia for a gap year. On his way home he went to Thailand and met my mum. They knew that people wouldn't be happy that Mum was having a baby so her and Dad got married then came back to the UK" Farah explained, and May-Li smiled. She was proud of the girl for feeling able to tell her this piece of information.
"Am I allowed to speak about my mum?" Farah asked nervously.
"Of course, you can. She is your mum, you can also speak about her. Keep her memory alive" May-Li explained, and Farah nodded.
"With Dad I couldn't speak about mum. I saw it all happen and I kept everything to myself. I was unable to cope which is why I stopped speaking. It was all my body could do" Farah explained, and May-Li agreed.
"I think you just felt so out of control and the one thing your body could control was your ability to speak" May-Li said, and Farah agreed. It felt good having someone actually understand her.
"You will have so many memories of your mum in your head and you should feel able to share them whenever you wish. We are all here to listen to you" May-Li said, and Farah nodded.
"Is my mum having a funeral?" Farah asked nervously. No one had really spoken to her since the body had been found.
"Yes, they are still working with both the bodies at the moment. They also need a birth certificate for your sister" May-Li said.
"Her name was Malee" Farah said.
"That's a lovely name" May-Li replied smiling. She knew that she would have to phone the police and make them aware that she now had a name for the baby. Farah nodded.
"I picked it. Dara is a common Thai name but my mum thought that the D sound was too harsh so she picked Farah. She wanted this new baby to have a traditional Thai name. We looked through the book together and I picked Malee, it means Flower. My mum was called Kulap, which also means flower but a rose flower" Farah explained, and May-Li listened intently. She was so proud of the girl for being able to speak so openly to her.
A couple of weeks later, the film crew had published Kazima's story. They watched the video and Farah really felt for Kazima. She had had a really hard start in life and seeing the video made her realise that all the children in care had had their challenges. She instantly went quiet.
After they watched the video, Farah disappeared and hid in her bedroom. The rest of the house were down the stairs watching the petition to keep Kazima in the country.
"Where is Farah?" May-Li asked.
"Em, I think she is up the stairs" Tee said, and May-Li looked at Mike indicating that she would go and check on the girl. She walked up to Farah and Jody's bedroom and knocked on the door. Farah stood up and opened the door.
"Is everything okay?" May-Li asked and Farah nodded.
"Are you sure? Because I've learnt that when you are upset or nervous about something you go into your room" May-Li said. Farah bit her lip.
"Everyone here has had a hard time but only I don't talk" Farah admitted.
"Everyone copes with what they have been through differently and you didn't have anyone else" May-Li explained, and Farah nodded still embarrassed though.
"Don't try and compare yourself to anyone else here. You have all had different experiences and different challenges" May-Li said and Farah nodded.
"Will you come down when you are ready?" May-Li asked and again Farah nodded. She smiled as the woman closed the door and left. Farah took a few deep breaths before going down the stairs and joining the others.
Much to Farah's relief, a few days later they found Kazima's father who was able to confirm her birth age. This resulted in Kazima staying in the dumping ground. This made Farah very happy.
Sorry it's rushed at the end just wanted to get it up for everyone :)