Beyond the game

The town of Marwana sat nestled between rolling green hills and the vast, endless sea. It was a quiet place, untouched by the chaos of the world Azra had left behind. The people here lived simple lives, fishing in the mornings, tending to small shops and markets in the afternoons, and gathering in the evenings to share stories under the glow of lantern lights..

For the past six years, this town had been her sanctuary.

Azra walked down the cobblestone street, the hem of her soft blue dress swaying in the wind. Beside her, a little boy with dark curls and golden-brown eyes skipped happily, holding her hand.

Ameer.

Her son. Her world.

At five years old, Ameer was the spitting image of his father. From his sharp jawline to the way his eyes glowed like amber in the sunlight, every inch of him reminded Azra of the past she had tried so hard to bury.

But she had no regrets.

She had spent the last six years raising him alone, making sure he was happy, safe, and loved. She had watched him take his first steps, heard him say his first words, wiped his tears when he fell, and held him close when he had nightmares.

She had been his mother and his father.

And she had done it all without Yuzarsif.

Not a single phone call. Not a single message.

She had vanished from his world, just as she had planned.

"Are we getting ice cream today, Mama?" Ameer's voice pulled her from her thoughts.

Azra smiled, squeezing his hand gently. "Of course, habibi. What flavor do you want?"

"Chocolate!" he exclaimed, jumping excitedly.

She chuckled, her heart swelling at his joy. "Chocolate it is."

They reached a small ice cream cart at the end of the street, where an elderly man greeted them with a warm smile.

"Azra! And my favorite little customer, Ameer!"

Ameer grinned. "Mr. Hassan, I want a big chocolate ice cream today!"

The old man laughed, already preparing his cone. "A big one, just for you."

Azra watched as Ameer took the cone with both hands, his eyes shining. She paid Hassan and thanked him before they continued walking toward the beach.

Marwana was small, but it was beautiful.

The sand stretched out like golden silk, meeting the gentle waves of the sea. Wooden fishing boats bobbed in the water, their sails swaying in the wind. Seagulls flew overhead, their cries blending with the soft laughter of children playing along the shore.

Azra and Ameer sat down on their favorite bench near the water.

Ameer swung his small legs as he licked his ice cream, humming a tune.

"Mama, do you think pirates live in the ocean?" he asked suddenly.

Azra smiled, amused. "Maybe. What do you think?"

Ameer nodded seriously. "I think they do. But not bad pirates. Good ones!"

"Oh? And what do good pirates do?"

"They protect people! And they go on adventures to find treasure!"

Azra chuckled. "That sounds like a fun life."

Ameer turned to her, his golden-brown eyes wide with excitement. "When I grow up, I want to go on adventures too! Will you come with me, Mama?"

Her heart ached. She wanted to say yes. She wanted to promise that she would always be by his side. But deep down, she knew she couldn't keep that promise forever.

One day, he would ask about his father.

One day, he would want to know the truth.

And when that day came, she would have no choice but to face the past she had been running from.

She forced a smile and kissed his forehead. "Of course, my love. Always."

---

Memories and Regrets

That night, after putting Ameer to bed, Azra stood by the window of their small apartment, staring out at the sea.

The waves crashed against the shore, whispering secrets of a past she wished she could forget.

She thought about the life she had left behind.

The friends she had abandoned.

The man she had loved.

The betrayal that had shattered her.

Tears burned her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

She had built a new life for herself.

She had escaped the pain.

And yet, no matter how far she ran, the memories still haunted her.

She placed a hand over her stomach, remembering the moment she had found out she was pregnant.

She had been heartbroken, alone, and scared.

But she had also been determined.

She had chosen to leave, not because she was weak, but because she refused to raise her child in a world of lies.

She had given Ameer a fresh start.

And she had vowed that Yuzarsif would never know.

But for how long could she keep that promise?

Would the past one day find its way back to her?

She closed her eyes, gripping the windowsill.

She didn't want to think about it.

Not tonight.

Tonight, she would hold onto the happiness she had created.

Tonight, she would pretend the past no longer mattered.

And tomorrow, she would wake up and do it all over again.

Because this was her life now.

And she refused to let anyone take it away from her.

---