Beyond the game

The day was drawing to a close, and the sun's light was beginning to fade as Azra sat at the small table in the corner of the bookstore. Ameer, still as innocent and pure as a child should be, sat beside her, his small hands turning the pages of a picture book. Yet there was a heaviness in the air, a tension that couldn't be ignored. She had made a promise to herself, to him, and now, it was time to fulfill it.

Azra looked at her son, the boy who had changed everything for her. Ameer was still too young to understand fully, but the time had come when she could no longer hide the truth from him.

The doorbell chimed as the last customer of the day left the store. The shop was quiet now, with only the sound of the occasional rustling of paper or the distant hum of traffic outside. Azra reached out, taking Ameer's hand in hers, and he looked up at her with those wide, trusting eyes.

"Mama, are you okay?" he asked, his voice soft, like a breeze on a still day. He was always so perceptive, even for his age.

Azra's heart clenched, and she forced a smile. "I'm fine, sweetheart. I just need to tell you something. Something important."

Ameer tilted his head, his curiosity piqued. "What is it, Mama?"

Azra drew in a steadying breath. The words had been lodged in her throat for so long, but now there was no turning back. She had protected him for six years, but that shield was no longer enough. He deserved the truth, even if it broke her heart to say it out loud.

"Do you remember the man who came by earlier today?" Azra began, her voice trembling slightly despite her efforts to remain calm.

Ameer nodded eagerly. "The tall man, with the black hair? He was staring at me like he knew me."

Azra felt her chest tighten at the mention of Yuzarsif. The mention of his name had always had an effect on her, a mixture of guilt, love, and anger all rolled into one. "That man… His name is Yuzarsif."

Ameer's eyes flickered, sensing the seriousness in her tone. "What about him, Mama?"

Azra swallowed hard, then continued, "Ameer, that man… he's your father."

The words hung in the air, thick with meaning. Ameer stared at her, wide-eyed, as if trying to process what she had just said.

"My… my father?" Ameer repeated slowly, his face scrunching in confusion.

Azra nodded. "Yes. Yuzarsif is your father, the man who—"

Ameer suddenly jumped from his chair, his face lighting up with excitement. "So I have a father? A real one? A real daddy?" He practically danced around the small space, his laughter filling the room.

Azra blinked back the tears that threatened to fall. Her son was so innocent, so full of joy, and yet, the truth was a heavy burden. She had never wanted to tell him this way, but there was no other option now. She watched as Ameer's joy quickly turned into confusion as he paused, his small brow furrowing.

"But Mama… why didn't you tell me about him before?" Ameer asked, his voice small, uncertain.

Azra's heart ached at the question. "Because things were complicated, sweetheart. Your father and I… we weren't together. There were things that kept us apart, and I didn't want to hurt you by telling you about him. I thought it was better this way, just you and me."

Ameer's face clouded with confusion. "But why? Why didn't you want me to know?"

Azra closed her eyes, a deep sigh escaping her lips. "Sometimes, grown-ups make mistakes. And sometimes, the things that happen between them can hurt. I didn't want you to feel that hurt, Ameer. I wanted you to have a happy life, without all the complicated things that happened before you were born."

Ameer looked up at her, his small hands clasping hers. "But now I know. And I want to meet him, Mama. I want to meet my daddy."

Azra's heart shattered at his words. It was clear he was eager, innocent in his desire to know the man who shared his blood. She had known this moment would come—she had been dreading it for years—but she had never expected it to be this painful.

"I know, sweetheart," she said softly, her voice cracking. "I know you want to meet him, and I know you deserve to. But it's not that simple. There's a lot we need to figure out before that happens."

Ameer didn't seem to understand the complexities, nor did he care. To him, it was simple. His father was out there, and he wanted to meet him. Azra felt a lump form in her throat.

"I'll tell you everything you need to know, when you're older," she said quietly, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead. "But for now, I just want you to know that I love you, and nothing will ever change that."

Ameer nodded, but Azra could see the disappointment in his eyes. He didn't fully understand yet, but he would, someday.

---

The Struggle to Move Forward

Later that evening, as Azra lay awake in bed, the weight of the day pressed heavily on her. She had told Ameer the truth, and while the boy's reaction had been sweet and innocent, Azra couldn't shake the feeling of dread that lingered in her chest. The reality of what she had done—keeping Ameer from his father for all these years—was beginning to settle in.

She had protected him. She had kept him safe. But now, the truth was out, and there was no going back. She couldn't help but wonder what would happen now. What would Yuzarsif want from her? How would he fit into their lives?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.

Azra sat up, her heart racing. It was late, and she hadn't been expecting anyone. She stood slowly, walking to the door with a mix of dread and curiosity.

When she opened it, her breath caught in her throat. Standing there, under the soft glow of the hallway light, was Yuzarsif.

"I need to talk to you," he said, his voice low and urgent.

Azra's heart skipped a beat. She had known this moment was coming, but that didn't make it any easier. She could feel the tension rising between them, like a storm ready to break.

"About what?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"About Ameer," he said, stepping closer. "I need to understand… I need to know what happens next."

Azra stood silent for a moment. Everything was changing, and it felt like her entire world was shifting beneath her feet. But for the first time in a long time, she knew one thing for sure.

Things were never going to be the same again.

---

Azra took a slow breath, steadying herself. "Ameer is fine," she said carefully, watching Yuzarsif's expression. "He's still processing everything."

Yuzarsif gave a small nod, his gaze flickering toward the closed door down the hall. "I don't expect him to accept me overnight," he admitted, his voice quieter now. "But I want to be there. I want to make up for lost time."

Azra folded her arms, leaning against the wall. "You can't just walk in and expect things to fall into place, Yuzarsif. He doesn't know you. He's never known you."

Pain flashed across his face, but he held her gaze. "And whose fault is that?"

Azra's heart clenched. "Don't," she warned.

"I have to, Azra," he said, stepping closer. "Because for six years, you decided for both of us. You kept him away."

She stiffened. "I did what I had to do."

Yuzarsif's jaw tightened. "You ran," he accused. "And you never gave me the chance to be his father."

Azra exhaled sharply. "I didn't run. I left because I had no choice."

His eyes darkened. "You had a choice. You just didn't trust me enough to make the right one."

She turned away, crossing the small living room to put distance between them. The old wounds were reopening faster than she could guard against. "You weren't there, Yuzarsif. You don't get to stand here and act like this was easy for me."

Silence hung between them, heavy and unspoken.

Finally, Yuzarsif exhaled, rubbing a hand down his face. "Azra… I'm not here to fight." His tone had softened, almost weary. "I just want to be in his life. Whatever it takes."

She hesitated. "And if I say no?"

His eyes met hers, unwavering. "Then I won't accept it."

Azra felt something inside her crack. Yuzarsif had always been relentless when he wanted something, and this time, she wasn't sure if she had the strength to fight him.

"I don't want to disrupt his life," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Then let me be part of it."

She closed her eyes for a moment, exhaling slowly. When she opened them again, Yuzarsif was still watching her, waiting.

Finally, she nodded—hesitant, uncertain, but unable to deny the truth anymore. "Okay," she said. "We'll figure it out."

Relief flickered across Yuzarsif's face, but he didn't push further. Instead, he simply nodded. "Thank you."

For the first time in years, Azra felt the ground shift beneath her. And she wasn't sure if she was ready for what came next.