Chapter 12: "A Homeland in a Mother's Breath"
The day of the picnic arrived. The sun stretched its golden rays across nature, painting a beautiful scene. Diari's family and Rina's family gathered in a lush green field by the water. The air was filled with the irresistible aroma of Kurdish Dolma and hot Kebab—a scent so delightful it felt like a blessing. Rina's mother and Diari's mother sat together, reminiscing about the past, comforting one another with smiles lighting up their faces.
When the food was ready, Rina called out, "Please, come and eat! It turned out delicious, I hope you enjoy it."
Diari replied warmly, "Rina, I swear, this food is top-tier. These are my favorite dishes!"
"Oh, Mr. Diari, you flatter me," Rina said with a smile.
Diari's mother watched them and whispered, "O God, protect our children for us." Rina's mother replied, "Amen."
Throughout the meal, Rina served everyone with grace. Diari's mother looked at Rina with kindness and said to her mother, "My sister, your daughter is so wise and polite. She is incredibly kind-hearted; may God keep her for us. Your upbringing is evident—she isn't just a girl, she is a gem. It's as if God sent an angel to me during my hardest days."
Rina's mother replied tenderly, "Her heart is purer than gold. She has always been my support. I always pray that life never treats her unkindly and that she remains this happy."
Listening to this, Diari thought to himself, Rina truly is a gem.
After a day filled with joy and peace, as the sun began to set, Diari and Rina packed up their things. The two families said their goodbyes. Diari and his mother went home, while Rina took her mother home. Quietly, Rina said, "Mom, I'll be back in a bit, I have something to take care of."
With a trembling heart, Rina went to the hospital to see Leva without anyone knowing. Looking through the window of the room, she saw how much Leva had changed—she was thin, and her face was lined with wrinkles. Rina felt a pang of pity, yet she couldn't forget the pain Leva had caused her. She wondered how that fierce and beautiful woman had ended up like this. Rina realized then that hatred consumes a person from within. Though she didn't want to admit it, she felt a flicker of compassion for the woman who had once made her life bitter. After seeing that Leva was stable, she went home and fell into an exhausted sleep.
The next morning, Leva's health improved enough for her to be transferred to prison to complete her sentence. But early that same morning, Rina was jolted awake by a terrifying sound. Her mother had slipped on the stairs and fallen heavily. Rina's screams filled the house, "Mom! Mom! Please talk to me!"
She frantically called the ambulance and rushed to the hospital. Terrified, she called Diari, her voice shaking, "Mr. Diari... I'm sorry, I can't come to the hospital today."
"What? What happened, Rina? Are you okay?" Diari asked, worried.
"No, Mr. Diari, I'm not okay at all. I feel like I'm dying. My mother fell down the stairs... I'm at the hospital."
Diari rushed to the hospital like a madman to be by their side. Rina's mother was in critical condition, and the doctors feared internal bleeding. Thankfully, that wasn't the case. Rina was sobbing uncontrollably. Diari tried to comfort her, saying, "Rina, calm down. You told me once that a mother is a homeland, and a homeland never falls."
Through her tears, Rina replied, "Mr. Diari, only now do I truly understand how you felt. When your mother is sick, it's as if your homeland is in ruins... as if your life is cast into darkness."
Suddenly, the doctors brought news: "Ms. Rina, your mother is doing much better."
Overwhelmed with relief and joy, Rina threw her arms around Diari, weeping tears of happiness.
End of Chapter
> Life constantly teaches us new lessons. While Leva spent her days within four walls, paying for her mistakes in a loneliness filled with regret, Rina and Diari were writing a manifesto of loyalty and love for their mothers amidst their pain.
> Life is like that picnic; sometimes you eat under the shade of trees, and other times you wait in the cold hallways of a hospital for a loved one's breath. But what matters most is who holds your hand in those moments.
>
Written by: Dlin_myth