The day was bustling, a whirlwind of activity and noise that seemed to envelop Zainab. She found herself seated, a silent observer amidst the chaos. Laughter erupted from a group of boys, while girls busily arranged their stalls, their hands deftly adjusting every detail. The air was thick with the tension of staff members, their frustration palpable as they navigated the broken rules that hung over them like a dark cloud.

She couldn't help but wonder when this tiresome day would finally come to an end. Her best friend was absent, caught up in personal matters, leaving her to sigh repeatedly, each exhale a testament to her growing impatience.

Then, amidst the clamor, a boy approached her stall. It was evident from the start that he had no intention of purchasing anything. He asked about her product, offering a compliment that she accepted with a polite nod. Yet, it became clear he was only admiring the item, not interested in buying. She rolled her eyes internally, but maintained her composure, assuring him that she understood his admiration. He soon departed, leaving her to sink back into her seat, feeling the weight of the day settle around her.

But then, something shifted. She doesn't usually subscribe to notions of magic, yet when her gaze fell upon a particular boy who entered the scene, time seemed to stand still. It was a feeling that coursed through her, as if every nerve in her body was suddenly alive, tingling with an inexplicable energy.

His skin, kissed by the sun, shimmered like a tapestry woven from stardust, each glimmer a testament to his vitality. As the sun dipped below the horizon, it cast a divine glow upon him, wrapping him in an ethereal light. His chestnut hair swayed gently, a playful dance with the breeze, while those eyes—deep and rich like melted chocolate—spoke volumes, revealing a kaleidoscope of emotions. They roamed the hall, taking in every detail with an intensity that made her heart race.

An involuntary smile crept across her face as she admired this exquisite being. In an instant, their gazes locked, and confusion flickered across his features. It dawned on her then; she had been staring far too long. Flustered, she quickly diverted her eyes, seeking refuge in anything but him.

Grateful for the mask that concealed her foolish grin, she took a moment to gather herself. After a few minutes, curiosity got the best of her, and she glanced back, only to find him already watching her.

Heat rushed to her cheeks, and she clenched her hands tightly, focusing on her product as if it were the most fascinating object in the world.

Taking three deep breaths, she managed to calm her racing heart. When she looked up again, he had vanished, leaving a pang of disappointment in his absence. But then, to her astonishment, she spotted him by a window. Great, she thought, just when I thought the day couldn’t get any more mortifying, I was caught once more.

As the hour wore on and the stalls began to close, she gathered her things, preparing to leave.

That evening, she returned home and poured her heart onto the pages, writing fervently about him until she had filled fifteen pages. Words flowed like a river, yet even that wasn’t enough to capture the essence of what she felt. Eventually, her ink ran dry, forcing her to pause and let the memory settle deep within her soul, a treasure she wished to keep for herself. She couldn’t bear to write him down in her diary; she wanted him to remain solely in her thoughts.

Lying on her bed, she stared at the blank ceiling, imagining it as the most exquisite piece of art. A smile graced her lips as she reminisced about their fleeting moment of connection in the college halls.

If destiny had any say in the matter, she hoped to cross paths with him again.

I found myself smiling at the final words. Fate had indeed orchestrated our meeting, yet it seemed determined to keep us on divergent paths.

A sharp pang of nostalgia pierced my heart as I recalled my wedding day. The thrill of that moment had overshadowed the deep love I once felt for Hassan.

I reveled in being the source of joy for those around me, blissfully unaware that their happiness would come at the cost of my own.

The vows were exchanged, the ceremony concluded, and soon the guests returned to their everyday lives.

I remained in the quiet of our room with my husband, and it was during those solitary nights, when he was consumed by work, that I came to the painful realization: I had not moved on from him.

In that moment, my fingers itched to reach for my phone, to scroll through our old messages and send him a text.

Yet, an invisible force restrained me. My heart and mind whispered that it would be a betrayal to connect with another man while bound to my husband.

And so, my heart grew distant, and I resigned myself to the unfeeling routine that so many women in my situation endured.

Awake, cook, clean, care for husband and children... until death do us part, along with the weight of responsibilities that accompanied it.

"Some people are both healers and harmers,
They try to fix everyone they can, but in the end, they have no strength left to heal themselves."

-Franz Kafka