"I had no one but him…
and I never wanted anyone else in this world.
He was kind…
and his smile brought happiness to everyone who saw it.
Then one day…
I was diagnosed with a malignant stomach tumor."
The old woman fell silent for a moment, staring at her wrinkled hands.
"I was already in an advanced stage.
They all said I wouldn't survive another year."
Her lips trembled, her words barely holding together.
"But he… he told me—
'Even if there's only one day left, don't lose hope, Mother.
Don't worry about the cost. I'll take you to the best doctors… I'll get you the most expensive medicine.'"
Her frail hand shook as salty drops fell onto it.
"Tell me… how could someone like that…
kill himself?"
Her voice broke at the end.
Sarah tightened her grip on the old woman's hand, gently patting her shoulder as it sank even further under the weight of grief.
"I thought… I thought I would follow him soon after…
But a miracle happened. I survived.
And he died?
How ironic…"
The old woman poured out her sorrow—
As if she had been waiting.
And Sarah… was simply the final straw.
"Just like you, young lady…
I want to know what really happened too."
Their eyes met.
For a moment—
Everything fell silent.
As if time itself had stopped.
"I heard there was a conflict between him and his wife. Do you know anything about that?"
The woman shook her head.
"No… I don't know anything about that.
In all these years… I've only seen her and the children once. That was ten years ago."
"She said she was sorry… but she had to move on with her life.
She left the city after that."
Sarah thought for a moment, then asked:
"What did he do for a living?"
"He was an accounting manager at a company called United Horizon."
Sarah's eyes flickered in surprise.
That detail… hadn't been in the report.
"But it was said he was fired. Why?"
"…Because of me."
"He took a loan…
to pay for my treatment.
I told him again and again not to…
but he insisted."
Her voice weakened.
"He couldn't repay it…
and he couldn't continue working under legal pressure…
So they dismissed him."
Sarah frowned slightly.
That… wasn't how things worked.
"Who did he take the loan from?"
"From the company's owner… I remember he was a kind man.
Even when Ahmed couldn't repay it…
he told him he could just leave, and he wouldn't demand anything."
"…?"
"He even attended his funeral."
"…."
A crease formed between Sarah's brows.
This made no sense.
You don't take loans from your employer like that.
And you definitely don't get fired that way.
*Click.
The door opened.
At the sound, Sarah quickly pulled her cap down.
"Mrs. Nagwa… hmm.
Who are you?"
"I—I…"
Before she could respond, the old, wrinkled hand gently touched her cheek.
"My dear granddaughter…
I'm happy you came.
I'll be even happier… if you visit again."
"…."
"Oh, you're Mrs. Nagwa's granddaughter?"
The fake granddaughter stood up.
"Yes… Grandma. Wait for me."
She lowered her cap and glanced back one last time.
"I'll come back."
And bring you the truth.
That was what she wanted to say.
That was the promise she made.
Sarah left.
But the old woman's words didn't leave her mind.
*****
"Sika!"
I threw myself toward the bird perched by my window.
"I'm back!"
*Coo.
The pigeon fluttered its wings, as if welcoming me.
"Did you miss me?"
My sweet Sika … I missed you too.
But after that brief reunion—
She suddenly started pecking at my head angrily.
"Hey—hey, stop!"
'She was just being nice… what happened?'
Wait…
"No way… are you mad because I didn't bring you food or water?"
"Just a second! I'll get it right now!"
*Coo!
Moments later, I returned with two bowls—one with water, the other with grains.
"Come here, I have so much to tell you!"
As I spoke…
I felt a gaze following me.
For a moment, I had almost forgotten about it.
Little by little, I had gotten used to its presence—
As if it had always been there…
Like a piece of furniture.
The fuzzy black sphere stared at me with its single eye.
"Do you want some?"
I gestured toward the grains.
Blink.
It slowly closed its eye… then opened it again.
'What could you even eat…?'
"Then what do you want?"
It blinked again—
But this time…
It looked at Sika.
"…That's not happening!"
"Don't look at Sika like that. Don't even think about getting close to her!"
I shouted at it in warning.
Both the sphere and the pigeon froze.
*Coo?
The sphere closed its eye again—
And didn't open it this time.
'…What?'
*Knock. Knock.
"Come in!"
"Mariam, I have a surprise!"
My mother rushed in, hugging me tightly while holding a file.
"Mom? What is it?!"
"Your father and I went to the university today… and we reapplied your documents!"
"…Really?"
"Yes! And they approved your return!"
I almost jumped in joy.
What timing…
At the exact moment I was submitting documents to an organization that hunts spirits—
My parents were enrolling me back into university.
"When do I start?"
"Next week."
"…What?"
"How—? No, I'm not ready!
Aren't we in midterm break?"
"Yes! You'll start with the new academic year right away! Isn't that wonderful?"
'No… it's not. Not at all.'
Go back to university?
After signing a contract in blood?
How am I supposed to return to a normal life now…
When I haven't even had time to adapt?