Chapter _ 1 Episode _ 5 "The father kneels at the wife's feet, and Naomi's handsome savior appears."

Ghada was lying on the bed, her legs crossed, dressed in her nightwear, tension and anger written all over her. She shook her foot rapidly, as if trying to shake off an inner discomfort. The bedroom was quiet except for the sound of her quickened breathing, and the walls reflected shadows of suppressed anger in every corner.

Samah entered the room hesitantly, a mixture of worry and a desire for reconciliation in his eyes. Ghada turned to the other side, ignoring his presence, as if giving him her back and reminding him that this distance was not trivial. Samah sat quietly on the edge of the bed, trying to break the wall of silence. His voice was low but pleading:

Samah: "I’m sorry… it’s my fault. The girl doesn’t fully understand things… she’s still young."

Ghada slowly turned, her eyes revealing a mix of resentment and astonishment, and said sharply but in a low tone:

Ghada: "Doesn’t understand? She’s the age of married women with children… how can she come to a man whose wife is still in her honeymoon without asking permission?"

Samah tried to ease her anger, his voice blending regret and tenderness:

Samah: "Naomi didn’t commit a crime by coming to her father, Ghada… the girl was bored or scared after Rania, may God have mercy on her, passed away, and she was all alone… and me marrying and leaving her—it was very hard on her."

Ghada let out a short, tension-filled sigh, her eyes flashing with sarcasm and irritation:

Ghada: "And now you’re telling me about Rania… didn’t I tell you not to bring up her name again? What are you, stupid? Just like your daughter… trying to anger me more than I already am?"

Samah gave a tense smile, attempting to calm her:

Samah: "Alright, my love… calm down… I won’t bring up her name again, and Naomi won’t come here again… I’ll go to her myself."

Ghada shook her head sharply, her eyes still burning with anger:

Ghada: "And don’t you go to her… forget about that girl completely… as if she’s dead… like her mother."

Samah sighed slowly, refusing to fully yield to her words:

Samah: "Even my daughter… I won’t see her? … Okay, Ghada."

Ghada approached Samah with gentle steps, looking at him with eyes overflowing with conflicting emotions—anger and love—and then reached out softly toward his head, pulling it gently toward her and kissing him, as if that kiss was an attempt to restore balance between them and calm the storm raging in the room.

Gradually, calm returned, but a spark of tension lingered in the air, reflecting the struggle of their emotions between past and present, the fear of losing each other, and the desire to hold on to what remained of their fractured family.

---

Naomi descended the stairs with heavy, faltering steps, her cheeks wet with tears, and her eyes, drowned in sorrow, reflecting the deep despair that weighed on her heart. She exited the apartment building, almost stumbling onto the street as her gaze remained fixed on the ground. Each step felt like a burden on her aching soul. She climbed onto the sidewalk with difficulty, moving like a shadow weighed down, while the words of Ghada echoed in her mind, poisoning her from within:

Ghada (in Naomi’s mind): "No, she doesn’t understand… Samah, it seems you didn’t raise this girl well."

Ghada (again): "No, she doesn’t understand… Samah, it seems you didn’t raise this girl well."

Ghada (once more): "No, she doesn’t understand… Samah, it seems you didn’t raise this girl well."

Naomi pressed her hands tightly over her ears, trying to block the words from piercing her soul. But suddenly, a strange dizziness swept over her, making her steps unsteady, and her vision almost vanish. She lost her balance, her legs giving way as if the ground had disappeared beneath her, and she nearly fell in the middle of the street.

At that moment, Anas stood at the beginning of a side street, watching the passersby. He noticed Naomi struggling to steady herself against the wall and rushed toward her, his heart fluttering with fear and concern. He reached her and stood before her, attempting to speak:

Anas: "Miss…"

But the words barely escaped before Naomi let go of the wall, her body pitching forward, almost hitting the ground. Without hesitation, Anas extended his arms and caught her firmly before she could fall, holding her safely.

Naomi felt the warmth of his presence, as if life had briefly returned to her weary body, a fleeting comfort amid the whirlwind of pain that had swept through her heart just moments before.

---

Anas and Naomi stood in front of Naomi’s apartment door, a heavy silence hanging between them, pierced only by their weighted breaths filled with sorrow and tension.

Naomi: "Thank you… ya—"

She suddenly stopped, as if words could not express her feelings.

Anas, with a faint smile: "Anas."

Naomi smiled shyly and said:

Naomi: "Thank you, Anas."

She took some money from her bag and handed it to him, trying to ease her sense of responsibility:

Naomi: "Here, the taxi fare."

Anas stepped back slightly, his eyes filled with resolve and firmness:

Anas: "Do you not see me as a man or what? No… I won’t take the money."

Naomi smiled insistently, trying to convince him:

Naomi: "You have to take it. This has nothing to do with your character. You’re a man, and your stance proves it."

Anas hesitated for a moment, then said with a gentle smile:

Anas: "I’ll take the money, but on one condition."

Naomi raised an eyebrow in surprise:

Naomi: "Not that I said you’re a man so you can set conditions on me… fine, what’s the condition?"

He looked at her seriously:

Anas: "I’ll come by tomorrow to check on you."

Naomi’s lips trembled, tears welling up in her eyes:

Naomi: "But I’m alone…"

Anas, surprised:

Anas: "How can a beautiful girl like you be living alone?"

Naomi let out a short sigh, fell silent, then extended her hand to his. She handed him the money quickly. She opened the apartment door and rushed inside, slamming it behind her. She leaned against the door, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Anas stood outside the apartment, looking at the money in his hand, visibly troubled. He leaned toward the door and spoke softly:

Anas: "I’ll come by tomorrow at one to check on you… I’ll bring a sedative, you seem exhausted… good night."

Naomi entered her room, closed the door behind her, and lay down on the bed, tears flowing from her eyes, overwhelmed by a mixture of sadness, anxiety, and relief all at once.