That night, the rain fell heavily.
The sound of water striking the roof tiles filled Rania’s small house. Thunder rumbled in the distance now and then, but Alena continued sleeping peacefully in her bed.
Rania sat beside her daughter.
The day had felt incredibly long.
She had been working since morning, then came home to take care of Alena, wash clothes, prepare food, and tidy the house. Now her body desperately wanted to rest.
Yet she found it difficult to close her eyes.
Rania gazed at Alena.
The little baby slept with both hands near her face. Her breathing was soft and steady.
Rania smiled.
“Sleep well, sweetheart.”
She adjusted Alena’s blanket.
A little while later, Rania stood and walked toward the living room.
Arman’s photograph was still displayed there.
Rania stopped in front of it.
It had been almost a year since her husband was gone.
Yet sometimes, it felt like it had happened only yesterday.
Rania picked up the photograph.
She brushed her fingers over its surface.
“Honey…”
Her voice was soft.
“Alena’s getting so big.”
Rania gave a faint smile.
“It’s such a shame you can’t see her.”
Tears began to gather in her eyes.
Rania lowered her head.
She did not want to cry.
Not because she was no longer sad.
But because she had cried too often already.
She knew life would not bring her husband back.
That was why Rania had to learn to accept that reality little by little.
She looked at the photograph one more time.
“Don’t worry, Honey.”
Rania wiped away her tears.
“I’m still taking care of our child.”
Rania returned to the bedroom.
She sat beside Alena and gazed silently at her daughter.
There were so many things she still could not give her.
A bigger house.
Nicer clothes.
More toys.
A good education.
Even meeting their everyday needs required Rania to work hard.
But that night, a thought occurred to her.
Rania touched Alena’s tiny hand.
“No matter what happens…”
She smiled.
“Mom will do her best.”
Her hand then stroked her daughter’s head.
“One day, you’ll have to have a better life.”
Rania imagined Alena when she was grown.
Going to school in a neat uniform.
Having friends.
Pursuing her dreams.
Getting a job she loved.
Living a life far easier than Rania’s was now.
Rania smiled at the image.
“Maybe one day, you’ll go far away from home.”
She let out a soft laugh.
“Maybe you’ll have lots of friends.”
Rania gazed at her daughter’s face.
“Maybe you’ll have many things Mom never had.”
She did not feel jealous.
That was exactly what she wanted.
Rania wanted Alena to have a better opportunity.
The rain grew heavier.
Rania then lay down beside Alena.
She did not fall asleep right away.
Her hand was still clasped around her daughter’s tiny hand.
“Alena.”
Rania whispered.
“If one day Mom can’t give you everything you want…”
She paused for a moment.
“Don’t think that Mom doesn’t love you.”
Her eyes grew misty again.
“Mom might not have much money.”
“Mom might only be able to buy you simple things.”
“And maybe one day, you’ll see many people whose lives are easier than ours.”
Rania stroked Alena’s cheek.
“But Mom will always do her best.”
She drew a deep breath.
“As long as Mom still has the strength, Mom will work.”
“As long as Mom can still stand, Mom will take care of you.”
“And as long as Mom is still alive…”
Rania smiled.
“No one will ever make Mom stop fighting for you.”
Alena stirred slightly in her sleep.
Rania immediately smiled.
“Just go back to sleep.”
She kissed her daughter’s forehead.
“Mom’s right here.”
That night, Rania finally closed her eyes.
Amid the sound of the rain, a mother made a simple promise to her child.
She did not promise to give her a perfect life.
She only promised to give everything she was capable of.
And without Rania realizing it, that promise would eventually become the reason she kept holding on through many years far harder than that night.
She wanted Alena to have a better life than she did.