A few days after giving birth, Rania was finally allowed to leave the hospital. She carefully carried Alena as she slowly walked toward the vehicle that would take her home, but a strange feeling filled her chest. That day should have been one of the happiest days of her life because she was bringing their child home, but the person who should have been standing beside her was no longer there.
Rania looked down at Alena's tiny sleeping face.
"We'll be home soon, sweetheart."
Alena didn't answer, of course. The tiny baby only stirred a little before falling asleep again in her mother's arms. Rania gave a faint smile and gently stroked her head.
The trip home felt short.
When the vehicle stopped in front of the house, Rania looked at the small building where she and Arman had lived all this time. Nothing had changed on the outside, but to Rania, the house felt like a different place.
She slowly opened the door.
Silence immediately greeted her.
Usually, Arman's footsteps could be heard whenever someone opened the door. But this time, no one came out to welcome them.
Rania stood in the doorway, carrying Alena.
"Welcome home."
Her voice was soft.
Her eyes began to fill with tears.
Once, that house had been their home—hers, Arman's, and their future child's. Now, only Rania and Alena would truly fill it.
Rania walked toward the room they had prepared before Arman died. A simple crib stood in the corner, complete with several tiny outfits they had bought together.
Rania touched one of the outfits.
Arman had chosen it.
"This one is cute," Arman had said back then.
Rania could still remember her husband's smile as he held the outfit.
The memory brought tears to her eyes.
But Rania quickly wiped them away.
She didn't want Alena to see her mother's face constantly covered in tears, even though the baby couldn't understand anything yet.
Rania placed Alena in her crib.
The baby stirred for a moment, then grew quiet again.
Rania sat beside her.
"This is your room."
She smiled.
"Your Dad helped get it ready."
Rania looked around the room.
There were a few simple toys.
There were baby clothes.
There was a small blanket.
They had bought everything while Arman was still there.
Every object seemed to hold a piece of the past that could never be brought back.
Rania then opened the small closet.
Inside were only a few outfits for Alena.
There weren't many.
She began counting the supplies they still had.
Diapers.
Clothes.
Bathing supplies.
Formula and other necessities.
Rania then looked at her wallet.
The money she had was running low.
She took a deep breath.
"It's okay."
Rania tried to reassure herself.
"One step at a time."
She didn't know where the money for their next necessities would come from.
But she knew she had to find a way.
That afternoon, Ms. Sari came by with food.
"How are you two doing?"
"We're fine, Ms. Sari."
Rania smiled as she held Alena.
Ms. Sari approached the baby.
"She's so beautiful."
Rania smiled proudly.
"Her name is Alena."
"That's a lovely name."
Ms. Sari then looked around the house.
"There's still a lot to prepare, isn't there?"
Rania nodded.
"But I can take care of it."
Ms. Sari gazed at Rania for a long moment.
"You don't have to do everything alone."
Rania gave a small smile.
"I know, Ms. Sari."
But in her heart, Rania knew she really had to learn how to do many things on her own.
Arman was no longer there to help fix things around the house.
There was no longer a husband who could find money when their needs suddenly increased.
There was no longer anyone Rania could share her fears with.
Now there was only her.
And Alena.
Night fell.
After making sure Alena was asleep, Rania went into the kitchen to prepare dinner. She cooked a simple meal with the ingredients they had left, then sat alone at the dining table.
There had usually been two plates there.
Now there was only one.
Rania stared at the empty chair across from her.
The chair where Arman usually sat.
Her hand stopped in midair.
"Man..."
Just one word.
Rania lowered her head.
Tears fell onto the table.
She let herself cry for a few moments before finally wiping her face.
Then a small sound came from the bedroom.
Alena was crying.
Rania immediately stood up.
The sadness that had filled her chest a moment ago would have to wait.
She walked to the bedroom and picked up Alena.
"What's wrong?"
Rania rubbed her back.
"Are you hungry?"
Alena's crying gradually subsided.
Rania smiled.
"Then let's eat."
She carried Alena back to the crib and prepared what she needed.
When everything was done, Rania sat beside Alena, gazing at her daughter's tiny face.
"From now on, this house belongs to just the two of us."
Rania smiled.
"It's okay."
She stroked Alena's cheek.
"We'll keep this house a happy home."
Alena wrapped her tiny fingers around her mother's finger.
Rania fell silent.
That tiny grip was simple, but it was enough to warm her heart again.
She looked at the little hand.
"When you grow up someday..."
Rania smiled.
"Don't ever be ashamed of this small house, okay?"
Of course, Alena didn't understand yet.
But Rania said it anyway.
Because she wanted to believe that someday, her daughter would understand just how much love she had given her.
The night grew late.
Rania lay beside Alena's crib.
She didn't sleep.
Her eyes remained fixed on her daughter's face.
In the quiet of the night, Rania finally realized that the small house might not have many valuable things.
There was no expensive furniture.
No spacious yard.
No luxurious life.
But inside that simple house was a mother willing to give her entire life to her child.
Rania closed her eyes for a moment.
"Good night, Alena."
She smiled.
"Mom will always be here."
Outside, the night wind moved slowly past the window.
For the first time since Arman was gone, Rania tried to accept the reality that her life now truly consisted of just her and Alena.
She didn't know what would happen tomorrow.
She didn't know how many hardships lay ahead.
But as long as Alena was still by her side, Rania would keep trying.
Because the house might be small.
But to Rania, that was where her entire world was.