Time continued to pass.
Alena was growing into an increasingly active baby. She began moving her hands more often, watching the things around her, and occasionally smiling whenever Rania talked to her.
To Rania, every small change was a source of happiness.
But on the other hand, her workload was increasing too.
Every morning, Rania had to prepare Alena's necessities before leaving her in Ms. Sari's care. After that, she went to work until noon or late afternoon.
That routine continued almost every day.
Being tired had become normal for her.
That morning, Rania was washing clothes when Alena began to cry.
Rania quickly rinsed her hands.
"Yes, sweetheart."
She dried her hands as best she could before going to her daughter.
But when she picked Alena up, Rania looked at her own palms.
Her skin looked rougher than before.
Some areas were even red.
Rania stared at them for a moment.
Then she gave a small smile.
"It's okay."
She held Alena in her arms.
"Mom's hands are just working hard."
Rania went back to work that day.
The work she had been given was fairly demanding. She had to wash a lot of clothes by hand because some garments couldn't be put in the washing machine.
The water made her hands even drier.
The soap made her palms sting.
Several times, Rania stopped to rub her hands.
But afterward, she went back to work.
"Just a little more."
She pushed herself to finish it.
She pictured the things Alena would need to have bought in a few days.
She couldn't go home empty-handed.
By late afternoon, Rania finally finished working.
She received her wages, then went straight home to pick up Alena.
When she arrived at Ms. Sari's house, Rania saw her daughter sitting in her neighbor's arms.
Rania's face immediately brightened.
"Alena."
The baby turned at the sound of her mother's voice.
Rania approached and held out her arms.
"Come to Mom."
Alena was immediately in her arms.
Rania gave a little laugh.
"You missed me, huh?"
Ms. Sari smiled.
"She was pretty calm earlier."
"Thank goodness."
Rania kissed her daughter's cheek.
But when she was about to take Alena home, Ms. Sari noticed her hands.
"Rania."
"Yes, Ms. Sari?"
"What's wrong with your hands?"
Rania looked at her own palms.
"Nothing."
"Why do they look so rough?"
Rania smiled.
"Maybe because I wash things so often."
Ms. Sari took Rania's hand and examined it.
"You need to be careful."
"I will."
"Don't let them get hurt."
Rania nodded.
"I'll rest later."
Ms. Sari knew that answer most likely wouldn't actually happen.
But she didn't pressure Rania.
That night, after Alena fell asleep, Rania sat outside the bedroom and rubbed a little moisturizer onto her hands.
They still stung.
She gently blew on her palms.
Then her gaze shifted to Alena.
The little baby was sleeping peacefully.
Rania smiled.
"Look at Mom's hands."
She spoke softly, even though Alena couldn't possibly answer.
"They're starting to look ugly."
Rania gave a little laugh.
But her smile soon softened.
"It's okay."
She looked at her hands again.
"This is proof that Mom is working hard for you..."
Rania paused for a moment.
"That means it isn't all for nothing."
She remembered the days when those hands had still been soft.
Back then, they had only been used for cooking, writing, and doing housework.
Now, those same hands were used to wash other people's clothes, clean houses, carry things, and take care of Alena.
The change certainly wasn't pleasant.
But Rania never regretted it.
Instead, she felt proud that her hands were still capable of doing something for her daughter.
A few days later, Rania came home carrying a small object.
A simple toy for Alena.
It wasn't expensive.
Rania had even hesitated several times before buying it.
But when she saw Alena beginning to take an interest in the things around her, Rania wanted to give her daughter something.
"Look, sweetheart."
Rania showed her the toy.
Alena moved her hands.
Rania laughed.
"Do you like it?"
Alena gave a small smile.
Rania immediately smiled back.
The fatigue that had clung to her body since morning seemed to disappear.
She then picked Alena up and carried her to sit on the porch.
A gentle breeze blew that afternoon.
Rania watched her daughter busily playing with the little toy.
"Someday, when you're all grown up..."
Rania smiled.
"You probably won't remember this toy."
She fell silent.
"You probably won't remember how hard Mom worked every day, either."
Rania looked at her rough hands.
"But that's okay."
She looked back at Alena.
"Mom isn't doing all this so you'll remember it."
Rania kissed her daughter's forehead.
"I just want you to grow up happy."
Alena smiled again.
Rania returned her smile.
And that afternoon, in a simple small house, a mother's increasingly rough hands became proof that she had never stopped trying to give her child the best life possible.