Radwa's curiosity had been growing for some time. She had started asking Adam questions often, and they frequently argued about it. To Radwa, wanting to explore other things felt like her right, and she couldn't understand why Adam made such a big deal out of it. Adam's constant refusal to let her explore beyond their secluded home made her suspicious. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was something he wasn't telling her—something important.
Adam didn't want her to know too much about the outside world, fearing she might leave him. All he wanted was for her to stay beside him. Always. Nothing else mattered.
Radwa didn't realize that Adam was afraid of being left alone again.
Determined to uncover the truth, she devised a plan to escape and see the world by herself.
When Radwa was not around, or when Adam went fishing, he drowned in thoughts.
"There's only one reason for me being alive, living happily, and hoping for the next day to come—to live another day with my angel."
What am I without her? he asked himself.
He was sitting beside the river, throwing pebbles into the water, the words smashing constantly in his head.
Why don't you get me, Radwa? He could feel so much anxiety in his muscles, as if he couldn't do anything, as if things were beyond his limits.
Adam rarely used her real name when addressing her; he always called her 'angel.' But when he was upset or angry, he would call her by her real name.
While Adam was away, lost in his routines and unaware, Radwa had already made up her mind to run away.
Late one afternoon, while he was still out working, she quietly packed a small bag with the essentials she would need to survive outside: some food, water, a compass that Adam had given her when he taught her how to read directions, and a few personal belongings. She hid the bag behind the bushes outside the door, ensuring it was well concealed.
When Adam returned home, Radwa feigned sleep, not wanting to face him and risk her anxious expression giving away her plan. Adam appeared at the threshold of her room, opened the door halfway, and peeked at her from a distance, resting his shoulder on the edge. He noticed her still form on the bed and sighed with relief, believing she was resting peacefully. Exhausted from a long day of work, he retreated to his room.
Adam had been working late, trying to secure enough resources to support them. As he prepared for bed, he took sleeping pills to help him rest, knowing that without them he would force himself to stay awake, even though sleep was crucial for him. Within minutes, he was fast asleep, unaware of Radwa's imminent departure.
As the night deepened and the house fell silent, Radwa quietly slipped out of bed. She tiptoed to Adam's room, peeking in to ensure he was asleep. Satisfied that he was, sadness tightened her chest with grief at abandoning Adam like this—the only person she had ever known who would never harm her. But her desire to see beyond all this control left her with no other choice but rebellion. She shook her head, turned away, and quietly closed Adam's door.
"It's okay, Radwa," she murmured, placing her hand on her heart, assuring herself that it would all be worth it. She believed Adam would understand her if he truly knew her.
She crept outside and retrieved her hidden bag. Her heart pounded with a mix of excitement and fear.
"Goodbye," she whispered to the only home she had ever known and set off into the night, guided by the faint light of the moon.
The forest around their house was thick and dark, but Radwa felt a strange sense of liberation with every step she took away from her sheltered life.
As she made her way through the trees, her mind raced with questions. Why had Adam kept her so isolated?What was he afraid of? Determined to find answers, she pressed on, her resolve strengthening with each passing moment.
Back in the house, Adam stirred in his sleep, troubled by dreams of Radwa leaving him. His subconscious sensed the change, but the sleeping pills kept him from waking. As the first light of dawn crept through the window, Adam finally awoke. He felt an inexplicable sense of dread.
He hurried to Radwa's room, his heart sinking when he found it empty. Panic surged through him as he realized she was truly gone. He had thought he was dreaming—he had felt Radwa's presence during the night—but now it was real.
Rushing outside, he called her name. Angel? he shouted. "Radwa… oh God…" He wiped his face as sweat began to form. His voice echoed into the forest.
"Radwa!" he yelled again with all the strength left in his throat. "Heaven knows where you are… stubborn girl… oh, my angel…"
He bent down for a moment and shouted again, but the only response was the rustling of leaves in the morning breeze.
Adam's mind raced. He had always feared this day would come—the day when Radwa developed an interest in the outside world. Despite his efforts to protect her, she had inherited his own adventurous spirit and determination. He knew he had to find her and explain why he had kept such strict control for so long.
Radwa, meanwhile, continued her journey. She followed the path on her compass, heading towards the nearest small town Adam had mentioned once when he took her with him fishing. She remembered he had said, "The world outside is vast and overwhelming. The more you try to know, the more it will confuse you. So it's better for you to stay away from all this." The thought filled her with both caution and wonder.
As she walked, she couldn't help but overthink what she would discover about city life and the fears Adam had expressed. The journey ahead was uncertain, but Radwa felt ready to face whatever challenges came her way. Her quest to explore a new life had begun, and there was no turning back.
Adam, driven nearly crazy by a mixture of emotions, set off after Radwa. A thousand worries haunted him—how would she cross the forest?Would she have enough supplies to survive? Would she get scared when darkness fell? What if she got hurt during the journey on foot? And God knows—what if she had to face strangers along the way?
"Oh my God… Radwa, why don't you listen to me? I don't even know where you are. Which direction should I go to find you?
His heart ached with the knowledge that he had pushed her away with his overprotectiveness. As he ventured into the forest, he grabbed only the basics, thinking he didn't need much.
He had already experienced how to survive with nothing. But just in case, he packed a few things Radwa might need. He silently vowed to find her, to tell her everything, and to face the world together, as they always should have.
Their paths, now separate, were destined to converge again. Both were on journeys of discovery—Radwa to uncover the world and her own identity, Adam to reconcile his past with the present, and the future he still hoped they could share.