Aleezeh remained outside until a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.
"What are you doing here?"
She looked up.
Her physics teacher was standing nearby.
"Sir…"
"Why are you crying?"
"I can't find my mother."
He paused.
"Your mother is at my house."
Aleezeh immediately stood up.
"At your house?"
"Yes. Come with me."
She followed him, relieved that she might finally find her mother.
But something felt strange.
How had her mother ended up at his house?
She pushed the thought away.
She only wanted to see her mother.
When they arrived, Aleezeh entered the house.
"Where is my mother?"
The teacher didn't answer.
"Sir?"
He smiled.
It wasn't a kind smile.
Aleezeh stepped backward.
"Where is she?"
His behavior changed completely.
Fear took over.
Aleezeh tried to leave, but he stopped her and locked the door.
She began shouting for help.
Nobody came.
The room was small and poorly ventilated.
She felt trapped.
She looked around desperately and noticed a lamp.
When the door opened again, she reacted instinctively, knocking it toward him and trying to escape.
After a frightening struggle, Aleezeh managed to get away.
She ran without looking back.
The rest of that night became a memory she wished she could erase.
She didn't tell anyone what had happened.
She was afraid.
She was confused.
And most of all, she was afraid of what her mother would think.
The next morning, Hassan found her.
"Aleezeh!"
She turned.
"Hassan?"
"I've been searching everywhere for you."
"Where is my mother?"
"She was taken to the hospital."
Aleezeh's heart dropped.
"What?"
"She had a serious health problem. Your aunt is with her."
Aleezeh immediately went to the hospital.
When she saw her mother, she ran toward her.
"Ammi!"
Her mother hugged her.
"I was so worried about you."
Aleezeh cried against her shoulder.
"I thought I'd lost you."
Her mother gently touched her hair.
"I'm here."
Aleezeh wanted to tell her everything.
But she couldn't.
She decided to keep that terrible night to herself.
After returning home, she prayed for her mother's health.
Her aunt stayed with them for several days.
Aleezeh began reading novels to distract herself.
She wasn't usually interested in reading, but now she needed something that could take her somewhere else.
One evening, she finally told Noor about what had happened.
Noor listened quietly.
"Aleezeh, what happened to you was not your fault."
Aleezeh began crying.
"Then why do I feel guilty?"
"Because you're hurting. But don't blame yourself."
Noor held her hand.
"Leave justice to Allah."
Aleezeh nodded.
Slowly, the days passed.
And life began to look normal again.
At least on the surface.