---
Chapter One: The Struggle
In a modest Egyptian home, in a quiet neighborhood of Cairo, the day dragged slowly. The sun lingered lazily behind thin curtains.
Soad, the kind yet strong mother, broke the silence with her voice:
— "Come on, Mesak, you and Salma need to wake up… it's already one o'clock."
Mesak turned in bed, her voice rough with sleep:
— "Mama, I just want a little more time…"
Soad smiled with firm patience:
— "No, get up and wake Salma. Sherif already went to bring breakfast."
Salma rubbed her eyes and sat up with reluctance:
— "I'm awake… I'll pray first. I'm starving."
Before Soad could answer, there was a knock at the door. She opened it to find Sherif standing there with a bag of breakfast.
— "Here you go, Mama," he said with a soft smile.
She touched his hand with affection:
— "Bless you, my son… now go pray."
Sherif went to his room, shut the door, and sat on the edge of the bed. His eyes fixed on the mirror. His voice trembled as he whispered to himself:
— "Karma said she doesn't want to talk anymore… maybe because of how I look. But what can I do? I can't afford new clothes. And in Egypt… I can't find the style I dream of."
He covered his face with his hands and sat in silence until the sun faded away.
---
Night fell. Mahmoud, the father, entered with his booming voice that filled every corner of the house:
— "I'm home, kids! Come greet me."
Salma rushed to embrace him:
— "Baba! I missed you so much."
Mesak followed, smiling shyly:
— "How are you, Baba?"
Sherif only muttered quietly:
— "Hey, Baba."
Soad, with timid affection, stepped forward:
— "Welcome home, love. Dinner is ready."
Mahmoud nodded and headed to the bathroom:
— "Alright, Soso, I'll shower and come."
---
After dinner, they sat scattered at the table. Sherif gathered his courage:
— "Baba… tomorrow my friends are going out. Can I go with them?"
Mahmoud raised his brows, slamming his palm against the table:
— "Friends? At this time? You're in your first year of high school, and you're thinking about going out?!"
Soad rushed to defend him:
— "Let him go, Mahmoud. What harm is there?"
Mahmoud's voice thundered:
— "I said no, Soad! Instead of wasting time, he should get a job."
Sherif's face flushed:
— "I'm not failing my studies! I'm excelling!"
But Mahmoud cut him off sharply:
— "No outings. No excuses. You'll do as I say, nothing else."
Silence fell. Sherif lowered his gaze, then dragged himself back to his room.
---
In the dark room, he sat on the bed, tears streaming. He typed a message to his friends:
"I can't come tomorrow… I'm sorry."
Then, with hesitation, he took his mother's phone and created a WhatsApp group. Only one contact was added: Karma.
"Karma…" he wrote timidly.
After long minutes, the reply came cold and sharp:
"What do you want?"
Tears fell harder as Sherif stared at the screen, a mirror of his wounded heart.
---
Later, Sherif sat alone on the balcony. The night was still, but his heart was storming. Tears fell as he reread Karma's last words:
"Sherif, stop texting me! I don't want to continue."
He typed desperately, his fingers trembling:
"Karma, please… I just need to talk. I'm really trying."
The reply stabbed like ice:
"No, you're not. Enough. Goodbye."
Sherif clutched the phone to his chest, as though crushing his loneliness. The tears refused to stop.
Salma entered suddenly, catching him red-eyed:
— "What's wrong, Sherif? Are you crying?"
He wiped his face quickly:
— "No, Salma. And if you knew… you'd be upset with me."
— "Is there a problem?" she asked, worried.
— "No problem. Please… just leave me."
She lingered, then left silently.
---
Sherif put on his earphones, playing a soft English playlist. He closed his eyes, drowning out his own thoughts. Then he opened his books, scribbling new English words, whispering them under his breath. He wanted to believe that knowledge was his only escape from reality.
Soad peeked in gently:
— "Are you studying, my son? Salma told me you're upset."
He forced a weak smile:
— "No, Mama, I'm fine. Just studying."
She placed a warm hand on his shoulder:
— "Alright, love. May God help you."
---
Hours later, angry voices shook the walls. Mahmoud and Soad were arguing:
— Mahmoud: "I won't keep wasting my money on him! He should work and pay for himself."
— Soad: "How can you say that, Mahmoud? He's just a boy. This is cruel!"
— Mahmoud: "I said my word! If he doesn't like it, he can leave."
Sherif stepped forward, voice trembling yet fierce:
— "Baba… I won't work. I'll study on my own and succeed without your money."
Mahmoud's rage burst. He slapped Sherif hard, his head snapping against the wall.
Frozen in shock, Sherif's eyes filled with tears of pain.
— "I'm going to my room," he whispered, broken, before running away.
— "Mahmoud, you've lost your mind!" Soad cried.
But Mahmoud replied coldly:
— "A hundred times I told you… he needs to be tough. Not soft like a woman."
---
The next morning, Mesak knocked playfully on Sherif's door:
— "Wake up, Sherif, we want breakfast!"
His voice was hoarse from the night before:
— "Okay… I'm coming."
From the kitchen, Soad called:
— "Sherif, go to Uncle Makram and bring what I asked for."
— "Alright, Mama."
Salma giggled:
— "I'm so hungry!"
Sherif smiled faintly despite everything:
— "Fine… I'm going."
---
Later, on the bus, Sherif sat beside a young man with calm eyes and a thin beard.
— "Can you pass me a ticket for Nasr City?" the stranger asked.
— "Sure," Sherif replied.
— "Thanks. I'm Adel, by the way."
Their eyes met briefly. Then Adel spoke again:
— "Can I have your number? Maybe we can be friends… I don't have any either."
Sherif hesitated, heart racing. Then he scribbled his number down:
— "01254… text me later. I'm getting off here."
---
Sherif stepped off the bus, his steps slow.
Suddenly—screeching brakes.
He turned, eyes wide, as a car rushed toward him.
Crash.
His body slammed against the asphalt. Silence… except for a distant scream.
The end of the first night of Sherif's struggle.
---
---
Chapter 2: The Feeling
The scene opens with the steady beeping of the hospital monitor.
Shereef slowly opens his eyes to find his mother, Souad, standing beside him with worry in her eyes. His father, Mahmoud, stands cold and stern, while Adel sits quietly on the chair near his bed.
Shereef (weakly): "Where am I…? What happened?"
Adel (softly, with calm care): "You had an accident, my friend… nothing too serious. I was about to give you my number when I saw you get hit."
Shereef (trying to recall): "I… remember the sound of brakes… and your voice…"
Souad (cutting him off, crying): "Hush, my love… what's done is done."
Mahmoud (cold, mocking): "That's what happens… walking around like a fool in the street."
Shereef (trying to protest): "But actually—"
Adel (firm, defending): "No, sir! It wasn't his fault. The car was wrong. He was walking on the side."
Mahmoud (angrily): "Whatever… just another problem."
Shereef stays silent, humiliated but secretly relieved that Adel stood up for him.
---
Two Months Later
Shereef leaves the house quietly. His mother whispers with both fear and tenderness:
Souad: "Take care, my son… but be back before your father returns. I gave you this money with difficulty."
Shereef (softly): "Okay, Mama."
On the bus, he writes to Adel on WhatsApp:
Shereef: "I swear, my dad doesn't know I'm taking lessons… I can't talk to anyone."
Adel: "Don't worry… I understand how you feel. Just go, and don't let anyone stop you."
---
That night, Shereef scrolls through his phone. A new message from Adel appears:
Adel: "There's something I have to tell you… something not everyone knows."
Shereef: "What's wrong, man? We all get tired sometimes."
Adel: "No… it's something else. I have feelings… for men."
Shereef freezes, his mind blank. Before he can process it, Mahmoud storms into the room, snatching the phone and smashing it to the ground.
Shereef (screaming): "Why would you do that!?"
Mahmoud beats him harshly with a wooden stick. Shereef cries in pain, while Souad shouts in horror:
Souad: "Stop it, Mahmoud! He's not an animal!"
Selma and Misk burst into tears. Souad glares at her husband with raw hatred:
Souad: "I hate you, Mahmoud… I truly hate you!"
The entire house falls into silence. Her words stab Mahmoud like a dagger, but his pride refuses to bend.
---
That night, wounded and broken, Shereef runs away.
He knocks on Adel's door, tears streaming down his face.
Shereef: "Please… can I stay just one night?"
Adel (hugging him quickly): "Come in… come, Shereef."
Shereef trembles as he tells him everything, his tears soaking his cheeks. Adel tries to comfort him, though his voice shakes:
Adel: "I love you, Shereef… but I swear to God, I won't do anything sinful."
Shereef (with tear-filled eyes): "I know… I don't want that either. I just want to feel I'm not alone."
They share a brief embrace — a fragile warmth in the middle of the storm.
---
Suddenly… loud knocking echoes at the door.
Adel opens it, only to find Mahmoud standing there, his face twisted with rage.
Mahmoud (with terrifying calm): "I'm… Shereef's father."
Adel stares, heart sinking, unable to answer.
---
— End of Chapter 2: The Feeling —
---
---
Chapter 3: The Warning
Scene 1 – Adel's House with Mahmoud
Mahmoud sits on the chair, his hands clasped, his tone filled with dominance.
Mahmoud: "So, Adel… where do you work?"
Adel's heart races, his leg trembling with nervousness.
Adel: "I… I worked in a clothing store, sir. But I quit… I'm in my final year of high school, I need to focus."
Mahmoud nods, a lifeless smile curving on his lips.
Mahmoud: "Ah… your whole generation avoids work whenever studies are involved."
Adel swallows hard, trying to steady his voice.
Adel: "It's because we want to focus, sir… to get the grades that make us proud after all the effort."
Mahmoud stares at him coldly: "Then ask your manager if he'll take Shereef for the job."
The words strike Adel's heart like a heavy stone, but he hides his shock.
Adel: "Yes, sir."
---
Scene 2 – After Mahmoud Leaves
Shereef waits anxiously, his eyes full of worry.
Shereef: "Is he gone? What did he say?"
Adel (sighing): "He wanted you to work… told me to call my manager. As if he doesn't care if you live or disappear."
Shereef lowers his head, whispering: "I'm used to it, Adel… this is normal now."
Adel steps closer, his voice warm and gentle: "Go make ablution, pray two rak'ahs… maybe God will give us the strength to continue."
For the first time, Shereef smiles faintly.
Shereef: "I'm happy."
Adel (surprised): "Why?"
Shereef: "Because I finally found someone who makes me feel safe… without any sinful intentions."
The words pierce Adel's heart, a tear shining in his eye.
Adel: "That's exactly what I prayed for."
---
Scene 3 – Mahmoud's House
Souad bangs the door, her voice sharp with fear.
Souad: "Open up, Mahmoud… we're home!"
Mahmoud, groggy and indifferent: "What is it… seriously? Come in."
Souad, tears streaming: "You don't even know where Shereef has been?"
Mahmoud coldly: "Maybe at his friend's."
Her heart breaks at his apathy.
Souad: "What? You don't even know where your son is?!"
---
Scene 4 – Shereef's Return Home
As Shereef opens the door, Souad cries out and rushes to hug him.
Souad: "Where were you? I couldn't sleep all night."
Shereef (reassuring): "Don't worry, Mama… I was with my friend."
Selma laughs teasingly: "Is he the king of the world or what?"
Shereef hugs her, smiling weakly: "Yes, Selma… king of the world."
---
Scene 5 – Confrontation with Mahmoud
Mahmoud storms in violently, his voice seething with anger.
Mahmoud: "Starting tomorrow, you're coming with me to work. You won't see a penny of your salary for five months."
Shereef (shocked): "What?!"
Souad (softly): "At least let him keep his pay…"
Shereef: "Mama… what about my lessons?"
Mahmoud (roaring): "No lessons! No food, no drink if you don't like it."
Shereef bites his lips in agony, tears streaming down. His voice cracks as he shouts:
Shereef: "I hate you."
The room freezes.
Mahmoud (stunned): "What did you say?"
Shereef (with defiance, through tears): "I hate you!"
Mahmoud (furious): "Then fine!"
He slams the door, shutting Shereef away from the world.
---
Scene 6 – Shereef's Isolation
Night falls heavy. Shereef sits in the dark, his stomach aching from hunger, his eyes red from crying.
Shereef (whispering): "Food and drink? No… fine. If I die, at least I'll rest."
---
Scene 7 – Adel Tries to Reach Out
Adel sits at home, staring at his phone, his chest tightening each time he sees "last seen."
Adel: "Why isn't he answering? What happened to him? God, please let him be okay."
He decides to visit. Knocking on the door, Mahmoud opens, cold as stone.
Mahmoud: "Shereef is at work."
But Adel senses something is terribly wrong in his tone.
---
Scene 8 – The Explosion
Mahmoud receives a phone call. A stranger's voice spits venom:
Stranger: "Your son is talking to my daughter. Keep him away."
Mahmoud's eyes ignite with rage: "So he's chasing girls too?!"
He storms into Shereef's room like a thunderstorm.
Shereef (terrified): "Mama… who said that?!"
Mahmoud doesn't answer. He grabs a stick and beats him mercilessly.
Shereef (screaming): "Ahhh… my leg! Stop!"
Souad pounds on the door, crying: "Mahmoud! Stop, for God's sake!"
But Mahmoud roars: "No one enters… whoever does, I'll divorce her!"
---
Final Scene – The Attempt
At 4 a.m., Shereef lies awake, his body aching, his soul shattered. Tears pour down his face as he stands before the mirror, a knife trembling in his hand.
Shereef (hoarse whisper): "Forgive me, God… but I can't anymore."
He raises the blade to his wrist. Suddenly, the door creaks open.
Shereef freezes, eyes widening in shock.
— End of Chapter 3: The Warning —
---