“Souma.” He had always called her that. Others had tried to before him, and she would never allow it. But the way the sound passed over his lips, like a whisper of silk, changed her perception of the nickname entirely. In fact, during the times in between, the times when she was away from him, she longed with every fiber of her being to hear it. “Souma.” It had quickly become her morning and noon; when they brushed past one another in the hallways or in the confines of the otherwise drab, walled school-grounds. In the evening she could swear that his voice was carried in the wind that drifted across the threshold of her bedroom window. “Souma.” It lifted her hair gently, caressed her ear, and then slipped away again leaving in its wake her mind full of daydreams.
The first time Yasmina saw Housam was during her first week at the high-school in Lattakia. He looked as though he had just walked off the set as a hero in an Egyptian movie. It seemed almost surreal how perfect he was; tall and slender with a gorgeous mane of flowing, wavy black hair. His eyes were large and emerald green, framed by thick, dark lashes and his smooth lips settled handsomely above a strong, masculine jawline. The thing that struck her the most about him, however, was his smile. It seemed as though it could radiate across a thousand miles and not lose its brilliance. It wasn’t long before Yasmina began wishing that that smile was just for her and it wasn’t long after that that it became so.
They were perfect together. Both of them beautiful and both of them successful. It was a given, by the end of high-school, or at least after college, that they would marry. Their lives and hearts were so entwined it would be nearly impossible to imagine anything else. Her marriage to Housam, the start of her life with him, so full of promise, marked some of the happiest days of Yasmina’s life.
“Sometimes when I close my eyes visions of those days skip across my eyelids like an amateurish home movie. We laughed, held each other at the waters edge, watched the sun setting, held hands as the last brilliant bands of the sun’s rays spread across the sky and then melted into a pool of blues, greys, and indigos. But sometimes I wonder if my memories are wrapped in a comfortable blanket of time that has been embroidered with loving emotion or, perhaps, stained with a desperation for it to have been that way. Whether I’m remembering accurately or not, I cannot tell you. All I know is that this is what I have left.”
“Souma.” She still listens for it in the wind but now the wind sounds hollow. If she strains she may hear a feeble echo but the delicate intonation that warmed her heart and serenaded her soul is gone, it seems, forever.
—–
After my evening with Yasmina, I dreaded the dead of night. Her story had fully absorbed me. My emotions were raw, and my mind exhausted. I have noted at times how the path of life opens up before us, often with a bright ray of optimism leading the way. Many can walk it, perhaps stumble a few times, but find the end in relative peace. While for others, the path is wrought with thorns and huge crevasses, sometimes even blocked by a nearly insurmountable rock-slide that may or may not have taken the traveler beneath it as it fell. Sometimes the rock-slide is of our own making, foreseeable or not, sometimes it is brought upon us without warning, and without reason. With Youssef, today, I saw that ray of optimism illuminated before me. With Yasmina, I’ve seen the damage of a rock-slide. Now I’m afraid as I look upon that path again, it may be with some trepidation. Then again, tragedy has swept the world over and over with an undiscerning brush stroke, and we still exist, we still dream, and we still succeed. Perhaps after a night’s sleep, what sounded like the rumblings of loose rock will have only been a passing storm and my path will be lit with bright blue skies.
—–
I awoke to another perfect day. A morning dove cooed softly outside my window. The lace curtains that hung there were delicately woven with sunshine; the rays dappled across my bedsheets. I had only managed to fall asleep a few hours before. During the night, my mind although well worn, would not, could not, settle. Now as I lay enjoying the lazy comfort of early morning, my mind refused to budge. I stared mindlessly into the vastness of the skies beyond my little apartment and dozed on and off for what length of time I could not tell you. As the sunshine shifted and caressed my face with its warmth, I looked into the dazzling light and saw his face there. Youssef’s kind, handsome face.
“Youssef!” I bounded from bed with screech. I was still dizzy with sleep but my heart raced. I paced about the room trying to bring equilibrium to my frantic body so I could think of a single thing I was supposed to be doing. A knock at the door brought me to sudden halt. I stared at the door.
“Amar? It is Youssef. I’ve brought breakfast as we planned.”
I looked down at myself in my nightgown.
“Just a minute, Youssef!” I grabbed the first dress I could find and flipped it over my head after slipping out of my gown. I quickly tied my hair back, turbo brushed my teeth, and threw the bedsheets into place. Oh god! I thought to myself. What an eyeful this poor man will receive this morning! I padded across the marble floor in my bare feet and swung the door open greeting Youssef with a ridiculously large grin – all the fears of the night before forgotten for the time being.
“Sabah el kheir, Youssef. Please come in.”
Mariyah
abufares
abufares said,
October 9, 2009 at 9:27 am
Sabah el nour Amar, Youssef will say next.
Brilliantly embroidered with love and imagination.
Every other Friday I wake up to your prose Marroushi. I smell your Jasmine wafting through and in between the words.
Youssef is properly handling Amar it seems for the moment. It’s Yasmina who needs a little attention. May be she’s shortsighted. Women!
Oh, how my mind is racing, thanks to you. We’ll find out what the clumsy professor is up to next week.
Mariyah said,
October 9, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Thank you, Abufares. I can’t wait until next Friday!
I’m glad your imagination is in full gear…that always produces something quite excellent!! 
yaser said,
October 9, 2009 at 1:22 pm
how awkward,Lol
I am trying to guess, but really can’t tell where the story is going,however I hope Yasmina will have more good time with Youssef before any new turn of events comes along;)
Mariyah said,
October 9, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Oh Yaser…I made an error that may have confused you…I used the name Yasmina where it should have been Amar. Luckily it was caught and corrected but you may have read the story before the correction. Anyway…believe it or not Abufares and I have agreed on a general plot outline so we are going somewhere but we often enjoy meandering away from the path to pick berries now and then.
Thanks for being here!!
Fantasia Lillith said,
October 9, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Ahahahaaaa…. Oh that’s ok … not as bad as the first time you fart in the presence of the other!! I’m certain he will find it charming.
CLEVER!
Gorgeous words … beautiful as always.
Mariyah said,
October 10, 2009 at 3:58 pm
LOL, Fantasia!! I guess we’ll find out what he thought next week!!
Thanks so much for dropping by. Its always nice to see you.
Neetu said,
October 9, 2009 at 5:56 pm
Hi Mariyah,
Mariyah said,
October 10, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Hello to you, Neetu. I’m so glad I made you smile!! I had fun writing that last part.
Gabriela said,
October 9, 2009 at 6:31 pm
It always amazes me how apparently secondary characters can be so important they manage to become principal characters. As it is happening here with Yasmina and her so sad story.
What will await us, readers?
Mariyah said,
October 10, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Well, Abufares and I are hoping that all of the characters, whether principal or secondary, play a role in forwarding the plot. In this case I thought it was important that we know a little more about Yasmina’s relationship with Housam. I hope you agree that it was necessary. If you have further thoughts, I would love to hear them. Thank you so much, Gabriela.
Joseph said,
October 11, 2009 at 12:11 am
“Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”
All your chocolate, is good Mariyah! The bitter and the sweet.
Mariyah said,
October 11, 2009 at 3:01 am
Oh thank you, Joseph, so very much. Its always nice to see you here.
abufares said,
October 14, 2009 at 8:21 am
Mariyah
Sea Side made it to the printed media.
FW: Forward Magazine, Syria’s leading English magazine ran a cover story about the Internet in the country. Your story (ours:-) was described as “addictive”.
I can send you a copy of the October 2009 issue if you like.
Time Magazine could be next, should be next:-)
I have no doubts about you.
Mariyah said,
October 14, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Oh! Abufares! How exciting! Addictive…hmmmm…*big grin*! Thank you for letting me know. I would love a copy!
Neetu said,
October 14, 2009 at 10:03 am
Mabrook lakuma .
Mariyah said,
October 14, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Thank you so much, Neetu!
Katia said,
October 14, 2009 at 11:26 pm
Due to some personal reasons, it was a challenge for me to sit down and read this part, and honestly, I thought about it every day for the past week, thinking that “I must read it before the next episode is on”, no matter how much time it’s going to take.
Forward magazine is right. You can call me an addict.
I can so imagine Youssef being completely overwhelmed by the situation!
Mariyah said,
October 15, 2009 at 2:09 am
Katia, dear, I’m sorry if this part was difficult for you to read. It wasn’t easy for me to write either. Usually I like to make my stories a place where people can escape and leave behind harsh realities…but in this case I thought it necessary to reflect upon. I’m so glad you’re here anyway. Thank you for your continued support.
Yes, em…poor Youssef!!
Katia said,
October 15, 2009 at 11:55 am
Don’t worry, you succeeded completely in making me reflect and escape. What I meant was that reading as an activity in itself has been hard. Anyway, I’ll keep reading, that’s for sure
abufares said,
October 15, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Welcome back Katia and for once I’m going to break in the news for both Mariyah and you!!!
Poor Amar (mischievous laughter) … You’ll both see about that tomorrow on SS14…
Mariyah said,
October 15, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Well, Katia, I’m relieved to hear that!
I don’t know about you but I’m dying to see what Abufares has cooked up for us next.
Joseph said,
October 15, 2009 at 12:52 am
Great stuff, well done Mariyah & Abufares.
Mariyah said,
October 15, 2009 at 2:09 am
Thank you, Joseph!
Where would we be without our readers?
abufares said,
October 15, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Thanks Joseph…
What matters most now and always is your wonderful support.