Being the only one having my coffee outside and enjoying the summary drizzles, she maneuvers through the vacant tables and walks directly to my wet table and asks to share it with me! She is wearing blue jeans, pink T-shirt and a brown trench-coat. Her black hair is uncombed, covering her piercing blue eyes. Her face is pale with no traces of makeup. After a quick scan of her appearance, I nod. She is not a street beggar, but she is not a working woman either!
She asks if I’m done with the coffee as the mug is set comfortably on the table and if she may drink the rest. I offer to buy her a fresh mug of coffee but she refuses, so with a slight of embarrassment I give her my half empty mug. She holds it with her shaky hands; dirt is accumulated under the tips of her nails. Her eyes wonder until they are locked on me. I shiver. I prepare myself to flee; holding on my bag and nerves, and my cue will be the slightest uncontrolled movement.
She asks: Would you give up your child?
I answered: No, but I’m sure some had to!
- I did, my Chloe has been in foster care for a year.
-(…….)
- I gave up my house so they took her away. Would you give up your house?
- Well. I can’t say, can I? I haven’t been in your shoes, and it is not fair to judge in such situations.
-I should’ve not given her up. She was taken from me because I made a bad decision.
-You say it was a year ago!
-Yes, a year a go. She is seven years now.
- And what have you been doing to fix this?
- I should’ve never left the house. I should’ve fixed the stairways.
- What’s done is done. You can’t change it. But you can change your present. Do you work?
- No, my psychiatrist said I shouldn’t. I used to work in ASDA.
- Well, you need to talk to your psychiatrist and show her that you are planning to fix your life to get Chloe back, and the first step is to find yourself a job.
- I shouldn’t have left the house.
- You know, blaming yourself won’t get you anywhere! Sometimes good things come out of really bad situations.
- I want my Chloe back (she starts crying)
-Oh no please, listen to me, I’m sure she is in good hands and what you need to do now is work on yourself to become a better person for her.
- Will you pray for me tonight? My name is Jean.
- Ok Jean I will, but you need to pray too.
- I know.
-Ok, I need to leave now. But remember God created us strong.
I walk without turning back. I’m torn between fear and sympathy.
I do hope she sorts out her life. I don’t really want to know more than she divulged. And I don’t either need to know if the girl was taken away only because of the house or for other reasons. I shouldn’t be in any position to judge her at all. So all I ask for is Please God, may you help this lost soul!
Nada Al-Mahmeed
...May god help all of the other weak and lost people.August 2nd, 2009 @ 12:43 pm
Mimi
I dont know if this is a real story .. but the fact that the lady who was enjoying her coffee didnt turn the poor lady down or showed that she was afraid or disgusted is something rare these days. it is something to admire. sometimes, all what people need is communication. God help that woman and all mothers in the worldAugust 11th, 2009 @ 12:40 am
Amal Almalki
Hala Mimi. Yes It 's a true story. I've been passing by that cafe, hoping to see her again! Sometimes brief encounters can change something in you or in your life.August 11th, 2009 @ 1:58 am
Gospel
When I read this topic at the beginning I did not expect I'll be crying in the end, poor lady, I hope that GOD have mercy on her.December 23rd, 2009 @ 1:54 am
Amal Almalki
Gospel: I truly appreciate your email and compliment. I hate it when I get misunderstood, but reading as a process is a subjective one- each one of us read different things differently!! So when I get a compliment which actually touches on what is really behind my writings, I get so ecstatic. Thanks a million.December 23rd, 2009 @ 4:09 pm
Gospel
GOD plus you It's been my pleasure reading for such a great qatari lady like you, calling for peace and freedom, in a world in which lost all the meanings of humanity. And let me say that although I titled my e.mail as a "Compliment" subject, but we shouldn't overlook the fact that you must suffer from this difference, and the misunderstanding of the true fact and real target behind the content of any article you submit - that it is trying to touch the human being lived within each one, in order to enhance his soul to the highest level of morality -.December 24th, 2009 @ 1:45 am