To Our Doom (Paused)

Chapter 4: The Sunlight-drenched Saviour

Ibrahim ran halfway over to the women's side, following Ishaaq as he noticed that the ball was heading straight to his sister's head.

"Maryam! Look out! Behind you!" he called.

Before the ball could make the impact, Ishaaq swoops in and catches the football. "Everyone alright?" he asked, panting from the game. Maryam turns back, startled by all the swooping and swooshing. She turned to see her elder brother, close enough to read his relieved expression.

"Yeah, no head concussions, Alhamdulillah," Sarah replied, startled She stroked Maryam's hijabi head. Her little brother sighed a sigh of relief. Maryam was staring up at Ishaaq, confused. He saved her head from the oncoming football. The leaves fell from the trees above, rustling on the wind. Sakura petals – pink and white rained on them. The sunlight leaked on his face through the canopy of leaves on the tree, forming uneven shadows on his face. He saved her.

"Be careful where you're kicking the football, next time!" Sana snapped. She patted Maryam's head. "We could have lost you today," she sighed.

"Sorry!" Ishaaq apologized, running back to the game. Ibrahim was relieved when his little sister was alright. He thanked Ishaaq and praised him for the save. Ishaaq bashfully basked in his praise. Abu Ayyub looked very worried but relieved when Maryam was alright.

Before Maryam could register anything, Ishaaq already ran away to resume the football game with the fathers and sons. "Who was that?" she asked, dazed.

"My monkey little brother," Sarah replied.

"Not much of as much of a monkey as mine, but yes," Sana frowned. "You're alright, yeah?"

Maryam nodded, smiling, "Alhamdulillah, I've got my head intact,"

"To celebrate Maryam's intact head, let's have some cookies?" Sarah offered, standing up to get the cookies from the other side of the mat.

"Did I hear cookies?" Ishaaq came dashing toward his elder sister.

"Ishaaq, take the other box to the men's side," Sarah instructed. He nodded and glided to the men's side with the cookie box. He took out the first cookie and devoured it.

Sana was eager to eat her best friend's cookies. "You should make them more often," she advised.

"I wanna try!" Maryam peered over at the cookie box.

"Cookies!" Hania came and exclaimed. Ismail followed after her. She had her fix of apple juice first thing after arriving at the park. Sarah opened the cookie box, and the kids came and took the cookies one by one.

"Ismail, take some more! Ukhti Sarah's cookies are the best!" Hania exclaimed.

Ismail munched on a cookie, "Let me finish this first!" Sarah ruffled Ismail and Hania's hair. They were both more than half Sarah's height, growing too fast. They followed each other everywhere too. So cute.

Meanwhile, the men's football game was paused once again because Ishaaq from the sons' team ran out mid-game. Ayyub sighed, annoyed at Ishaaq randomly running off. Hussein took this opportunity to take a water break. Once they saw Ishaaq coming in with the boxes, Ibrahim and Hasan went over to help Ishaaq carry them. Everyone joined Ishaaq and had some cookies and sandwiches. After the snack break, Ayyub insisted on continuing the game.

The mothers were busy chatting away with each other, about life, the town, and how life was in the city for Umm Ibrahim.

"Aren't our little ones not so little anymore?" Umm Hasan asked, looking for agreement. The mothers nod melancholically. The babies they cradled in their arms, soothed, and fed, have now grown up into people with their own personalities and passions.