The hearts Dilemma

Strange woman

This story is about Narymel, who had lived with her mother, father, and siblings in Nador since she was four. To her, life often felt like a dream—like nothing was quite real.

One summer day in 1980, Narymel and her sister older Asiyah were sitting in the living room, brushing each other's hair. Narymel's hair was red because their mother always used Henna on it, while Asiyah's was blonde. Though they were sisters, they didn't look alike, but both were very pretty. Asiyah was older than Narymel, though Narymel looked more mature.

One day, Narymel went to the hanout to get some things for her mother. On her way back, a car with two men, a woman, and a child stopped in front of her. They asked if she knew where they could find a doctor. It so happened that Narymel's grandmother was the town doctor, so she told them where they could find her—just one street behind her house.

During her explanation, Narymel noticed the driver looking at her, smiling broadly. She didn't understand why he was smiling at her, so she simply ignored him and continued on her way.

When she got home, Narymel told her mother about her day and helped her cook. The day passed uneventfully. The next morning, her parents left very early to visit someone in another city, leaving the kids alone for the day. Their mother had told them not to open the door for anyone unless it was family.

A few hours later, they heard someone knocking on the door. Feeling anxious, they asked, "Who's there?" A woman's voice responded, "Girls, can you open the door, please?"

The girls replied, "Mother told us not to open the door for strangers."

The woman said, "I'm a friend of the family."

After a few moments of hesitation, the girls opened the door and asked what the woman wanted. The woman entered, looked them over from head to toe, asked a few questions, and inquired if their grandmother was the town doctor. The girls confirmed this, and she then asked where their mother was. They told her she had gone to do groceries. The old woman laughed and told them she would come back when their mother was home. The girls exchanged confused glances, not understanding what had just happened.

A few hours later, everyone was back home, and the girls were discussing the strange encounter. Their mother overheard them and asked, "What are you two talking about?"

"Uhmm... there was a strange wom—" Narymel began, but Fatima, their mother, interrupted, "What? In this house? Didn't I tell you not to open the door, Asiyah? You're the big sister; you should have known better!"

"Sorry, mother, but she said she was a friend of the family," Asiyah explained.

Their mother's eyes widened as they recounted the story. Just then, they heard knocking on the door again. Hussein went to open it, and it was the same woman.

"That's her, mother!" Narymel exclaimed. Fatima went to the door and started talking to the woman. They spoke for hours and hours.

Narymel and Asiyah watched from a distance, their curiosity growing with each passing minute. They couldn't hear what their mother and the strange woman were talking about, but the serious expressions on their faces made the girls uneasy.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the woman left. Fatima closed the door quietly, her face pale and her eyes filled with concern. She stood there for a moment, lost in thought, before turning to her daughters.

"Girls, come here," she said, her voice softer than usual. Narymel and Asiyah approached cautiously, sensing that something was wrong.

"What did she want, mother?" Narymel asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Fatima hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "That woman... she's not who she says she is. I need you both to promise me something: never open the door to her again, no matter what she says or who she claims to be."

Asiyah and Narymel exchanged nervous glances. "But, mother, who is she? Why did she come here?" Asiyah asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Fatima took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "She's someone from our past. Someone we thought we had left behind. But it seems she's come back... and I fear she has unfinished business."

The girls shivered at the ominous tone in their mother's voice. The air in the room felt heavy with uncertainty and dread.

"We'll talk more when your father returns," Fatima finally said, her tone firm. "For now, stay close to each other and don't answer the door for anyone."

As the evening wore on, the house seemed to grow quieter, as if it, too, was holding its breath. The girls sat close to their mother, their usual chatter replaced by a tense silence. Whatever secrets the strange woman held, Narymel and Asiyah knew that their lives were about to change forever.