Love that kills.

In a cafe at Al-Moez Street in Cairo downtown Mahmoud was waiting for a friend of him. He couldn't discuss his crisis with his wife, Huda, about the thoughts that were playing with his head. He felt that something was happening in his life for the first time. He felt that he had suffered a lot for them and accepted sacrifices for them, and he felt that he needed a time out to reevaluate his life. He needed a new love, a new soul, a new life. He believed that the best companion for him at this stage of his life was his new colleague, Aaliyah. But he didn't know whether to talk to his wife about this matter first, or to confirm his feelings and his colleague's feelings and her acceptance of this life, of which she would only share half, because he would not abandon his wife, Huda, and their three children. Mahmoud decided to involve his closest friend in his emotional crisis before entering this war, which would undoubtedly be a fierce one. Ibrahim Khairy is Mahmoud's close friend and works as a veterinarian. Mahmoud invited him to meet him at a famous cafe on Al-Muizz Street in Old Cairo. The two friends hugged warmly before Ibrahim said longingly:

- Oh, Mahmoud, you're welcome! It's been three months since we've seen each other.

- Sorry Ibrahim, these cell phones shorten distances a bit, but they also make you lazy to go out.

- Phone calls are never like the friendship and good times we have here.

- You're right, my friend, reassure me about you and the girls.

- Thank God, it's going well. We got a girl married, as you know, and we're getting ready for the other one these days. May God help us with them.

- Thank God for everything.

- Thank God, may God make them happy and may you be happy with their kids too.

Ebrahim felt his friend was exhausted and upset about some thing, so asked him:

- What's wrong with you, Mahmoud? Why don't you look happy?!

- Work, home and kids responsibilities, life is full of problems.

- Okay, but our life has always been like this, and you've always been like a mountain, tolerant and content, what's up now?!

- I'm tired; really tired, I feel like life has stolen me; as if I haven't lived.

- Oh... Why is this, Mahmoud? Your life is great, a senior employee in your bank, you have a house, a wife and children like roses, may God bless them, why do you feel like this?

- I don't know, Ibrahim, I feel like I have no passion for life, I feel like I want to be born and live a new life.

Ebrahim looked deeply in his eyes and asked in doubt:

- You... Is there another woman in your life, Mahmoud?!

Mahmoud felt nervous and avoided looking into his friend's eyes and replied anxiously:

- I... I... I don't know how to decide, Ibrahim.

- Decide what?

- I... love a woman who works with me at the bank. I feel like I need her by my side.

- Do you want to marry her?!

- I don't know how to decide... I feel like I'm lost like a little child.

- What's wrong?! Marry her.

- Quite easily, so what should I say to Huda and the kids?!

- This is God's law, Mahmoud, but will this other woman make up for your wife and kids or fill the void you'll feel in their absence?

Mahmoud could not imagine that idea and said insistently:

- I won't leave Huda or the kids, Ibrahim.

- I know you won't leave them, but they will leave you or you'll feel like they left you even while you're with them.

- Is it possible that they'd act so selfishly with me?!

- They'll be shocked, Mahmoud, and they'll see that their father is the selfish one, and they'll automatically lean toward their mother who sacrificed her whole life for them with all her love, sincerity, and devotion, and without any demands or selfishness.

- Why are you scaring me, Ibrahim? I don't want to lose any of them.

- We live in an age where there are no gains without losses... and your kids will feel that you wronged their mother and only thought of yourself and your new life.

- So, should I marry behind their backs, Ibrahim?!

- That's a much bigger problem, my friend. Being honest and discussing things before you marry another woman is better than hiding the matter, which will be revealed now or later, especially if God has blessed you with a child from this other woman.

- You're complicating the matter more and more.

- Are you sure of your feelings and emotions towards this other woman, or are they just fake feelings and the midlife crisis that is widespread these days?

- I don't know.

- Well. My advice to you is to try to forget and occupy yourself with anything else, your work, get closer to your wife and children, go to the club, play sports, whatever it is, occupy your time.

- Do you think this is the solution, Ibrahim?!

- It might be a solution. Try it and see where your mind and heart will take you.

- Okay, Ibrahim, and thanks for the advice.

Ibrahim's words were strong and realistic, but they were very heavy on Mahmoud, who felt an intense tightness that almost suffocated him and squeezed his heart and breath. His eyes kept closing and opening as if he was fading and the scenes and atmosphere of his miserable reality were absent. He tried to start a new page with his wife, so he invited her to go together on a trip to Hurghada, but she was surprised by his suggestion, which was a bit strange in light of Hadi and Toka's need for her to be by their side at all times, especially Toka, who needed constant follow-up because of her high school studies and close exams.