The Woman Who Was Almost Me

I was living alone in a small home, the silence of the empty rooms weighing heavily on me. It had been three months since I last saw my daughter, three months of questioning everything that had led me to this point. The world around me felt like a whirlwind of betrayal, each one more painful than the last. And as I sat in my solitude, I couldn't help but think: maybe this was all a result of my kindness to others.

I had always been the one to forgive, to give people the benefit of the doubt, to put others before myself. But now, in the quiet of my isolation, I realized how much that had cost me. I had always tried to understand people's struggles, to make excuses for their actions, but in the end, it had only led to my own suffering.

I was done with it.

I was done with forgiveness. No more letting people walk all over me. No more blindly supporting others at the expense of my own happiness. It was time to take back control. It was time to reclaim what was rightfully mine.

Dina, always focused on her own needs, had used me. Kaveh, who had grown comfortable on the foundation I had built, had betrayed me. Aamz, lost in his own world, had never truly seen me. Anna, someone I had trusted, had deceived me. And now I was left with nothing but the weight of it all.

But no more.

I wasn't going to be used anymore. I wasn't going to let anyone take advantage of me again. It was time to put myself first, to rebuild what had been broken, and to finally find my own peace.

I called anyone who came to mind to be a witness in my fight to get my daughter back. My last hope was Kazem, from the group of pretenders. He had always seemed to offer a different perspective on things, and in that moment, I needed to hear something new.

When I called him, his words hit me hard:

"Did you know that Aamz is skipping his military service with your father's help?"

I froze, feeling a surge of anger. The thought that my father had been involved in helping Aamz escape his duty was something I could never have imagined. The idea that he might be enabling Aamz only made me feel more alienated. I had sacrificed so much, and now this?

Kazem continued, unphased by my reaction: "Do you really want to let him build a life with that girl?"

I immediately cut him off, my frustration rising: "It's not important right now. I want my daughter back, and I want her back soon."

Kazem's voice softened a little, understanding the urgency in my tone: "I'll help you. I know what your life has been like, how affected you've been, but none of it was your mistake."

Then, without hesitation, he added: "Remember the less than 10 percent of the income he gave us. I made sure to take that money as revenge—invested it in a business, and now he's poorer than ever. He has nothing to be proud of anymore."

His words made me pause, but all I could focus on now was my daughter. "But first, help me get my daughter back."

Kazem didn't hesitate. "I will. We'll do it, I promise."

I returned to my parents, not just to visit them, but to meet Kazem and start the process of getting my daughter back.

I stayed silent when my parents asked about my daughter or my marriage status—there was no need to explain. I had other things on my mind now.

Before long, we were sitting in a coffee shop—me, Kazem, and his wife. I began by thanking him in advance for his help.

He casually replied, "It's a trade."

I raised an eyebrow. "A trade?"

He leaned back in his chair, his expression calm but determined. "I'll help you get your daughter back. And you... you'll stop Aamz from progressing in his life plans."

I was taken aback. "And why would you want that?"

Kazem's smile was almost too knowing. "He'll be free of trouble. He'll come after me to get his money back."

I shook my head. "He doesn't pursue things like that. He never has."

Kazem's gaze was unshaken. "It's my condition, and I don't make deals lightly."

The weight of his words lingered in the air.

He said, "That's what we know now! He's trying hard to put himself on the right path, planning to migrate after skipping his military service early. You wouldn't be hurting him by stopping your father's help—you'd simply be taking back all the favors your family has done for him."

I paused, considering his words. He wasn't entirely wrong. We had done so much for him in the past. Why should we continue to serve him now?

Kazem leaned in, lowering his voice. "You don't have to ruin him. Just slow him down. Make things harder. You'll get your daughter back, and he'll be forced to face life without handouts."

His wife sipped her coffee in silence, her presence a quiet but firm support.

I exhaled slowly, the weight of my decision pressing against my chest. "What exactly do you want me to do?"

Kazem smirked. "Leave that to me. Just don't interfere when things start falling apart for him. And if your father hesitates, remind him of how much your family has already given."

I nodded, my thoughts racing. This wasn't just about Aamz. This was about me reclaiming my own life. And for that, I was willing to do what was necessary.

He said, "That's what we know now! He's trying hard to put himself on the right path, planning to migrate after skipping his military service early. You wouldn't be hurting him by stopping your father's help—you'd simply be taking back all the favors your family has done for him."

I paused, considering his words. He wasn't entirely wrong. We had done so much for him in the past. Why should we continue to serve him now?

Kazem leaned in, his voice sharp. "Just stop your father from making things easier for him. He's rebuilding his life, forgetting your sister, and doing it all at your family's expense."

His wife sat quietly, watching me, her presence a quiet yet firm support.

I exhaled slowly, the weight of my decision pressing against my chest. "And what do I get in return?"

Kazem smirked. "Your daughter."

I looked down at my hands. This wasn't just about Aamz. This was about me reclaiming my own life. And for that, I was willing to do what was necessary.

Doubt weighed heavily on me. Was I really putting him in trouble, or was I just setting things right? But in the end, what mattered most was getting my daughter back. And stopping my father from helping him wasn't making trouble—it was simply cutting off an undeserved advantage.

He and the girl who once fueled anger against me were moving forward, living their happy life, while I was left alone without my daughter?

I made my decision.

I told my father to stop helping him. After a long discussion, he finally said, "Things are already in the process of being finalized. I can't undo what's been done, but I can stop making things easier for him. I'll transfer him elsewhere instead of keeping him here under my arrangements."

That was enough. Enough to trade with Kazem.

Curiosity got the better of me—I wanted to know where he stood now. So, I sent him a message:

"Did you succeed in telling Marya the whole truth?"

He replied almost instantly:

"Why are you asking? You didn't help, and I'm still dealing with the mess of it. Now, why do you care?"

"So, you didn't do it?" I pressed.

After a pause, he responded:

"I think things like that will lose importance over time. I really love her. Love will solve it, I hope. She sees my honesty in working for our future."

I stared at his words for a moment before typing:

"Do you ever think about Dina?"

His response came fast, and with an angry emoji attached:

"Are you trying to make me feel guilty? Just leave me alone. Don't ever message me again. And for your information, Marya has none of the issues that you—or any of you—had."

I put my phone down. The conversation was over, and so was any illusion I had left about him.

His reaction only solidified my decision. I was done caring for others, especially those who could turn so harshly.

After fulfilling my end of the bargain with Kazem, it took just one month for Hanie to be returned to me. It was almost unbelievable how smoothly it happened—without any legal battles or complications. Kaveh himself contacted me, his voice unusually calm, as he said, "I've decided to let Hanie live with you."

The words echoed in my mind, too surreal to be true. But it was real. It was finally happening.

That day is etched into my memory. I woke up at 4 a.m., restless and anxious, counting every minute until I could hold her again. I arrived early, pacing outside the meeting spot. And then, I saw her—tiny, innocent, my whole world wrapped up in that little frame.

I rushed to her, dropping to my knees as she ran into my arms. I hugged her tightly, feeling her warmth, the softness of her hair against my face. I couldn't stop crying, but I didn't care. I just held her, afraid to let go, afraid she might disappear again.

On the drive back home, I held her close, refusing to let her sit in the back seat. She fell asleep against my shoulder, her tiny fingers clutching my shirt. I kept glancing at her, still in disbelief that she was really there.

For the next twenty-four hours, I did nothing but watch her. I watched her sleep, watched her play, watched her eat. Every little movement, every laugh, every word felt like a miracle.

Hanie was home. And for the first time in what felt like ages, I felt whole again.

Soon, a new fear crept into my mind. What if something happened again? What if Kaveh changed his mind? What if I wasn't as safe as I thought?

I decided there was only one thing left to do—I had to leave. Not just for myself, but for Hanie. I needed to be somewhere I could rebuild my life, free from the past constantly creeping back in.

Within a week, I packed up everything and moved back to my parents' city. But this time, I didn't move in with them. I needed my own space, my own life. I found a small house—nothing grand, but perfect for me and Hanie. A place where we could start over, just the two of us.

For the first time in months, I felt a sense of control. Another battle was behind me. Another problem solved.

But just as I started to settle, something resurfaced. Something I thought I had pushed away for good.