In the heart of a peaceful town nestled between green hills, the sound of sewing filled a small wooden cottage. Hassan sat by the window, gently stitching a ball from soft blue fabric. The afternoon light spilled across the room, dancing on the floorboards as the thread moved in and out with calm precision.
In the kitchen, Maryam prepared lunch, the scent of warm bread and herbs filling the air. Outside, their son Badr ran barefoot through the grass, chasing the wind and laughing with the birds.
Hassan tied off the final knot, examining the ball with quiet pride. It wasn't just a gift — it was a memory stitched with love. He placed it carefully on the shelf, hidden just enough to spark surprise. Then he called out:
"Badr! Come wash up, lunch is ready!"
The boy rushed inside, cheeks flushed and eyes wide. As he entered the room, he caught sight of the ball on the shelf. His laughter paused, replaced by a glow of wonder.
"For me?" he asked.
Hassan smiled and nodded.
After lunch, the small family stepped outside together. The breeze was gentle, and the sky stretched endlessly above. Badr held his new ball close, spinning and tossing it in joy.
And as the sun warmed their faces, Hassan closed his eyes for a moment and made a silent wish:
Let this day never end.
Chapter Two: A New Day
At night, Hassan stood in front of the ball and said to himself:
"What a beautiful day. Maybe I'll stay like this for the rest of my life."
But he felt a strange, unexplainable sadness. Then his wife, Maryam, got up and said:
"Was yesterday really that beautiful that you're shedding tears of joy over it? Just don't act this way, Hassan, and don't stay up all night—you have work tomorrow."
Hassan replied,
"Alright."
Then Maryam went to bed, and Hassan stepped outside to get some thread from the clothing vendor. When he arrived at the shop, the vendor was halfway through closing and said:
"You finally made it."
Sami, the shop owner, smiled and said:
"Hey there. You're a bit late. I'll go get you some thread."
They talked for a bit about the past. Sami said:
"Do you remember our younger days? Everything was simpler and easier. You used to come every week asking for new threads, and we had time to talk about everything."
Hassan smiled and said:
"Yeah, you had everything in your store. You always provided what I needed quickly. Those days were filled with beautiful memories."
Sami smiled:
"True, our lives were full of work, but we enjoyed the little moments—like this one. Who would've thought things would change like they have?"
Hassan replied, feeling a sense of nostalgia:
"Yes, our days were better in their simplicity."
Then Sami added with a grin:
"You needed to get out a bit and relive some of those nice memories."
Hassan nodded:
"Yeah, definitely."
After that, Hassan left the shop, and Sami closed up. Hassan walked home smiling.
When he entered the house, Maryam asked:
"Where were you?"
Hassan said:
"I went to get some thread from the clothing shop. He asked me to make him some clothes."
Then Hassan went to bed.
In the morning, Hassan woke up to find Badr playing with the ball inside the house. The noise made him upset. Maryam called out to Badr, but he didn't hear. She took the ball and said:
"Can't you hear me?"
Badr replied:
"Alright, alright!"
But Badr kept playing with the ball even during breakfast. After breakfast, Hassan sat down to sew some clothes, but Badr kept bothering him. Hassan said:
"Badr, can you stop for a while? You're bothering me."
But Badr didn't listen. Hassan got angry, took the ball and said:
"Can't you hear me? Don't get so attached to something like this."
Badr felt sad and stormed off.
Then Hassan returned to sewing the clothes and went to Sami to deliver them.
Meanwhile, Badr climbed up to the high shelf in the house to get the ball. When Maryam walked in, she screamed:
"Badr!"
Badr fell from the shelf—and the ball fell too. But he was okay.
Maryam scolded him harshly, and Badr was very upset. He ran out to the garden looking for his father, but ran away when he saw him holding the ball.
Badr returned home later and apologized to his mother:
"I'm sorry, Mom."
Maryam said angrily:
"I told you not to play like that. I don't want anything bad to happen to you."
Badr felt ashamed but apologized sincerely.
Meanwhile, Hassan and his friend Sami were hanging out in the city. Sami laughed and said:
"It's been ages since we went out like this."
Hassan smiled and replied:
"Yeah, we've changed."
Then they entered the clothing shop together.
Hassan said:
"I'm thinking of buying this from you."
Sami replied:
"I think it's a bit too small."
Hassan laughed:
"Heh, it's for Badr. Just give it to me."
Sami said:
"It's for Badr? Take it for free."
Hassan smiled:
"Really? You're giving it to me for free?"
Sami said:
"Yeah, take it. I'm serious."
Hassan replied:
"Thank you."
Hassan returned home to find Badr cleaning his space. He laughed and said with a smile:
"Here, new clothes for you."
Badr cheered:
"Thanks, Dad!"
Maryam smiled, and the atmosphere in the house was calm and happy.
And the day ended.
Chapter Three: The Last Day
The day began with a quiet peace. Hassan woke up early, ready to sew some clothes, while his wife, Maryam, was preparing breakfast as usual. Everything felt like a normal day, but after preparing his sewing tools, Hassan looked toward the kitchen and smiled.
"Since I delivered the clothes yesterday, today is a holiday for me," he said.
Badr was still asleep. Minutes later, he joined them for breakfast. They sat together, laughing and chatting like any happy family.
Hassan looked at Badr and asked,
"Seems like you like the clothes?"
Badr looked down at his new outfit and nodded.
"Yes," he said.
Hassan smiled, "You should thank my friend Sami. He gave them to me for free, just for you."
Badr replied, "Okay, I'll thank him."
After breakfast, Maryam sat down to rest in her chair, while Badr went outside to play. Hassan left for the market to pick up some food. He returned later carrying a small bag. As he approached Badr, he called out:
"Today's lunch will be delicious—your mother is cooking it!"
Badr's face lit up, and he ran inside to tell his mom. Hassan followed, but just as he reached the door, it was flung open violently from the other side. He stumbled back.
Four strangers stood at the door.
One of them, in a calm yet chilling voice, said:
"Give us the necklace, Hassan. No one has to get hurt."
Hassan froze. He looked quickly toward the room Maryam and Badr had gone into.
"Go… to the room," he said softly.
One of the men grabbed Hassan's arm, while two others stormed toward the back room. Maryam's scream was heard for a moment… then silence.
They dragged Badr out by his hair. One of the men held a blade near his throat and smirked:
"Is this your son, Hassan?"
Before Hassan could respond, the man slashed Badr's neck. Blood hit the floor.
Hassan lost control. He kicked the man holding him and lunged toward one of the others, trying to grab a knife. But they shoved him hard into a shelf full of glass and tools. It collapsed on top of him.
Through the haze and pain, Hassan saw flickering images—Maryam's face… Badr's smile… and then… the ball. The one he had sewn with his own hands. But it was changing, transforming… into Boo.
A man stepped forward, voice cold:
"Looks like the necklace did something to you, Hassan... Sorry. It's too late now."
He drove the weapon into Hassan's chest.
…
Later that day, Sami, Hassan's friend, was back in his shop. He was selling a few items. But behind him, on a small shelf, sat a soft, patchy ball…
It was Boo.
Placed quietly.
Not for sale.