It was the end of the day, and the streets were crowded with students and workers after finishing their shifts. In the middle of all this, I was walking alone, looking here and there, wasting time until I reached home…
The phone rang.
"Hello?"
Caller: "Hi, Waheed. I'm your neighbor. Your mother is in the hospital right now. I'll send you the address."
Waheed, with tension and fear: "I'll come right away."
I reached the hospital and went to my mother. I found out something bad had happened to her heart. She always used to complain about her heart and the pain, but this time was different. The doctor came.
Doctor: "We'll need to do urgent surgery."
Waheed: "No problem. Let's start right away."
Doctor: "This operation isn't covered in this public hospital. We'll need to move her to a private one, and you'll need to be ready with the surgery cost or at least part of it."
Waheed, swallowing hard: "How much will the operation cost?"
Doctor: "We need to reroute the arteries, so it will be an open-heart surgery, no less than 200,000 pounds."
I was in shock and terrified. That amount was too much. We only had 50,000 pounds, and we had no connection with any relatives. But I had to do something.
Waheed: "What about 50,000? Can she enter the operation room?"
Doctor: "Ask the hospital, but I think the least they accept is half the amount."
Waheed: "How can that be? I'll go check with them, but send my mother to the hospital now."
I arrived at the private hospital and went to the reception.
Waheed: "I'm here from Dr. Mostafa."
Receptionist: "Yes, the surgery will cost 200,000 pounds. You can pay a quarter and admit her, but you must give us a guarantee that you have the rest."
Waheed: "I have no guarantee or anything."
Receptionist: "You must provide one."
Waheed: "Take 50,000, but admit her first. We'll talk later."
Receptionist: "These are rules we can't break."
Waheed, afraid and anxious: "I'll give you the apartment's power of attorney. That's the best I can do."
Receptionist: "Alright."
Waheed: "I'll bring it now."
After bringing everything, my mother entered the operation room. I waited for a long time, scared of the result. She was all I had left after my father died. But it didn't take long before the doctor came out and said, "I'm sorry, son. The operation failed."
Strangely, I didn't cry—I fainted.
That was six months ago.
Before I met you, my dear friend.
I looked at the cat on my leg. She was all I had left after my life was destroyed. They took the apartment but gave me the rest of the money because of the surgery. They said they had to take the full amount even if the operation failed. I bought a small apartment in a bad area with the remaining money. I left my studies and started working to survive.
Of course, I was alone in my life until that day of the month...
I came back from work. The sun was burning hot. I found a cat in the street, breathing her last breath. She was about to die. I remembered my mother. I picked her up and put my hand on her heart, pressing gently to revive her. I put some water in her mouth and on her body.
After a long time, the cat began to breathe again. I was so happy—I had saved a life. It was like the cat was thanking me. She started rubbing around me, so I took her home, bathed her, and we literally started loving each other. She became my only comfort and refuge.
We played every day. She became so attached to me, even climbing on my head. My life became amazing because of the cat...
I looked at the cat after remembering everything between us while petting her and said, "Thank you, Farha. You always made me happy."
We returned home.
My neighbor: "Waheed, your stupid cat keeps scratching my door with her claws and peeing in front of it. We're fed up. Keep her inside or I'll kill her."
Waheed: "Okay, okay. And don't say that last word again."
We entered the house.
Waheed: "I brought you lots of food. Come eat!"
The next day, someone knocked on the door.
My neighbor: "Hi Waheed, I want to talk about something."
He got angry when he saw my cat but quickly hid it and sat down.
Neighbor: "I want you to leave the apartment for 100,000 pounds. Believe me, it's not because of your cat."
Waheed: "Then why?"
Neighbor: "You know I own 50% of the building. A businessman wants to build a new building. He'll pay me, and the other owner agreed. We just need your approval."
Waheed: "Did all the residents agree?"
Neighbor: "Of course. Most are abroad and didn't care about a poor apartment like this."
I was afraid. The amount was too small to buy another apartment, and renting would be hard too. Prices were too high.
Waheed: "I'm sorry, Mr. Sayed. I can't right now. Can you give me six months to move?"
Sayed: "Impossible. We'll start next month."
Waheed: "Really? I don't have another home or anything. I reject your offer."
Sayed: "Okay, your choice."
I was scared of what would happen. A week passed with no problems.
Then I got a call while at work, telling me to come quickly. My mother had money in a saving group, and after her death, they searched until they found me to give me the money.
I went, full of joy, and came back home with the money.
"Farha, my love, I have money! I'll buy you so much food!"
But I found her lying on the floor. I jumped to her and found she wasn't breathing. A strange tear fell—one that didn't even fall when my mother died.
I quickly took her to the vet. They told me she had been poisoned. I cried hard. She was all I had.
I was sure my neighbor, Sayed, had something to do with it.
I wouldn't let this go. After investigating, I learned that the businessman was going to pay him a large sum for the building.
So, I decided to punish him—without killing him.
I bought a bomb with a remote trigger and blew up my apartment with everything inside.
After that, I stood by the sea, ready to kill myself.
But then you came and saved me, Owl...
(End of the second story)
---
Yasser: Was he telling you his story?
The Owl: Yes, he told it to me before he traveled. I'm the one who wrote it.
Yasser: Why didn't he write it himself?
The Owl: He couldn't hold a pen without his cat beside him. He's crazy, really.
Yasser: Honestly, I don't want to continue.
The Owl: Have you made a decision?
Yasser: No, but I don't want to hear these boring stories anymore.
The Owl: You must do what I say.
Yasser kicks one of the bags and shouts angrily: "I don't want to listen anymore!"
The Owl puts his hand in his pocket, pulls out a gun, and shoots Yasser in the arm. He says calmly:
"I'm the one in control here. I decide when we stop and when we continue. I'm trying to help you. Don't forget your limits."
"We'll begin the next story after we heal your wound—and we'll start with the bag you just kicked."
Yasser, in shock and amazement: "Okay..."