In one of the crowded neighborhoods of Salé, right in Hay Al-Inbiath,
A teenage girl was standing in front of a small shop, waiting for her turn.
Sidan: "Two loaves of bread and two triangles of cheese… like always."
Maati: "Here you go."
Sidan: She took them and stood waiting for her change, until she finally spoke up:
"Maati, I gave you five dirhams, remember?" She narrowed her eyes at him. "You planning to keep the change or what?"
Maati: Grunted and handed her a dirham. "Wow… not even letting a single dirham go, like it's going to ruin you."
Sidan: "You're too much. I'll be back this evening and you'll act the same. Why are people so stingy here? Ugh."
She left the shop irritated. She had just woken up and wasn't in the mood.
Always arguing over one dirham…
She was tough by nature and never let anyone take her rights, even if it cost her everything.
She kicked the door open with her foot, walked upstairs, and found a teapot and a small dish of olive oil already on the table.
She set down the groceries and headed to the bathroom to wash her face without saying a word.
After brushing her teeth and freshening up, she went to have her breakfast.
Asil: "Let me guess, you argued with Maati again over a dirham, right?"
Sidan: "Asil… please, not now. I'm boiling inside."
Asil: "Why do you always get into fights? You're always arguing with people in the neighborhood.
And what are you even doing with your life? No school, no job, and you're not even seventeen yet."
Sidan: Swallowed her bite, then spoke: "Same tape over and over… You sound like someone with a PhD, and you didn't even finish 4th grade. I'm still better than you."
"I'm tired of hearing this. Do you really think I enjoy living like this? No good life… no future. Everything is a mess. I'm tired, Asil… really tired.
Do you think I don't care? That I'm just drifting through life like it means nothing?"
Asil: Looked at her with sadness. "Come here…" She hugged her tightly.
"Sidan, I understand. It hasn't been easy for us, but we have to stay strong and hope God gives us something better.
I just want what's best for you. I didn't say anything to upset you."
Sidan: "Hope for something better? For me? You'll be gone in a week, starting your new life with your husband…"
She hugged her tighter and spoke in a choked voice:
"I don't know how I'm going to live without you. You're not just my sister… you're everything."
Asil: "My love… I wish I could take you with me. I want us to live together.
But you know the situation… I had to agree to live with his mom, and she barely accepted me.
If it were up to me, I'd never leave you behind."
Sidan: "I swear I hope I never see that woman—your mother-in-law. The way she acts, you'd think she supports all of Morocco."
🍂 The name "Sidan" means the cloth that covers the Kaaba. It also means "veil" or "curtain." So the name reflects protection and dignity. 🍂
Asil: "Come on, let's tidy up. I have to go buy stuff for the wedding before Tahira comes crashing in."
Sidan: "Ugh, don't say her name in front of me. Seriously, who even named her 'Tahira' (meaning 'pure')? The devil himself would salute her and say, 'Learn from this woman.'"
Asil: Laughed despite herself. "You crack me up even when I don't feel like laughing. Let's move before she shows up—
You know how she gets at this time of day."
A woman's voice cut them off before she could finish.
Tahira: "You two gossiping again? Talking about me?" She looked at Sidan.
"Did you at least make breakfast, or did you clear the table like always?"
Sidan: Flatly "If you want breakfast, go make it. What, you think I work for you?"
Tahira: "Such a sharp tongue…"
Asil: Whispered to Sidan to calm down. She and Tahira were like cat and dog, never getting along.
"Okay Sidan, come with me." She looked at Tahira. "Tea's in the pot. I'll ask a kid from the street to get you some bread."
Sidan: Shocked "You're sending someone to buy her bread? What is she, royalty now?"
Asil: Pulled her away to the kitchen before Tahira could react
"Are you crazy?! I told you to stay away from her. Leave the room if she's there!"
Sidan: "You're the crazy one! Listen Asil, I'm not like you. I won't bow to her.
She walks all over you. If she ever crosses me, I'll throw her out the window. I swear on our father's name."
Asil: Didn't know what to say. Everything Sidan said was true. Asil was weak,
And had gone through hell to raise her sister. She had no choice but to obey, for Sidan's sake.
"I get it—you're strong, you don't take disrespect. But please, for this week, keep things calm.
If you fight with her now, I'll be a nervous wreck before my wedding."
Sidan: "Okay… I promise to avoid her this week. But she better stay away from me.
And don't worry—your sister can handle anything."
Asil: "That's the spirit. Now go change, we need to head out. You know no one else can get this shopping done."
Sidan: "Alright. I'll just throw on something simple—you know I'm not into dressing up."
Asil: Raised her eyebrows at her "You're not going out like that!
Put on something decent for once. No rags!"
Sidan came down wearing jeans and a white body top with a leather jacket.
Her long blond hair was loose. She didn't wear makeup—her skin was naturally pale, her cheeks full, and her lips naturally pink and plump.
But her most striking feature were her eyes—green, with a hint of blue, so beautiful the sky and sea would envy them.
A tiny mole near her mouth added even more charm. Her body was beautifully shaped, and she looked older than 17.
She was stubborn, sharp-tongued, and never backed down.
Sidan: "Asiiil! I've been waiting for half an hour! It's just the market, not a fashion show!"
Asil: Looking out the window while doing her hair "Stop yelling! I'm coming!"
Asil came down wearing black pants and a white tee with an open shoulder,
Also topped with a leather jacket. Her hair was tied up with two strands left in front.
Asil: "Why do you always scream when we go out? Must the whole neighborhood know?"
Sidan: "It's not my fault you're always late. You know I hate waiting."
They walked together—only 15 minutes to the market.
A car stopped near them, and a man in his 30s got out.
He had strong features, light blue eyes, dark skin, and black hair. He wore jeans and a white T-shirt.
He removed his sunglasses and smiled.
Jouad: Kissed Asil's thigh playfully "Where are you going at this hour, sweetheart?"
Asil: Smiling "Just running some wedding errands with Sidan. What about you?"
Jouad: Looking at Sidan "Hey Sidan, you good?"
Sidan: "I'm fine, Jouad. How are you?"
Jouad: "Not bad. Today was slow at the café, so I thought I'd drop by… and lucky me, I found you two here."
He looked back at Asil "Let's go to the market together."
Sidan: "No need for the drama. Just say you want to be alone and I'll go home."
Jouad: "Haha, you always get it. That's why I like you."
Asil: "Sorry sis… didn't mean to drag you this far."
Jouad: "And don't wait for her tomorrow—we're having lunch together, just the two of us."
Sidan: Forced a smile, clearly annoyed but hiding it "It's fine. Go ahead.
I'll head back anyway, nothing to do out here."
Asil knew she hurt her. Sidan hated being left behind, especially after being forced to come.
Asil left with Jouad.
Sidan walked home alone, talking to herself, upset.
She opened the door and found Tahira sitting with her feet up, painting her toenails like some diva.
Sidan ignored her, changed, and went to sleep.
She woke up at 2pm, made herself boiled eggs, ate, washed the dishes, and returned to her room.
Just as she touched the door handle, Tahira called out:
Tahira: "You! I want a word."
Sidan: "You want something?"
Tahira: "I heard the wedding is next week. That true?"
Sidan: "Yeah. So?"
Tahira: "Well, if you want me to stay in the house during the wedding, you'll need to pay me for my time."
Sidan: "Excuse me?"
Tahira: "You heard me. I'm not doing anything for free."
Sidan: Paused… then with a sarcastic smile "Tell me… do you even count as a mother?"
Tahira: "What?"
Sidan: "Are you a mother? Is this how mothers act? Why do you treat us like this?
What did we do to deserve this pain? Just because you were forced to marry our dad?"
Tears welled in her eyes.
"Because of you, I had to quit school.
Because of your reputation, people talked about me.
They called me names. Even girls I thought were my friends turned their backs on me.
They said I was just like you…
I didn't ask for any of this.
I just wanted a mom… someone to guide me, hug me, tell me what to do.
I wanted to grow up normally…
But I had to grow up too fast."
Her voice cracked.
"Asil is the one who raised me.
She's my mother, not you.
A mother is the one who's there—not the one who gives birth.
You don't deserve that title.
One day, God will take me out of this hell. But know this:
I will never forgive you—not for the childhood you stole, not for the school I lost because of you…"
She stormed out before hearing any response.
She didn't know where she was going.
She just knew she wanted to disappear.
She was tired—tired of pretending to be strong.
Everyone thought she was tough, but no one knew how much she was hiding…
And it's not easy for a 17-year-old girl to be denied even her most basic rights…
Just because of a family's mistake from the past.