Another Life For Her

"Try to moderate your life wisely, put in mind that every single action has a consequence after some time. There is nothing more important than your studies and your academic degree" said Imane to her students. A flashback took her to the days when she was a university student; a very harsh journey, paved with hardships. She goes to her car and continues the rest of the day driving around the city, discovering its antique buildings while all that she is looking for is her motherland, the drawing on walls, the Algerian architecture and the most important the Algerian people; however, there is only strange people and cold streets. 1994; on a rainy night, a new girl was born into this world. She looked very thin, her mom was happy that she was able to give birth to her new baby safely because of the lack of medical care and poverty, ignoring her pain, the pain that every mother feels when she gives birth to her baby. The girl was unaware of the surrounding life she was going to live. Her face was always laughing except for the time she felt hungry or wet. The years had passed and Imane was seven years old. She helped in household chores just like her brothers and sisters. They brought water from a well to clean the house and to raise the plants. Also, they use it to irrigate the small garden they had in which they had different kinds of vegetables and fruits; the well wasn't so far from their home. Besides the water shortage, they were obliged to gather wood from the forest to use in heating and cooking. Even though they were doing all these chores, the children were very smart and they attended regularly to school; so that they can ameliorate their living when they become older. The school was far, but it wasn’t a big deal for them. The mother, Zahra was working in others' houses to provide them with food and clothes that other children don't like anymore so that they give them to them. The father, Djamal made great efforts too. He was moving from his house each morning into another city for work, his power was running out within time. As usual, the children went to bring water after school, but Imane was the last one who had thrown the bucket, kids were challenging each other who would reach home faster with water. However Imane was suffering to take her bucket off from the well because of her small body; she wasn’t strong enough to do the work, the bucket pulled the girl down. Suddenly, a scream of terror was enough to catch her brothers’ attention, the echo was terrifying. The well was deeper than they had imagined. The physical inability killed the bravery of the young brothers. They were incapable of saving their sister, they seemed purposeless. They called for help; the voices got louder when they saw that she passed out. “Oh Thank God”, a strong farmer was near to the area. He was able to tie himself with a rope and get into the well. He described Imane later saying: “I can’t forget the moment when I took her between my arms; she was like a drawn bird that has no power or a trick to get out of there alone. I was so happy that I was there. She looked like a dead body at first, but after we put on her dry clothes and gave her band-aid she started to breathe again”. Imane after few hours felt better, she thanked the man who saved her life. This accident might be seen as a sad accident like all her brothers considered it, but life shall continue. This is not the case with Imane; it is very strange how she is meant to live this new life after her near-death experience. There must be a reason; there is a secret that should be revealed soon. Soon! How long it takes to be revealed? Let’s see... life gets easier with Imane’s family; a few years later, they received clean water and natural heat at home. Things started to get better. Imane continued studying so hard. “Trust yourself. No one can believe in you nor help you if you don’t believe in yourself. Be confident.”