The Transparent Queen

The alarm clock rang more than once at seven in the morning, pulling Sarah out of a rosy dream—a dream in which she wore a stethoscope and was opening her very own hospital! She threw off the covers and sat bolt upright in bed. A quick glance at the cracked mirror in the corner of the room made her step back in feigned shock: "Good heavens! Is this human hair, or a bird’s nest struck by a lightning bolt?!" She looked, for all intents and purposes, like a madwoman: wearing loose black pajama bottoms and a sorry-looking red T-shirt, her hair a wild, chaotic mess—the aftermath of an exhausting night spent studying and preparing for an exam. She hurriedly grabbed a black hair tie and corralled the disarray. Today was no ordinary day; it was the day of an exam—the kind of test where she was accustomed to scoring full marks, or at the very least, coming very close. She dashed into the small kitchen and began preparing her favorite meal—a dish she considered far superior to any feast fit for a king: eggs with tomatoes! The battered frying pan—missing its handle—sizzled on the stove. Sarah flipped the eggs with a flourish, chatting away to herself: "We need some salt... a dash of patience, and a sprinkle of seasoning to make up for all those grueling nights!" She washed her face and offered her prayers—her mind drifting slightly as she prayed for success—before putting on her black pinafore over a white shirt. The shirt had long since surrendered, its color fading into a yellowish hue from constant washing and boiling in cheap laundry detergent. She headed toward her mother Abeer’s room to wake her. With a broad smile that defied her exhaustion, she whispered: — "Good morning, dear Mother! Your favorite breakfast is waiting for you. I’m off to school now—please keep me in your prayers today!" Her mother smiled tenderly and kissed her forehead: "May God grant you success, my daughter, and open every door for you." Suddenly, the harsh blare of a bus horn echoed through the street, sounding like an alarm for some impending disaster: *HOOOONK!* — "The bus is here! I have to go!" She slipped on her worn-out shoes and dashed out, as if fleeing from a noose. **Uniforms and Affluent Classmates** Sarah stepped out, pulling her shawl tight and trying to tuck her face between her shoulders. She didn’t have a single friend; she was practically an outcast, constantly pursued by the gazes of classmates who arrived daily in designer clothes, sporting trendy hairstyles and wearing perfumes that wafted through the hallways. She knew that fitting into this affluent world was impossible—she was a child of hardship and poverty. Whenever she approached a group of girls to join their conversation, a sudden silence would fall, or someone would deliberately change the subject—accompanied by mocking glances and knowing winks—only to tear her apart and crush her spirit the moment she walked away. Left with no other choice, she turned to books for companionship, finding in her studies a loyal friend that would never betray her. She made a solemn, eternal vow to herself: "I will become a doctor... I will heal people’s souls before their bodies!" How strange it is that this world has turned into a merciless jungle! People treat one’s clothing and appearance as if they were the only true measure of a person’s identity. As she boarded the school bus, she whispered to herself, pained: "I know appearance matters—but do we even have the money to improve our situation? Has it never occurred to them that we simply have no choice? Instead of offering a helping hand, they’ve turned our poverty into a target for mockery!" She recalled how, a few days earlier, one of the "popular" girls had approached her with a malicious grin: "Sarah, let’s be friends! Wherever I go, you’ll walk right beside me... Do you know why? Because you’re ugly and your clothes are rags—standing next to you, I’ll look like a queen!" Despite the cruelty of those words, Sarah had accepted the girl’s company—if only to escape the hell of loneliness. But when she heard the girl boasting about that very remark to others, Sarah quietly walked away, maintaining her dignity. A tunic from a second-hand stall! Sarah returned home that afternoon, choking back tears. She could barely endure life or the heavy burden weighing on her soul. Yet, as she reached for the front door, she forced the corners of her lips upward, crafting a fake smile so her mother wouldn’t suspect a thing—for to her mother, Sarah was a hero and her only source of joy. She opened the door, only to be met by her mother, whose cheeks were flushed with excitement: "Welcome home, Sarah! You’re back? Look what I brought you from the market today!" Her mother held up a beautiful piece of fabric—a brand-new tunic! Made of soft fabric and elegantly tailored. Sarah gasped, this time with genuine joy: "Mother! It’s absolutely wonderful! The color, the style—I can’t wait to wear it tomorrow in front of my friends!" She insisted on calling them "my friends," hoping that, in time, their hearts might soften toward her. Wiping the sweat from her forehead with a satisfied smile, her mother continued: "Your father started a new construction job today, and they gave him an advance. I rushed to the market like a woman possessed! I bought this vest for you, some kitchen supplies, and—most importantly—a beige shirt with black accents and a new pair of black trousers from the 'Muama' brand for your father, so he can finally stop wearing those old, tattered ones! I didn't have enough left for a belt, but I managed to get this vest at a fantastic price... Thank God, my daughter—tomorrow will be even better!" Sarah smiled and kissed her mother’s hand: "God has answered your prayers, Mother! My professor didn't show up today, so the exam was postponed until tomorrow. I promise you, when I become a doctor, I’ll buy us the biggest television in the entire region, and I’ll take Father to the best hospital in the world!" Terrifying knocks at the door... and news that struck like a thunderbolt! Suddenly, the door was pounded with such frantic force that the walls of the house shook! *Bang! Bang! Bang!* Startled, Sarah rushed toward the door, anxious and alarmed: "Who could be knocking in such a frightening way?!" The mother opened the door to find their neighbor, Laila, standing there—breathing heavily, her face flushed: — "Abeer! Where have you been?! I’ve brought you some urgent, shocking news that’s rocking the whole neighborhood!" Laila stepped inside and sat down, catching her breath: — "There are two pieces of news today—one bad, and one good! The bad news is that a major theft took place at the local contractor’s house; someone stole 100 dollars from him!" The news struck the mother like a thunderbolt! 100 dollars?! That was the exact amount her husband had brought home just yesterday, claiming it was an "advance payment for work"! Her face turned deathly pale, sweat broke out on her forehead, and she clutched the edge of her robe, struggling against a terrifying suspicion that nearly crushed her. Oblivious to the mother’s shock, the neighbor, Laila, continued: — "As for the good news... there’s a very wealthy family in town looking for a bride for their young son. The poor fellow has a disability—he can’t walk! And since you..." Send feedback Use the arrows to see the