Where Memories Begin

Maturity

She was sat in the middle of the room, a small and uncomfortable wooden bench carrying her weight as she sewed one of her old skirts back together. They'd finally moved into their dream home and even if it wasn't perfect, that was enough for Maryam.

She hummed softly, the small taps of her feet harmonizing into her hums with a soft rhythm. She was almost done; however, her work was interrupted by the sudden outburst of her young daughter.

"Mother, mother! Look who came to visit!" The girl, Anna, exclaimed as she opened the door, revealing Maryam's father by the door.

"Maryam! My beautiful daughter! How have you been?" Dear old John exclaimed in pure joy as he finally saw his beloved daughter.

"We've tried to settle down for the past few weeks, I'm sorry if everything seems like a mess inside..." Maryam said, looking around their new home's leaving area.

"Oh, don't worry about that. Do I look like I care about those type of things? I'm far too old." Old John said as he walked in, sitting down on one of the wooden chairs by Maryam.

"Momma!" Her youngest son exclaimed, bursting in through the door. "Wait! Don't let the animals! - Get in..." Maryam sighed, scowling as some of the animals came into the living room, followed by her son.

"Ha-ha! Lighten up, Maryam. Look at what James brought you!" Old John exclaimed as he pointed at the young boy.

Looking at him, she noticed the flowers he held in his tiny hands. She smiled, knowing how innocent the act was. "Thank you, sweetheart. Please make sure to be careful when coming into the house, especially letting in the chickens when Cornelius is home..." She said hesitantly as she looked back at their black house cat, Cornelius.

"Grandfather, can you tell us one of your stories from when momma was younger?" James asked, eyes big in anticipation. Maryam chuckled, her cheeks flushing slightly in embarrassment.

"Why not? I have plenty of stories, after all, your mother was a very bad kid!" Old John exclaimed with a knowing smile.

The kids sat comfortably in front of old John, waiting for him to start his story. Maryam continued her sewing as she listened in to the story.

"Well, once when she was eight years old, she went alone into town at around five in the afternoon," Old John began.

"Oh no, not this story..." Maryam muttered as she heard the beginning, reminiscing about her past as she got reminded of it.

"We noticed she was gone and immediately went searching for her, can you guess where we found her?" Old John asked the two children.

"At the farm?" Anna asked, tilting her head to the side curiously.

"No, we found her on one of the shops. Her face was covered in strawberry jelly, ha-ha!" He chuckled as he finished telling the short story, the kids laughing loudly at her mother.

Maryam sighed once more, rolling her eyes at her father as he made fun of her.

"It's not that funny, you can stop now..." She said in annoyance.

Old John looked up, catching his daughter's gaze. He stared at her for a while as she looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Is there something on my face?" She asked, visible confusion written on her face.

"Kids, can you leave for a second? Go outside and play for a while, we'll call you in a moment." Old John advised the young children. They nodded, leaving them in the living room and heading for the fields.

"Maryam, something's wrong, isn't it?" He asked his daughter. "Something's wrong? Is it because I didn't laugh at the story? Everything's fine." She retorted, feeling even more confused.

"No, it's not about the story. You seem stressed. Have you been sleeping?" He asked her again, his concern showing over his features.

Maryam looked at her father then closed her eyes trying to compose her thoughts before speaking up. "In all honesty, it's beginning to feel more and more difficult to take care of both Anna and James, as well as working in the fields. They're starting to grow up and them growing up just keeps on making it difficult, but I know I must take care of them. It's almost as if the sudden realization of me actually becoming an adult has finally hit me in the face..." She poured out, her true feelings coming loose.

Her father nodded. He wrapped her up in a tight and fatherly hug.

"Maryam, I understand. Remember that I'm always here for you, as your father. It's okay to not be okay, remember that. You'll get through this and one day you'll look back to this and think that it was all worth it." He consoled her.

Maryam nodded, a soft smile appearing over her lips. "Thank you, father. I'll be sure to keep moving forward." She finally said, feeling a small weight being lifted off her shoulders.

"Well you better, you have two beautiful young children who need you to be there for them, so go with them." Old John said, pushing her slightly towards the door.

Maryam looked back to her father as he nodded for her to go.

"Momma! Did you finish talking?" James asked as his mother came out.

"Yes, yes we did. Want to go play with the animals?" She asked them happily, content shouts erupting from their tiny bodies.

Old John watched from inside the house as he saw his daughter and grandchildren running through the fields, a soft smile appearing on his face.

"I'm sad you grew up too, Maryam..." He said, closing his eyes as he tried to remember every single detail about his beloved daughter. Sometimes, you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.