Starting from scratch

I entered the place feeling nervous and unsure about the step I had taken. I tried to give myself some confidence. I looked around and saw three girls of different ages. I smiled at one of them, who recognized me, and pushed my fear aside and went in.

They were also very nervous. The looks on their faces were filled with fear, dread, and anxiety. I greeted them and began to speak.

Mona... Good morning... I am Mona Mahmoud, a human development coach, and we are here for a group therapy session about a certain feeling that brings you three together, unlike anyone else... That feeling is disappointment. First, I want you to forget that you are in a therapy session and just consider yourselves as talking about difficult things that those around you can hear. That way, we will be able to talk more easily and quickly. Does anyone have any questions? Or would anyone like to say something before we begin?

_ I looked at them and they calmly shook their heads, so I continued speaking

...

Okay, before each of you takes your turn to speak, we need to get to know each other. Since I've already introduced myself, let's continue with you

.... My name is Mirna Shaker. I'm 30 years old and work as an accountant at an import-export company. I'm divorced and have a son, Salim.

... My name is Nermine Mohamed. I'm 28 years old (she smiled sarcastically). I'm a widow and have a son. I'm also recently divorced and don't work.

... My name is Sumaya Ibrahim, I'm 24 years old, and my social situation is a bit complicated, which is probably why I'm here right now.

They all look at her curiously.

Moni... Okay, who wants to start?

Sumaya... Can I start?

Moni... Okay, tell us, Sumaya. Why are you here, and who let you down to the point that you can't get past this stage in your life? And why is your social situation the reason you're here?

Sumaya began to speak...

Sumaya... I'll tell you from the end because, unfortunately, I don't remember the beginning.

Mani... Tell us.

Sumaya... I woke up one day in a strange place. Everything was black. My arms were bandaged and my head was bandaged. I had a terrible headache. I tried to get up but couldn't. Suddenly, the door opened and a man came in, smiling.

... Finally, I woke up. Thank God I'm safe.

Sumaya... Where am I? What happened?

... I don't know exactly what happened, but from the look of you when I found you, it was clearly an accident. I was afraid you might die, so I took you to the hospital and then to the gym. I brought you here to my house and asked the doctor to do everything necessary and reassure me about you... By the way, my name is Diab Aziz. What's your name?

I didn't believe him and thought he was lying, but when he asked me my name, I was shocked.

Sumaya, I frowned... My name?

Diab... Your name? When I found you, you didn't have any ID on you, just this necklace that was lying next to you with the name Sumaya on it.

He held out his hand and gave me the necklace. I felt like I knew it, but I couldn't remember.

Diab... Miss, what are you thinking about?

Sumaya... I... I don't remember my name.

Diab, surprised... You don't remember your name?

Sumaya, crying... I don't know, I don't know, I don't remember anything, I don't remember anything.

Diab... Okay, please calm down. I'll call the doctor and see what he thinks. I'll be back in a few seconds.

After the doctor came and asked me to go to the hospital and have an MRI scan, I did it, and he examined me again and asked me again. He said, “I was afraid that it would turn out to be true.”

Dr. Maher... Unfortunately, you have memory loss, and from the scan in front of me, it's not partial memory loss, it's total memory loss.

Diab... What does that mean, Dr. Maher?

Partial memory loss means that the patient loses their memory for a specific period of time, but before that, they remember everything very well. However, this lady has lost all of her memory.

Diab... What is the solution? Is there no treatment? No matter the cost?

Maher... I'll prescribe her some medication to help stimulate her brain, and it's important that she doesn't put pressure on herself to remember everything. The more she relaxes her mind, the more she'll remember, God willing.

Diab... Thank you, Doctor.

Maher... You're welcome.

Somaya sadly... What does he mean by that? I'll stay like this, not knowing who I am? No, no, there must be another solution. My brain hurts so much.

Diab anxiously... Maybe the doctor is wrong. Don't put pressure on yourself.

Somaya... What should I do now?

Diab... Don't worry, I'm with you. I'll never leave you.

I don't know why, but that sentence scared me a lot. I have this overwhelming feeling that I should stay away from him and that something is wrong. I'm distracted by someone's voice.

... What's all this distraction? I'll be back in a minute. What are you doing now?

Sumaya... Who are you?

I'm Safia, a psychiatrist here at the hospital. Dr. Maher sent me to talk to you for a bit.

Sumaya... What are we going to talk about? I don't remember anything.

Safia... Sister, consider me your friend.

Sumaya... I don't want to be your friend. I want to know who I am and what I'm supposed to do now.

Safia... You should just relax. Since the necklace had the name Sumaya on it, let's assume that's your name, because if it's not your name, it must be the name of someone dear to you, right?

Sumaya... I'm scared.

Safia... Okay, let's say you're Sumaya for now, until God willing, your memory returns. As for what you should do, as I told you, it's important to calm down. Any tension is wrong for you.

Sumaya... Can I ask you a favor?

Safia, with a smile... Go ahead.

Sumaya... It's up to God. I mean, I...

Safia... Go ahead, my dear, speak freely.

Sumaya... I don't want to go back to the person who brought me here. I'm not comfortable with him, and I don't want to be with him.

Safia... Mmmmm, okay, I'll take care of it. Give me an hour and I'll be right back. Okay.

Sumaya... Thank you.

Safia... You don't have to thank me for doing something.

Sumaya... It's enough that you're trying.

Safia... Don't worry, I'll be right back.

Contrary to my feelings towards Diab, I felt very comfortable with Safia, and without thinking, I asked for her help. Sure enough, less than half an hour later, she was standing in front of me.

Safia smiled and said, “Okay, sister, we've solved your problem with that guy outside.”

Sumaya... How?

Safia... You're coming with me. Don't worry, I live alone with my brother in a small house. When I told him about your situation and that I wanted you to come with me, he agreed without hesitation. He'll stay in the apartment across from us with Uncle Mohsen

. But how can I come with you when your brother has to leave his home? No, of course not.

Safia... I'm telling you, don't worry about it. He'll be staying in the apartment we mentioned.

Sumaya... Is Uncle Mohsen your uncle?

Safia... No, Uncle Mohsen is our neighbor and he was a very good friend of my father's. He's a good man and you'll like him a lot. We're a close-knit family anyway.

Sumaya smiled.

Safiya... Yes, that's right. Let it go and everything will be fine, God willing.

Sumaya... I can't stop thinking about my parents. Do you think they're worried about me? Or

Safia interrupted her... Let's agree to relax our minds a little. Give your brain a chance to rest and come back to your senses, okay?

Sumaya... Okay.

Safia... I'll let you rest a little, and when you wake up, we'll go downstairs.

_ The door knocked and Diab entered.

Diab... What are you doing now?

Sumaya... Fine.

Diab... Okay, Doctor, when can we leave?

Sumaya, surprised... Who is leaving?

Diab... We are.

Sumaya... Who are we?

Diab... What's wrong with you, miss? It's normal. Come with me.

Sumaya... Why would I take your sister? I lost my memory, but I'm not crazy.

Safia calmly... Sumaya will come with me.

Diab frowned slightly... Your name is Sumaya? You remember?

Sumaya... I don't remember anything, but the necklace I was given has the name Sumaya on it, and the doctor told me that it's probably my name or the name of someone dear to me, so I'll go with that.

Diab... Okay, Doctor. Sumaya, where are you going with her?

Sumaya... And what about you? You're all I have. Thank you so much, and I'll never forget your kindness, even if it costs me the price of the X-ray, the cast, and the hospital. Sir, I'll take your number and promise to call you back, God willing.

Diab... What are you talking about? Money? I'm Diab, my dear. Buy the hospital. Ten. I'm talking to your friend. You know her, so go with her.

Sumaya... I know you very well, just like her, and I agree to go with her. What's your problem? I don't understand.

Safia. ... Sumaya, you might be overreacting because of you and your problem. As long as the person involved agrees, what's the problem?

Diab... The person involved doesn't know what's best for her.

Sumaya sarcastically... No, man, you're the one who knows her.

Diab... Surely, if I were a monster, I would have left you drowning in your own blood and walked away.

Sumaya... You told me a thousand times, “Thank you.” What else can I do?

Diab angrily... Come with me.

When he yelled like that, my whole body shook and my heart contracted, especially when he said the word “understand” angrily and loudly, and I heard another voice in my head telling me to say, “Understand.” I didn't feel myself, and I heard a voice telling me to give her an injection of the solution that was hanging over me, screaming at Diab, whose face showed anxiety and fear. I went into darkness, hearing nothing but the voice of someone terrifying me, saying, “

Do as I say. It's not Asim who repeats his words twice. Understand?”