Written by: Anis Ahmed
My grandfather, Ismail, was an apothecary and a prominent merchant in the town, and he was quite well-off. He married three women and had four children: three sons and a daughter. My father, Salem, and my uncle, Faris, were from one wife, while my elder uncle, Baher, and my aunt, Safaa, were from another
As for his third wife, she bore no children—or rather, all her children died young—earning her the nickname "Mother of the Dead." She was my grandmother Zahra.
We all lived in the same house with my grandmother Jameela and my uncle Faris, and this house had been inherited by my father and uncle.
My grandmother lived alone on the ground floor, my father on the first floor, and my uncle on the top floor. After my grandmother's death, the ground floor became shared between my father and uncle, always open to receive guests.
Meanwhile, my uncle Baher, aunt Safaa, and their mother lived in another house at the town’s entrance. Grandmother Zahra, who bore no children, lived alone in a single-storey house nearby.
Meanwhile, my uncle Baher, aunt Safaa, and their mother lived in another house at the town’s entrance. Grandmother Zahra, who bore no children, lived alone in a single-storey house nearby.
My grandfather Ismail—may he rest in peace—had divided the houses himself during his lifetime. After his death, my father and uncle Faris took a piece of land to cultivate and live off its produce, while my uncle Baher and aunt Safaa took over the apothecary shop and storeroom. Grandmother Zahra received nothing, so it was agreed between our house and Baher’s that she would be given a fixed sum from the two houses to live on.
My mother, Layla, never let her want for anything and treated her as if she were her own mother—or even more. Grandmother Zahra spent most of her time at our house. In contrast, neither my uncle nor aunt visited or cared for her.
We are three daughters: I am Maryam, followed by Reem and Lina. My father lived modestly, making do with what he had—from the house to the land and back again. Thus, when I finished my diploma, I began helping my father on the land, and sometimes I would gather village children and teach them the basics of Arabic and arithmetic.
My uncle Faris had twin sons, Hussam and Bassam, and his wife Suha was very kind and close to my age, so we became like friends. My uncle Baher had a son, Rami, and a daughter, Sundus, while aunt Safaa had long refused to marry, and no one knew why.
The whole story began on the day my grandmother Jameela passed away. I shall never forget that day.
It was an ordinary day. My grandmother called my father while he was heading to the field, and I overheard everything said. She said:
I am not the one to decide. I told them I would convey the message, and Salem should make the decision. But my advice to you, my son: do not do it.
فقالت:
“يا مريم، أنت ابنتي الكبيرة، وأنت ترين حال أبيك وحالنا. وعادل ابن عمّك، ولا بأس أن نفكّر في راحتك.”
I will not feel safe with Maryam in your brother’s house.
My leg is in this world and the other, and I will not live forever.
I have advised you for God’s sake, and you are free to choose."
My father said nothing, kissed her hand, and left.
I went to my mother and told her what I had heard. Joy appeared on her face, and she said: "Maryam, how lucky you are! Adel is a good young man, managing all his father’s business. He will make your life comfortable, and you will have a beautiful life.
I said to her: "Is all that important just that he runs his father’s business and will make my life nice?"
She said: "Maryam, you are my eldest daughter. You see our circumstances and your father’s situation. Adel is your cousin, and it is only right to think of your comfort."
She tried to convince me, though I neither accepted nor refused. No one had ever proposed to me before, so I did not know the feelings of acceptance or rejection.
But a strange feeling came over me… I did not know whether it was due to the thought of marriage and a new life, or something else.
I told her that my grandmother had refused and did not give a reason.
My mother’s face fell, and I sensed her sadness.
She went down to ask my grandmother the reason for her refusal, and I followed her. As we descended the stairs, I glimpsed a black cat leaving my grandmother’s vicinity, walking slowly and oddly.
My mother tried to shoo it with her foot, but the cat did not flee, moving away slowly.
We entered my grandmother’s room and found her lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling with a strange gaze, her face blue as ink, and a foul smell filled the room, as if something were burning. My mother rushed to her, shaking and speaking to her, but to no avail.
She screamed at me to summon someone to go to my father in the field and inform him that his mother was dying.
I ran out, saw a child from the neighbours, and sent him to my father.
I returned, but I was afraid to enter… I do not know why. My mother’s loud voice made my uncle’s wife Suha come down; I told her what had happened, and then we went back to my grandmother.
Suddenly, something white began to emerge from her mouth…
My mother and my uncle’s wife screamed:
"Your grandmother is dead!"
The neighbours gathered,
my father and uncle Faris arrived
insisting on taking her to the clinic
When the doctor saw
her, he declared that she had been
dead for some time
But… that was just the beginning. I spoke with Uncle Shalabi, who said: "I do not want anything from him—my share and Na‘ma’s share from Thuraya Mehr Huda for Ibn Khamis."My father agreed after pressure from my mother and aunt. As for me, I was curious to enter Najah’s house, which I had not entered since I was born. Throughout that time, I pondered everything that had happened and everything I had heard… how and why.Two months later, without any celebration, the marriage took place, and I entered our house for the first time in my life. Our grandfather’s house was a great mystery to all of us, something like a cave or cavern that no one visited, or perhaps it could be said it was a forbidden area, because the household never liked anyone to enter, unlike any other house in the town, which was open to everyone, familiar and stranger alike.Our grandfather’s house consisted of three floors, in addition to the ground floor, which was half a shop for the apothecary and the other half a storeroom. The first floor was for my aunt and her mother Najah, the second for my uncle, and the third would be where I would live after marriage.Because there was no celebration due to circumstances, after signing the contract I returned to my home immediately. As I entered the house, I felt something strange—a feeling I could only liken to tombs… a very gripping and terrifying sensation, particularly as I ascended to the first floor near Najah’s apartment. I imagined Khamis entering to greet Najah, as was the custom in the town when the bride was unfamiliar with the house.Upon our arrival, my mother-in-law and aunt received me with a smile. My aunt embraced me, saying: "You have lit up the house, daughter of my brother!"My mother-in-law hugged me and kept smiling with joy. At that moment, Khamis shouted: "What is this, Mother? Not like this, we are in mourning! Don’t you want people to speak?"I heard my uncle from below: "Your voice will not carry in this house while I am alive… Come on, Khamis, take your wife to your apartment."We entered our apartment, and Khamis said: "Congratulations, lady of daughters, you have lit up your home… I know my words may sound strange, but believe me, this is for our benefit. I love you, and I requested your hand from my father… All I ask of you is to remain silent until you understand everything."His tone and manner were strange, but I felt trust in him, perhaps because my fear was that of someone who cared for me.That night, I dreamt of Thuraya. We were at the family cemetery, and there was an open grave. She held my hand and said: "Come, I will show you something…"She tried to make me enter the grave, but I refused. At that moment, we saw the black cat standing at the grave’s entrance, its eyes malevolent. I woke up terrified to the sound of knocking at the door. My aunt Na‘ma was there to bring us breakfast.Days passed, and I was diligent at home, but the dream of Thuraya repeated daily. One day, I asked Khamis why our aunt Na‘ma prevented my family from visiting me, and he explained that it was part of the house’s rules and traditions, and that everything had to be accounted for.One day, Najah requested to meet me. It was a terrifying and tense moment. Upon entering her room, I felt the space resembled a dark cave, with large mirrors, a huge rosary, and a dead fox’s head on the wall. Najah spoke to me calmly, revealing the family secrets since childhood, about the magical practices her mother, Haiba, performed, and the ways the family protected themselves.She recounted how my mother and father dealt with these practices, and how I was part of this story without knowing it, and that all past harm had been connected to them, their wealth, and their power, rather than anything personal of mine.Suddenly, Na‘ma entered, her eyes full of malice, showing strange powers. Even her reflection did not appear in the mirror—only mine did. Events escalated, reaching a moment when Khamis tried to defend me with a knife. Later, Khamis was accused, and Na‘ma was buried outside the town.I returned to my family and told them everything. After some time, I discovered I was pregnant and felt immense joy. I visited Khamis to give him the good news, despite the incidents and recurring nightmares involving the children and the black cat, which tried to harm my son, but God protected him.Years passed, Khamis was released from prison, and together we tried to forget what had happened and start anew for the sake of our children. Praise be to God, we now have many children, with Aziz being the first
English 
Arabic