>G o n e<

9- ٩ ~

"Mama?" 

Almirah abruptly stood up, straightened her dress and ran to the bathroom, leaving little Arif all but bewildered and oblivious.

Little Arif Al-Sahroui shuffled in his seat, leaned against the wall and started to reminisce his mother’s words and ponder over them. 

Gone...

Gone?! ...

GONE!! 

But where?

I thought, baba, you had just gone over there.

To pray salah and get me a teddy bear.

You blew me a kiss and gave me hug.

You said you were not going to be gone for so very long.

Mama is cwying and vewy upset.

I don't know why baba, please can you come and help?

Have you gone to another country?

Aren’t you going to be lonely?

Are you going to be long, baba?

I don't think I can wait any longer.

I can hear mama crying harder and harder.

Can I phone your cell?

Where have you gone?

Why don't you respond?

Babaaa...please I am getting scared.

I love you baba I really do! 

Please come back! We miss you!