Remember the man's words…
He closed his eyes, and suddenly transformed into a small bird, flying out of the room searching for her car in the parking lot. He spotted her as she was getting in, so he followed her home.
The house was spacious, surrounded by a green garden where the nanny was playing with the children. As soon as Sarah got out of the car, the children ran to her. She embraced them tenderly while he watched from afar, hiding behind the trees, stealing glances and listening to them:
Adam: Where is Dad?
Sarah: He's in the hospital.
Eva: Is he okay?
Sarah (with a sad smile): Yes, your father is a strong man.
From behind the trees, he kept watching them. His heart started pounding; he thought for a moment to approach. He took one step toward them… but suddenly stopped when he saw a car approaching from afar. He hurried to hide among the branches.
He watched the car stop, and his surprise grew when he saw the doctor who treated him at the hospital get out of it. Sarah's expression suddenly changed; she looked at the nanny and quickly said:
Sarah: Take the children inside immediately.
Then she stood waiting, with wary eyes and a restless heart. The car stopped, the doctor got out, and approached her. He, from his hiding place, eavesdropped…
Sarah (with muffled anger): I told you not to come to my house again.
Doctor (calmly): Don't worry. He can't leave… and doesn't remember anything that happened.
Silence fell, but the eyes spoke… There was something between them. Looks filled with longing, or maybe pain. Her eyes began to glisten with tears, then she muttered in a trembling voice:
Sarah: I want revenge on Yusuf… a revenge that won't be forgotten.
Doctor (trying to calm her): Calm down… I will do what you ask, but for now, just calm down.
A heavy silence settled between Sarah and the doctor, as if time stopped. The wind whispered between the trees, and the scent of flowers in the garden mixed with the bitterness of the conversation.
Doctor: Your revenge on Yusuf… is it because of what he did to you? Or because of what he did to himself?
She looked at him, eyes boiling with anger, and said:
Sarah: Don't ask me "why." If you were in my place, you would have burned the whole world for their sake… then rebuilt it with your own hands, just to protect them.
He stepped closer, as if trying to reach out to her amid drowning, but caution ruled his steps.
Doctor: What Yusuf did is unforgivable. But… Sarah, you are stronger than you think, yet anger sometimes blinds…
She looked at him for a long time, then turned her face away as if fearing he would see her brokenness, and said in a choked voice:
Sarah: He doesn't remember… do you know how painful that is? To bleed every night from his vile actions, while he wakes up in the hospital bed not even knowing who I am?!
At that moment, from behind the trees, "he" was still watching, hearing every word and every sigh. His throat dried, his features changed… astonishment, confusion, then guilt gnawing at his heart.
He muttered to himself:
"Yusuf…?"
He said it as if it were a stranger's name he didn't know, but feared.
Scattered images flashed through his mind like lightning…
A bright light… screaming… hospital corridor… his hands stained with something he couldn't explain.
He put his hand on his head, as if pain was ravaging his skull, then staggered backward, nearly falling.
In the garden, Sarah felt something… she turned toward the trees, looked for a moment, as if her heart told her he was there.
But she hesitated… then returned to the doctor and said:
At that word — "Tonight" — silence fell again.
The sky was covered with a faint gray color, the sun preparing to leave.
Something in the air changed… as if it was a night that would not be like any before.
Sarah stood firm, her gaze steady, but inside she was silently breaking down.
The doctor left without another word, just one last look… like a farewell or a mysterious promise.
Behind the trees, Yusuf sat on the ground…
His hand on his head, eyes on Sarah, his heart swaying between the illusion of forgetting and the sharpness of memory.
He whispered to himself, in a hoarse voice:
"What have I done?"
Then…
The house doors closed.
The doctor disappeared into the evening shadows.
And Yusuf remained alone, with a memory that began to slowly open the gates of hell.