A few weeks after Alena's birth, Rania began to realize that their savings would not last long.
Every morning, she carefully calculated Alena's needs. Diapers, formula, clothes, medicine, and household necessities kept piling up, while no steady income was coming in anymore.
Rania sat at the dining table and opened her wallet.
She counted the money she had left one more time.
It wasn't much.
Rania drew a deep breath.
“There has to be a way.”
Alena's voice came from the bedroom.
Rania immediately got up and went to her daughter.
Alena was awake in her crib. The moment she saw her mother, the little baby waved both arms.
Rania smiled.
“Mommy's here.”
She picked Alena up and held her in her arms.
For a while, Rania simply gazed at her daughter's face.
She didn't want Alena to grow up feeling as though she had to go without everything.
That was why Rania began looking for work.
The next day, Rania went from place to place.
She wasn't looking for a good job.
She was only looking for work she could do in her current situation.
Cleaning houses.
Washing clothes.
Ironing.
Helping with cooking.
She would do anything that could earn money.
But there was one problem she kept thinking about.
Alena was still too young to be left alone.
That afternoon, Rania sat on the porch holding Alena. At the house next door, a middle-aged woman was sweeping the yard.
Her name was Ms. Sari.
Ms. Sari had often helped Rania ever since Arman died. She had also come by several times to visit Alena after her birth.
At last, Rania worked up the courage to approach her.
“Ms. Sari.”
The woman turned around.
“Yes, Rania?”
Rania gave her a small smile.
“I wanted to ask you for a favor.”
Ms. Sari stopped what she was doing.
“What is it?”
Rania hesitated slightly before speaking.
“I’m looking for work. But I don’t know who can watch Alena when I’m gone.”
Ms. Sari immediately understood what she meant.
“If it’s only for a few hours, just leave her with me.”
Rania fell silent.
“Really, Ms. Sari?”
“Yes.”
Ms. Sari smiled.
Rania felt relieved, but she still felt uneasy.
“I don’t want to trouble you.”
“You’re not troubling me.”
Ms. Sari approached Alena and gently touched her hand.
“Besides, she’s still so little. Don’t let the lack of someone to watch her keep you from working.”
Rania lowered her head.
Her eyes began to fill with tears.
“Thank you, Ms. Sari.”
Ms. Sari smiled.
“Don’t thank me yet. Find yourself a good job. As for Alena, let me help.”
For the first time in several weeks, Rania felt a little calmer.
A few days later, Rania found a job cleaning someone's house in their neighborhood.
The work wasn't easy.
She had to arrive in the morning and finish several household chores before going home.
The pay wasn't much, either.
Still, Rania accepted it without giving it much thought.
Before leaving on her first day, Rania carried Alena to Ms. Sari's house.
She made sure she had brought everything her daughter needed.
“Here's her formula and a change of clothes, Ms. Sari.”
Ms. Sari accepted the small bag.
“It's all right. Don't worry.”
Rania kept looking at Alena.
The baby was in Ms. Sari's arms.
“Mommy's going away for a little while, sweetheart.”
Alena only gazed at her with innocent eyes.
Rania smiled.
“Mommy will be back later.”
She kissed her daughter's forehead.
Then Rania walked away.
Several times, she looked back.
Ms. Sari was still standing in front of the house, holding Alena.
Only then did Rania continue on her way.
Her first day at work felt long.
Rania had to clean several rooms, wash clothes, and finish other household chores.
Her hands began to ache.
Her back hurt.
But whenever exhaustion crept in, Rania thought of Alena's face.
She kept working.
When the work was finished, Rania hurried home.
Before she even changed clothes, she jogged straight to Ms. Sari's house.
“How's Alena, Ms. Sari?”
Ms. Sari smiled.
“She’s asleep.”
Rania went to her daughter.
Alena was sleeping peacefully on a small bed.
Rania let out a relieved sigh.
She sat beside her and stroked Alena's head.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart.”
Rania smiled.
“Mommy was gone for quite a while today.”
Alena didn't answer.
She was still asleep.
Rania then looked at Ms. Sari.
“Thank you for watching her.”
Ms. Sari nodded.
“Besides, you have to work. Don't keep feeling guilty. You're working for Alena, too.”
Rania fell silent.
She knew Ms. Sari was right.
All this time, she had been too afraid to leave Alena, even for a little while.
But now she had to learn to divide her time.
To be a mother.
And a breadwinner.
That night, after bringing Alena home, Rania prepared a simple dinner.
There was no fancy food.
The table wasn't full.
But Rania felt a little relieved because that day, she had managed to earn her first money as a mother who had to support her child on her own.
She put the money away carefully.
She wouldn't spend it on herself.
Rania already knew what it would be used for.
Alena's needs.
She then went into the bedroom and saw her daughter sleeping.
Rania sat beside the bed.
“From now on, Mommy might have to go to work a lot.”
She smiled gently.
“But Mommy will always come home to you.”
Rania kissed Alena's forehead.
“I promise.”
The night grew late.
Rania turned off the light and lay down beside her daughter.
That day might have been only a small step.
But for Rania, that first job marked the beginning of the long struggle she would undertake for Alena's sake.
She didn't know how many jobs she would have to do.
She didn't know how long her body could hold out.
All she knew was that as long as there was still a chance to make Alena's life a little better, Rania would keep trying.