Member-only story
On the Other Side of the Gate
The timeless beauty of returning home
Preparations were underway all around. Children were lighting lamps, while the youth decorated the main road and the city gate. An air of festivity filled the town. People were jubilant, warmly greeting one another.
Behind the city hall, near the main entrance, cooks were preparing a massive feast. A grand ceremony was clearly about to begin.
Yet when the final preparations concluded, and everything was set, the festivities did not immediately commence. The people were waiting for a special guest. All eyes turned toward the edge of the town, where the narrow road emerged from a thick, heavily guarded forest — a place no traveler from their side had ever entered.
Abdullah had left his home in the morning in search of food. His family was still hoping he would find bread; he found a bullet instead. At that moment, he lay unconscious — oblivious to any worldly desire — in the ICU. His nearest and dearest, friends, and acquaintances had rushed to his side. They prayed quietly, waiting for the doctor to step out with news of his condition.
Everyone spoke of his character — recalling how considerate, honest, and polite he had always been. His warmth and generosity were traits every person in the room remembered fondly. Tears filled…
