"Me: I'm not interested mom. I am fine as I am."

"And it is the truth. I prefer myself that way. Solitary and single. To tell the truth, I don't really see the point for me to get into a relationship. You, tell me, what's the use of a relationship if not the arguments all the time? Problems and headaches. The only thing a relationship can bring me is sex and to put me at ease, I don't need to be in a relationship. Prostitutes like Sira are there to satisfy me."

"My mother: If you want I will find you a good girl that you will marry."

"Me shouting: NO ESPECIALLY NOT THAT. NEVER DO THIS MOM."

"My mother: Ok I understand but find yourself a girlfriend as soon as possible.

"Me changing the subject: Mom, I'm hungry."

"My mother getting up: I'll bring you something to eat."

"She heads for the door and leaves the room, leaving me alone. I positioned myself well in bed, my head on a pillow and sighed deeply. I managed to avoid this subject with my mother. If I hadn't found the excuse of hunger, this conversation between her and me about it wasn't going to end anytime soon. Quite frankly, this is all really starting to piss me off."

**** The next morning ****

**** Sira Kante ****

"Mira and I are in the hospital. This is where she spent the night. I stayed up to watch over her all night and dozed off from time to time. I'm so glad nothing happened to my daughter. She is safe and sound and sleeping peacefully. I really thank mister bipolar. I never thought he could risk his life to save my daughter. I will never stop thanking him. Sitting comfortably on a chair, I hold my daughter's hand and give it little kisses. The nurse in charge of her enters."

"Me getting up: Hello."

"Smiling nurse: How are you ma'am?"

"Me pale voice: I'm fine and my daughter."

"Nurse approaching Mira's bed: She's fine, little angel. She sleeps."

"Me relieved: Thank you doctor."

"Nurse touching Mira's forehead: Everything seems normal. She's nothing serious.

"Me more relieved: Thank you. Thank you really."

"Nurse smiling at me: It's nothing ma'am."

"Me: I'm going to leave her here while I go home.

"Nurse: No worries. Do not be afraid. She is in good hands.

"Me: Thank you."

"I unhook my bag from the chair and hold it in my hand as I walk towards the exit. I haven't even taken a shower since yesterday. The T-shirt Mr. Bipolar gave me is still around my neck. It smells of his cologne. I want to go to the apartment to check the damage caused by the fire and to see if there are any salvageable things."

***********

"I drop my bag when I see the inside of my apartment after the fire. Everything is trashed there. Everything was charred and reduced to ashes. My chairs, my sofas, my television, my freezer, my microwave, my oven. Absolutely everything was destroyed. Let's not even talk about the rooms. I lost everything. How am I going to get out of it now especially since my savings......"

"I just remembered my savings. I put my money in a tin box and it's over a million five hundred thousand. I had gathered this sum for one, two or three projects that I had in mind. Oh no. Where is the box? I put it on top of the freezer. I see the completely charred freezer but no trace of the box. I spin around looking everywhere. I ended up finding it a little further. She is all black. I take it and open it. A smoke greets me. I look inside. Oh no. Oh no, no, no. My savings. That's not possible. Oh no. Why me ? All the money has been reduced to ashes. How will I do ? I feel myself weakening all of a sudden. I sit on the floor and burst into tears."

[Two days later]

"I'm really discouraged. I'm in low spirits. The boss gave me a loan, half of which was used to pay Mira's hospital bills. I used the rest to rent a small apartment in an average neighborhood. For now, the apartment is empty. There's only the bed where I sleep with Mira and some kitchen stuff. I renewed his uniform outfit, his shoe, his backpack and his supplies. I didn't go to work tonight. I wanted to stay with her. I told her how she was saved by Mr Bipolar."

"Wonderful Mira: Wow, so it was this gentleman who saved me, mom?"

"Me: Yes my dear. He was very brave."

"Scared Mira: I was scared mum. It was dark and things were falling, the fire was burning. I left the bedroom and took refuge behind the couch in the living room."

"Me reassuring her: I'm here now my princess. I won't leave you anymore, I promise."

"Mira: I love you mom."

"Me: I love you too sweetie."

"Mira: Say mom, when will we have a new television?"

"Me sighing: We're going to see my darling because mom has no more money. All I have left is for us to eat."

"Mira innocente: And your salary mom? When you work you get paid, don't you?"

"Me lost in my thoughts: Yes my darling but mom doesn't know if she will still go to work."

"Mira: But why?"

"Me tickling her: Because I don't want to leave you alone anymore, that's why."

"Mira laughing out loud: Stop mum. Stopped !"

"Me ceasing to tickle her: Go now you have to sleep."

"Mira: Ok mum but first I want you to call the man who saved my life. I want to say thank you to him."

"Me crumpled mine: Why? Mum has already thanked him my darling."

"Mira: Yes, but I want to thank him too. You always told me that if someone does us a good service that we should thank them."

"Me: Yes but....."

"Mira blackmailing me: Do you want to contradict what you always taught me mom?"

"This girl is so smart my god. There she had me, checkmate. I have to call Mister bipolar but the problem is that I don't have his number, alas."

"Me: I don't have his number honey."

"Mira triste: Why didn't you take her mum number?"

"Me: Because everything happened so fast and I didn't know when he left."

"Mira: Ok but I want you to find this number. You have to find it."

"Me surprised by his attitude: Young girl am I dreaming or are you giving me orders?"

"Mira going to bed: Yes that's it mum. I give you an order."

"Me clapping my hands: Incredible!"

"Mira bursting out laughing: Hahaha hahaha."

"Me tickling her: Come here. Since when do you give me orders?"

"Mira fidgeting on the bed: Stop! I'm sorry mom. Stop!"

**** The next morning ****

"On the breakfast menu this morning, I made scrambled egg noodles. Mira and I had eaten and I dropped him off at school. I have nothing on me anymore. I only have two thousand francs and that's for tonight's meal. I have to find a solution. I have to go see the boss."

**** Hamed FAROUK ****

"When I woke up this morning, the pain from my back injury was very violent. I immediately thought of the little one I saved. I hope she is well and that her mother will be more responsible from now on. What am I even saying? What kind of responsibility should we expect to receive from a prostitute? All that matters is how to sleep with men and make money. How pitiful. I refuse to take revenge on her. Allah took it upon himself to punish her by burning down her apartment. It's good for her. She will close her legs now and take care of her daughter. I got out of bed and took my computer. I have to finish a very urgent project."

"My mother entering the room: Hello my darling."

"Me: Hello mom."

"My concerned mother: How is your injury? Are you still in pain?"

"Me a little bit."

"My mother: Alright. It's time to have breakfast. Must go down."

"Me: Ok mom."

"I put the computer on the bed and went to the bathroom. I brushed and washed my face then went downstairs for breakfast. For the first time since my return, I am going to have breakfast with my family. My mother has reserved the chair in the back for me. It's the biggest chair. I am the king and my two queens, my mother and my sister are seated respectively on my right and on my left."

**** Night show ****

"Konaté unhappy: You haven't come to work for three days now, Sira, what's going on?"

"Me: You know what I'm going through right now boss. I do not have anything."

"Konaté: Exactly, all the more reason to come back to work. You'll make a lot of money like before and that's it."

"Me: I can't leave my daughter alone anymore. Understand me. Until I find a solution yet, I can't leave her alone."

"Konaté blowing: Ok and now what do you want?"

"Me: A loan boss. I want a five hundred thousand loan."

"Konaté: Yet another loan? You haven't even repaid the other one yet."

"Me desperate: I know but please. Help me. I will pay you back once I start working again."

"Konaté: Ok come back tomorrow. I'll see what I can do. It's because you are my best girl inh."

"Me smiling: Thank you boss. Thank you so much."

"I'm so happy. At least if the boss makes me another loan, I can arrange the apartment and buy furniture and such. Then I'll see how to fix Mira's problem. I will see if I have to take a nanny to watch her while I work or if I have to find another solution but one thing is certain, she will no longer be alone."

"Me: Thanks boss."

"Konaté: Please Sira."

"Me turning on my heels: Oops, I forgot."

"Konate: What?"

"Me: I would like to ask you for the number of the bipolar gentleman."

"Konaté lost: Mister bipolar? Who is Mister Bipolar?"

"Me laughing: Oh sorry. I meant Hamed FAROUK. I think that's what it's called inh. He was the one who saved my daughter's life and she would like to thank him."

"Konate: Ah okay."

"Me: So? Do you have his number?"

"Konaté rummaging in his pockets: Yes I have his card here."

"Me waiting:"

"Konaté finding the map: Here! There she is !"

"Me taking it: Thank you very much."

"Konaté: And don't forget what I told you. Come back to work quickly. Customers want you."

"Me smile: I will."

"Konate: Bye."

"Me coming out of the office: Bye."