A Final Goodbye (Dual PK)

[carebear 1291]

𝒜 𝐹𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝒢𝑜𝑜𝒹𝒷𝓎𝑒

 

Spoiler

 

 

A lone horse rode towards the ruined buildings of the old Oasis, the wrecked and broken buildings standing silent in the wind. The rider, an elderly Qalasheen woman, got off the horse as she neared the entrance of her childhood home. She tied the horse to a nearby fence, then began unwrapping a large bundle on the horse's back. She lowered the body of Shams Al-Nabeel from the horse, cradling him gently in her arms. Mehreen Bint Marah Al-Hattan turned to the ruined city, and began walking to the former site of the gardens. She laid the body of the man she had loved, cared, and lived for on the ground.

 

And she began to dig. She worked all night and day, digging a hole for her love. She continued digging, even when her hands bled and shook. And when she was done digging, she placed stones at the bottom of the grave and carefully placed her husband in. And in this moment, her entire being shattered into a million pieces. She let out a shriek of anger and grief, then began to cry. She sobbed until there were no more tears, until she felt numb and broken. Mehreen sat at the edge of the grave for a long while, looking down at her husband's body. Then she placed rocks over him, and recited prayers as she slowly filled the hole with dirt and sand. Once the grave was filled, she took out a sword, his sword, and stuck it in the ground to mark the grave. She took a step back, muttering something under her breath. "الى اللقاء حبيبتي, سأراكي في الجنة قريبأ. اعدك بذلك" (Goodbye my love, I will see you in heaven soon. I promise). Mehreen Al-Hattan let out a small sigh, then turned and walked to the remains of the old Masjid.

 

Mehreen Bint Marah Al-Hattan stood silent at the entrance of a broken and ruined Masjid. As she stared at the cracked walls, memories of a happy and simpler childhood flooded her mind. The elderly woman closed her eyes, letting the memories take over.

 

A young girl sat at a counter, watching two women bake in a kitchen. Her mother mixed batter in a bowl, humming out a soft tune as she did. Her aunt took cookies out of the oven, the aroma of freshly baked cookies filling the air. The girl watched them both, almost captivated by their expertise. Eventually, her mother caught her staring and smiled. "Mehreen, habibti, would you like to come help us bake for the feast tonight?" The girl nodded enthusiastically, practically running around the counter to get to the kitchen. Her mother handed the girl a spoon. "Can you mix this batter for me? It's a very important job." The girl eagerly nodded, mixing the batter with all of her might. Her mother chuckled at the sight, ruffling her hair as she began kneading dough.

 

As the memory faded, Mehreen was pulled into another.

 

"Ummi! Shams and Qamar are stealing cookies again!" The small girl yelled in the marketplace of the city, towards her mother. As she called out, two boys sprinted out of the bakery, treats in hand. They laughed wildly, making a break for it. The girl took off after them, waving a quarterstaff that looked far too big for her. "Amatti is gonna kill you!" She warned, half chasing and half laughing. As she ran after them, she noticed them duck into a house. She followed, the boys looking at her in surprise. The smaller one, Shams, offered her a stolen cookie. She grinned and took the cookie from the boy.

 

Mehreen was tucked into a different memory.

 

The girl sat next to a young woman in her late 20s. The woman held a violin in her hands, showing it to the girl. She then lifted it to her chin, and began to play a beautiful melody. It started slow and soft, but as she played it got faster and louder. Music spun around the girl, and all she could do was watch the woman in complete awe. As the woman ended the song, the girl's face broke out into a large smile, applauding the woman. "That was amazing Ummi! Can you teach me how to do that?" The woman, her mother, smiled down at the girl, nodding. "I'd love nothing more sunshine."

 

The memory slowly faded, and another took its place

 

The girl was younger in this memory, around 5 years old. She sat in a beautiful garden with an armored woman, her fiery ginger hair glimmering in the desert sun. The woman weaved a crown of flowers, and the girl looked on in awe. The woman spoke. "See how I'm doing it? Try it Mehreen." The girl took the flowers in her hand, attempting to follow her aunt's lead. After a few minutes, she looked up at the ginger woman. "Like this Auntie Mattie?" The woman smiled and nodded, guiding her hands. As the woman helped the girl finish the crown, she placed it on the toddler's head with an affectionate smile. The girl threw her arms around the woman, giving her a big hug.

 

As the memory faded, another drifted to Mehreen's mind.

 

The girl, around 5 or 6 years old, ran through a street lined with tents on either side, a flower crown clutched in her small hands. She burst into one of the tents, running right into a large man. The man turned around, his serious expression fading into a kind smile. "Habibti! How's my little rose today?" The man swept her up into his arms, bouncing her up and down. "I'm good Jaddi, I made you something!" She put a messily woven flower crown on his head, a proud smile on her face. The man laughed, adjusting the crown. "It looks beautiful habibti!"

 

As this memory pulled back, a different memory came forward.

 

"Amu!" A little girl squealed, running to a tall man with short ginger hair. She grabbed onto his robes, smiling up brightly at him. "Amu! Come play with me!" She giggled, holding onto his legs. The man smiled, chuckling. "My little Mehreen!" He scooped her up, holding her tight against his side. "Play? I suppose I have some time." The man placed her on his shoulders and began walking to a tent. He placed her on a bed and placed a handful of candy in her hand. He held his finger up to his lips. "Shhh, don't tell your mother." The girl let out a loud squeal, then quickly silenced herself, nodding her head. "Not a word! Shukran Amu Thamer!" She wrapped her small arms around him, soaking in this moment.

 

Mehreen snapped out of the memory, but before long another came to take its place.

 

The girl looked to be around 8 or 9. She sat on the floor of the Masjid, next to her mother and a stranger that was supposed to be her father. He looked ragged and weathered, with long gray hair and a gray beard. Her mother was saying something, but she barely heard as she stared down at the unfamiliar man. None of this felt real. Her mother told her to get something from the bakery, and the girl left the Masjid. When she returned, her mother cried and the stranger was still.

 

Mehreen felt tears on her face as her mind drifted to the next memory.

 

The girl walked through the desert, holding her mother's hand. They walked with a group of woman. Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream came from the front of the group. From the girl's aunt. The girl's mother rushed forward, letting go of her hand. The older woman gathered around something near the entrance of their home. No, not something. Someone. The girl slowly walked forward, trying to see what everyone was looking at. As she pushed forward, she saw her aunt kneeling in the sand, cradling someone's lifeless body. Not just someone. Her uncle. Her Amu Thamer. The girl fell to her knees as well, letting out a scream as she crawled to her Amu's body. "Amu- Amu please! Amu please wake up! This can't be real!"

 

One final memory came to mind, a breath of fresh air after the sad memories that had come before.

 

The girl, now a woman, cradled a tiny baby girl in her arms. "My beautiful Daliah, my love, my life. I will do anything to keep you safe." She placed a kiss on the baby's head, humming a soft tune to her daughter. It was the same song her own mother had sung to her all those years ago. The woman rocked the baby, softly singing to her new daughter.

 

Mehreen Al-Hattan came back to herself, feeling a cool breeze against her skin. She knelt on the soiled carpet of the old Masjid, bowing her head down. And she began to pray. She prayed for her mother Marah, her step-father Murad, her grandfather Hakim, her Amatti Zahra and Amu Thamer, her husband Shams, her brother-in-law Qamar, her Aunt Mattie, her Abu Azzam, her cousin Fatimah, her cousins Zaina and Saalih, and even her father Hassan. She prayed and prayed for what seemed like hours- days- maybe weeks? She couldn't tell, simply keeping her head bowed. As she prayed, she felt a gentle breeze against her skin and a presence she hadn't felt in 60 years. Mehreen slowly lifted her head from the carpet of the Masjid.

 

And there was her mother. Her beautiful, elegant, wonderful Ummi. Mehreen couldn't believe her eyes as she watched her mother rise from her usual prayer spot and offer her arms out to Mehreen for a hug. All at once, it was an explosion of love as they embraced each other. Tears fell down her face, landing on the dirty carpet below her feet. Marah looked just as she had when Mehreen was a child, like she hadn't aged past 30. Mehreen felt like a child once more as she was comforted by her mother.

 

"Ummi... How are you.. Is it really you?" Mehreen frantically asked, clinging onto her mother. Her mother simply smiled, comforting her daughter. And she began softly singing that song. Their song. The song that had carried Mehreen throughout her entire childhood, and that she had sung to her own daughter. Mehreen let out quiet sobs as her mother sang to her.

 

"I'm... I'm dead. That's the only explanation." She began laughing, tears still falling. "I'll be able to see my Shams again... I promised him I'd see him again."

 

"It's time to come home sunshine, everyone's waiting for you." Marah smiled at her daughter, her expression full of love. "Are you ready to come home habibti?" Mehreen looked into her mother's eyes, sorrow lingering in her gaze. "Will my Daliah be alright? Will she be alright without me?" Marah simply nodded, smiling at Mehreen. "She is strong, like her mother. She will walk proudly as your daughter, until she returns to you. As you have done, my sunshine." Marah placed a hand on Mehreen's cheek, wiping away some of the tears. Mehreen smiled, her eyes full of bittersweet happiness and sorrow.

 

"I think I'm ready. I'm ready to see everyone." Marah pulled her daughter into one last hug. "My sunshine, you may rest now, and I will never leave your side again." She began singing once again, Mehreen joining her as their voices grew stronger.

 

Mehreen's body still lay on the Masjid carpet, her forehead pressed to the ground. She smiled, and another tear slipped down her cheek. She closed her eyes, and the silence had never felt more inviting. As Mehreen stepped out of her body, she felt one last breeze.

 

She took her mother's hand, and they faded into a warm and gentle embrace.

 

Mehreen Bint Marah Al-Hattan breathed her last breath, finally finding the peace she had craved for so long.

 

Spoiler

[OOC] WOOOOO BOY THIS WAS A TOUGHIE TO WRITE. Mehreen was the longest character I've ever played, and the first PK post I've written. I'm so grateful for everyone who made this journey so amazing, I've met my best friends and amazing people through this character and I couldn't be happier about it. I'm very happy I got to give her the proper sendoff she deserved o7 Thank you @mrfruit_4 for letting me add Shams in <3 AND THANK YOU @discojazz FOR THE AMAZING RP <3333

SUPER AMAZING SPECIAL THANKS!!!!

@discojazz - I'm so grateful for you in my life, I can't believe I met one of my best friends in mineman roleplay, can't wait to be in your wedding bestie <3

@Heart_Spam - HEEAAAARRRRTTTTTTTTT ILY SO SO MUCH!!! I'm so glad I met you, best Amatti EVA!!!

@_AquaticWolf_ - You don't play LOTC anymore so you won't see this, but you're amazing and I'm very glad I met you playing this character <3

@Diaolos - Eh I guess you're alright. JK JK ilyyyy you're amazing, you're like a big brother to me <3 thanks for all the schenanigans

@Generi - sorry I stopped playing Nin for this character, ily always bestie

@mrfruit_4 - you're stinky but I still love you <3 thanks for all the great screenshots I've gotten over the years

@YankeeJack - you also don't play LOTC anymore, but thank you for all the amazing Amu roleplay <3

@Maevlin - best daughter-in-law EVAAA MWAH love ya lilly <3

@NestroPapaya - you're literally so amazing, and I'm so glad I met you. roll freakin tide brother

And thank you to everyone else who helped shape Mehreen into who she became, ily all <3 sorry if I forgot to @ someone <3

 

Spoiler

The lullaby:

 

 

[ibraheemc2000 2965]

Old Sheikh Naric saw Mehreen enter Seven Skies with a warm smile "Oh about time you guys came! Come on over We just got some Kenafa and tea." he stoped when he saw Shams and rushed to tackle him in a hug "Had me worried you went some where else! Come on, I missed your Shawarma and been praying for you to come home!"

Old Man Zubayr Sat on a nice red palm wood rocking chair, with a glass of lemonade, he smiled when he Saw Shams and Mehreen, getting up and passing is many well gardened lemon trees and rows of Onions and Garlic, carrying a pitcher of lemonade with some cups looped in his fingers, his other hand carrying a plate of freshly sautéed Qalasheen Onion's And garlic with some pita bread for them to try. "Been wondering where those little Cookie Monsters ran off to, I miss you guys, Come on inside, My Suger Blossum @APurrfectNobody would be so happy to see you." he said leading them to his house as he missed the two kids he remembers running around to close to his lemon and onions and garlic in the Dunya.

@carebear @mrfruit_4
[I love you guys, you guys are the best, and I still wana roleplay with you two, you guys mean alot to me, and I missed the times you guys ran to close to my damn lemon tree T~T I give you offers of playing my childern}

[discojazz 308]

OOC: SO PROUD OF YOU MY GIRL <3 Loved getting to share so many stories with you on this char. Loved playing your mom and your daughter through this wild story. Can't wait for you to be one of my bridesmaids <3 Love you forever

--
Daliah would understand that her mother would not be returning as she took her father away from the refugee camps. Daliah swore to always honor her mother in all that she did, until she could return to her again. Though she would mourn this loss until her own death, Daliah continued to pray for both of her parents until that day. 

 

---

Marah would have welcomed her daughter and son-in-law to Jannah with arms wide open. Seeing Shams and Mehreen warmed her heart. Two of the people she cared for most. She had been at peace for quite some time, though knowing her daughter was free from that wicked world was a greater comfort. Their family was whole once more. "نجتمع مرة اخرى, و الأن للأبد لا نفترق يا أبنتي"

 

Spoiler

 

 

[YankeeJack 89]

Thamer's spirit sees her pass away sitting a top the rubble where his soul remains trapped. He gives Mehreen a chuckle and a wave, as her spirit moves on to the place after life. A final moment from her old, fat Amu before he withers away from view to wander in limbo alone, forever.

[Heart_Spam 330]

Word of Mehreen's death reached Nisreen by murmurs, hushed mumblings, whispers, hints of rumors mixed with other names carried from mouth to mouth. But Nis knew it must be true; so many had been lost these past few days. Weeks. A candle - Nis searched for a candle. Unable to find one amidst the helter skelter of the Under, Nisreen grappled to make do with what little she had. A few threads plucked from her garments, twisted tightly and tucked into a small crevice in a rock. It wasn't perfect, but it would do. She struck a match to light the threads, surrounded by acrid, desolate darkness on every side. They burned quickly, flaring up with brief flame before they were gone. Ironic - hers and Mehreen's friendship had been just like that flame.Strong, yet short-lived. "Rest well, Mehreen," she whispered to the crevice, before turning away to continue her search for those she hoped remained. 

 

 

---

 

When the moment came, Zahra watched as Mehreen and Shams entered Jannah, and raced forward to greet them both with her signature beaming smile and open arms. "Be at peace ya rabbs." There'd be no more wooden-weapon burning here.

 

Spoiler

[OOC] ILY CAREBEAR ❤️❤️ thank you for so many fond memories through the months. The Mattie memories hit hardest. Absolutely loved rping with you and Mehreen and am excited to see where other characters lead!