Loulou? Oui c'est moi...

The most beautiful person on earth is here with me. He’s handsome, he’s sweet, he’s funny, and he’s caring. He’s clever, he’s transparent. He can see straight through me and make my days happier. He’s all of that in one person, who can beat this???. The day he was born was the best day in my life, I’m not exaggerating. His birth is the best thing that has ever happened to me, I’m really not exaggerating.

She thought that stopping the pills that were killing her and ruining her life and her family’s life for up to six month is safe; she’s been on those pills for more than six years. She thought that she was too old to have a third kid, oh my god she was 27, how can she get pregnant again, it’s dangerous (yes it’s twenty seven, not thirty seven, not forty seven, she was twenty seven…) But that was god’s will.
For nine months he was called Samer, for my bother’s best friend - who happens to be my best twins-friends’ (Soha and Souzane) brother - his name was Samer. Her name was Injie, since my mom and I were real fond of that name. Injie never made it out of my imagination, while Samer stepped back when khalo Mohammed suggested the name Walid. As if Walid talked to us in the hospital and said, I’m not Samer, I’m Walid.
It has been 24 years and I still remember that day as if it was yesterday. She was obsessed by the cleanliness of her house: who else could clean her house? She will be away for a day and might not be able to clean for 3 to 4 days. Being an eight years old, I didn’t think of that….. She was in labor but still had to clean the house and do the laundry. You know, I always thought that she was very beautiful, but that day she was glowing. I was running after her giving her the laundry to put it on the rope: “quickly, quickly roro, yalla habibti yalla”. My brother and I were traumatized but she was full of energy. When she was cleaning the bathroom she almost delivered, but no, she won’t do it before she’s fully ready. I ran with her to bedroom, took her towel and gave her the clothes. Oh how I love her pregnancy dress fuchsia kinda silk with small violet flowers. Don’t be fooled with how I used to fight with her and talk back at her and give her attitude, she was my goddess. Baba dropped us at khalo’s place and ran to the hospital. It was a dark raining night, although it’s only the 9th of October, but it was raining and I can still smell the first rain. We ran to the 4th floor because the electricity went off. Baba was talking to my aunt when I slipped in and started jumping: “my mom is delivering; my mom is giving birth.. Is this gas lamp hot? Let me see, yes it is…” I touched it with my index finger. I now have a 24 year old scar; I have Loulou on my index.

Seven years in Dubai I had Loulou on my index, but now Loulou is here with me, and I’m the happiest person on earth, and when he’ll find a job, I’ll be the happiest person on earth forever and ever…